SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 9-12 : VSFB SLC-4E : 18 November 2024 (05:53 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for Starlink Group 9-12 launch.

Launch 18 November 2024, at 05:53:30 UTC (17 Nov 9:53 pm PST), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1071-20.  The first stage successfully landed land aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 20 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, 13 of which are Direct-to-Cell, to a 53 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 280 x 290 km.

Please use the Starlink Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starlink.

Check the Starlink Index Thread for links to more Starlink information.


L2 SpaceX: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; the next Vandenberg Starlink launch could well be another Group 9 launch.

Further Starlink Group 11 launches (11-2, etc) may be delayed until the initial Direct-to-Cell constellation is completed.

This launch could be before or after Transporter-12.

After the successful launch of Starlink 9-10:

https://twitter.com/longmier/status/1855135424194191793

Only 4 more launches to complete the MVP @Starlink Direct to Cell constellation.

Testing is ongoing in the US, Japan, and New Zealand.

Please contact us if you are a telco and want to bring Direct to Cell to your customers in your country.

A successful Starlink 9-11 launch, assuming the present pattern continues, would whittle that down to three more Group 9 launches, each with 13 D2C satellites = 39 total.


Hypothetical SLC-4E near-term schedule; UTC:

✅️ Nov 9 06:14       Starlink 9-10     OCISLY

Nov 14 NET 04:21  Starlink 9-11    OCISLY

NET mid Nov          Transporter-12  LZ-4

There will be a fifth (and sixth) Starshield launch, perhaps sooner than at a two month interval between launches (previous launch Oct 24), so as to finish such launches in 2024 as planned.

[zubenelgenubi]

We've learned Transporter-12 is delayed to January 2025.

This launch could be the next after Starlink 9-11, circa November 19 or 20.

[Josh_from_Canada]

Next SpaceFlight lists Starlink 9-12 on Nov 18th at 05:47 UTC

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7687

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NOTAMs:

A1439/24 NOTAMN
Q) NTTT/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/0325N12003W011
A) NTTT
B) 2411180723 C) 2411240952
D) 18 0723-1211, 19 0700-1148, 20 0637-1125, 21 0613-1101,
22 0550-1038, 23 0527-1015, 24 0504-0952
E) TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY SPACEX
STARLINK 9-12 UPPER STAGE IN TAHITI FIR
WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY FOLLOWING POINTS :
0330N 12000W - 0316N 12000W - 0330N 12010W - 0330N 12000W
THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTS KZAK, MMFO, SCIZ AND NO FIR AS WELL.
AIRSPACE USERS ARE ADVISED OF THE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS NATURE
OF THE ACTIVITY AND ARE STRONGLY INVITED TO AVOID THE AREA DURING
THE ACTIVITY TIME SLOT. 
OPERATORS ARE INVITED TO FILE THEIR FLIGHT PLAN WITH A
TRAJECTORY THAT ENSURES THAT THE AREA IS CIRCUMNAVIGATED.
F) SFC G) UNL

R0283/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2415S09759W715
A) SCIZ B) 2411180723 C) 2411240952
D) NOV 18 0723-1211 NOV 19 0700-1148 NOV 20 0637-1125 NOV 21 0613-1101
NOV 22 0550-1038 NOV 23 0527-1015 NOV 24 0504-0952
E)
ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY SPACEX STARLINK 9-12

STAGE 2 REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
1500S / 10724W
1500S / 10441W
3122S / 09024W
3420S / 09024W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

[zubenelgenubi]

Hypothetical SLC-4E near-term schedule; UTC:

✅️ Nov 14 05:23      Starlink 9-11   OCISLY

Nov 18 NET 05:47  Starlink 9-12    OCISLY

NET Nov 22              Starlink 9-13?  OCISLY

NET Nov 26              Starlink 9-14?  OCISLY

The above does not account for one of the two SDA launches that we expect during the remainder of the year.


Which first stage will be used for this launch?  (semi-rhetorical question)

Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty times for non-human spaceflight missions, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon and Cygnus than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1071.20  Oct 15
1063.22  Oct 24

Edit November 16: It's B1071.20.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice (expected launch window 05:47-09:47).

141940Z NOV 24
NAVAREA XII 901/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   A. 180547Z TO 181018Z, 190524Z TO 190955Z,
      200501Z TO 200932Z, 210437Z TO 210908Z,
      220414Z TO 220845Z, 230351Z TO 230822Z
      AND 240328Z TO 240759Z NOV
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      28-58.00N 116-22.00W, 29-18.00N 115-56.00W,
      29-42.00N 116-06.00W, 30-04.00N 116-28.00W,
      30-00.00N 116-50.00W, 29-50.00N 117-02.00W,
      29-32.00N 117-06.00W, 29-12.00N 116-48.00W.
   B. 180547Z TO 181012Z, 190524Z TO 190949Z,
      200501Z TO 200926Z, 210437Z TO 210902Z,
      220414Z TO 220839Z, 230351Z TO 230816Z
      AND 240328Z TO 240753Z NOV
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-48.00N 117-25.00W, 30-28.00N 116-56.00W,
      29-57.00N 116-48.00W, 30-17.00N 117-19.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 240859Z NOV 24.

