SpaceX F9 : NROL-149 : VSFB SLC-4E : 17 December 2024 (13:19 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the sixth Starshield launch, NROL-149.

Launch 17 December 2024, at 13:19 UTC (5:19 am PST), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1063-22. The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 22 Starshield satellites, to a 70 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit nnn x nnn km.

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


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

[zubenelgenubi]

New entry
NextSpaceflight; updated November 29:
Launch NET 2024, SLC-4E, likely the sixth Starshield launch

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

30 Nov 08:10         NROL-126 (Starshield)  OCISLY

4 Dec 00:29           Starlink 9-14                   OCISLY

NET 7 Dec 21:24  Starlink 11-2                   OCISLY

NET mid Dec         NROL-149 (Starshield)  OCISLY

NET 29 Dec           Bandwagon-2                  LZ-4

We don't yet know if any December Vandenberg Starlink launches will follow Starlink 11-2.

Launching NROL-149 within December would satisfy the previously stated plan to carry out 6 Starshield group launches before the end of the year.

https://defensescoop.com/2024/04/09/nro-proliferated-spy-satellite-constellation-launch/

The National Reconnaissance Office is targeting early May to begin launching the first phase of an operational proliferated constellation of spy satellites to enhance the military’s ability to gather space-based intelligence.

The mission, dubbed NROL 146, will be the first launch of six that are planned in 2024 for the NRO’s future proliferated architecture, Troy Meink, the agency’s principal deputy director, said Tuesday during a keynote speech at the annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
...
“This launch will be the first launch of an actual operational system,” Meink said.
...
NROL-146 will be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Meink did not provide details about how many payloads would be included in the first launch in May, or how many satellites NRO wants for the proliferated constellation.

There are new entries for the seventh and eighth Starshield group launches, presumably NET 2025 by the above source, but listed as NET 2024 on NextSpaceflight.

NROL-153
NextSpaceflight; updated November 29:
Launch NET 2024, SLC-4E, likely the seventh Starshield launch

NROL-192
NextSpaceflight; updated November 29:
Launch NET 2024, SLC-4E, likely the eighth Starshield launch

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

The NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice has not arrived yet, but I received these two NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

These run a couple of days longer than the launch period, but not long enough to be multi-launch.
Edit: Actually if this mission and 11-2 both launch at/near the beginning of their launch periods, these notices would cover both.

The prior multi-launch Space Debris notices were cancelled after 9-13 launched. They only ran through December 5 so they would have needed to be replaced anyway.

This may be a clue that there are not any Vandenberg Starlink launches in the immediate future following 11-2.

We know there is a sixth SDA launch, NROL-149, most likely scheduled in December.  There are two more that we know the NRO launch numbers.

Bandwagon-2 is scheduled NET December 29.

[RudeDude]

SpaceX manifest getting crowded for the end of the year here! Still waiting to hear a date for this one.

[xm11]

we waiting comecial official date

[Galactic Penguin SST]

This has shown up here as launching NET early December 16.

Primary Launch Day 16 Dec 0933Z-1403Z Backup Launch Day (1) 17 Dec 0920Z-1350Z Backup Launch Day (2) 18 Dec 0906Z-1336Z Backup Launch Day (3) 19 Dec 0852Z-1322Z Backup Launch Day (4) 20 Dec 0838Z-1308Z Backup Launch Day (5) 21 Dec 0824Z-1254Z Backup Launch Day (6) 22 Dec 0810Z-1240Z

The 2nd stage re-entry zone:