I didn't notice it at the time, but the two NGA Space Debris notices for 9-11 (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas) are actually multi-launch notices.

092255Z NOV 24
NAVAREA XII 893/24(21,22,83).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   14 NOV THRU 05 DEC IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 11-37.00N 123-13.00W,
   10-26.00N 124-56.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 060059Z DEC 24.

092255Z NOV 24
HYDROPAC 3493/24(21,22,83).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07, DNC 13.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   14 NOV THRU 05 DEC IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 11-37.00N 123-13.00W,
   10-26.00N 124-56.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 060059Z DEC 24.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice (expected launch window 05:47-09:47).

Maps from the NGA notices. Identical to Starlinks 9-10 and 9-11.

[Ken the Bin]

Preliminary information from CelesTrak.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Starlink G9-12 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G9-12 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.
Launch: 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 06:48:58.160 UTC.
Launch window: 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC to 2024-11-18 09:47:00 UTC.

[Ken the Bin]

Primary launch opportunity = 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC to 2024-11-18 05:48:30 UTC per CelesTrak.

Please read carefully the X post from T.S. Kelso. It is not the usual blurb.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1857556493610135871

I just posted data for the upcoming @Starlink G9-12 launch but wanted to point out the backups are actually short launch *windows* not instantaneous launch times. Looks like I will need to update our process to handle that (we already do that for the primary). We will see if that changes with future updates: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Starlink G9-12 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G9-12 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.
Launch: 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 06:48:58.160 UTC.
Launch window: 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC to 2024-11-18 05:48:30 UTC.
Backup Launch Opportunity #1
Launch: 2024-11-18 05:48:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 06:50:28.160 UTC.
Backup Launch Opportunity #2
Launch: 2024-11-18 07:47:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 08:48:58.160 UTC.
Backup Launch Opportunity #3
Launch: 2024-11-18 09:45:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 10:47:38.160 UTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

Semi-rhetorical question:  Is each launch window 90 seconds long?

[GewoonLukas_]

Booster B1071-20

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, November 17 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 9:47 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 1:46 a.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, November 18 starting at 11:19 p.m. PT.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This is the 20th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-85, NROL-87, SWOT, SARah-1, NROL-146, and 12 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-9-12

X/Twitter Webcast: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1BRJjwrVeAvxw

[realnouns]

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Nov 12 @ 5:54am PT / 8:54am ET

Debra C + OCISLY + B1082 returned to PoLB on Nov 16 @ 7:18am PT / 10:18am ET

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Nov 16 @ 4:20pm PT / 7:20pm ET

[realnouns]

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Nov 12 @ 10:43am PT / 1:43pm ET

Go Beyond returned to PoLB on Nov 15 @ 1:25pm PT / 4:25pm ET

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Nov 16 @ 5:38pm PT / 8:38pm ET

[Ken the Bin]

No X post, but Backup Launch Opportunity #2 and #3 have been adjusted slightly.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Starlink G9-12 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G9-12 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.
Launch: 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 06:48:58.160 UTC.
Launch window: 2024-11-18 05:47:00 UTC to 2024-11-18 05:48:20 UTC.
Backup Launch Opportunity #1
Launch: 2024-11-18 05:48:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 06:50:28.160 UTC.
Backup Launch Opportunity #2
Launch: 2024-11-18 07:48:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 08:49:58.160 UTC.
Backup Launch Opportunity #3
Launch: 2024-11-18 09:46:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-11-18 10:48:08.160 UTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1857909172173734251

SpaceX teams targeting four launches from all four launch pads in Texas, Florida, and California → http://spacex.com/launches

[catdlr]

Here is a consolidated post of available video links for this launch:

SpaceX direct live broadcast on Twitter:  https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1BRJjwrVeAvxw

Space Affairs YouTube (SpaceX Re-broadcast):  https://youtube.com/watch?v=2cp0Pi6Krl4

There is no planned NSF Live coverage; alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=09OpPQ-k6nE

Replay supplied by The Space Devs (15 min after the broadcast end):  https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos

Summary Video provided by SciNews (15 min after the broadcast ends):  https://youtube.com/@SciNewsRo/videos

Launch Ground Video (from NSF resident living near Santa Barbara - I'll post if available)

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[catdlr]

Weather Report for tonight's launch:

Warming Trend: A gradual warming trend will continue through the week with low humidity and weak to moderate north to northeast winds.

Rain: Light to moderate rain is possible next weekend, leading to cooler temperatures.

Cold Front: A weak cold front will move through tonight into Monday, mostly affecting areas north of SLO County.

Winds: Reinforcing northerly winds will bring advisory-level gusts, especially in the Grapevine region and the Santa Barbara and Ventura County mountains, including the Santa Ynez Range. Strongest winds expected later Monday into early Tuesday.

Local Hazards: Some frost/freeze hazards expected Monday night in wind-protected areas, where a Freeze Watch is in effect.

Santa Ana Winds: Initially expected to be moderate to strong, but models now indicate they will likely stay below advisory levels. Cool nights and dry air will continue, with warming daytime highs by midweek.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

6 minutes’ of slip for now:

Liftoff is targeted for 9:53 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 1:46 a.m. PT.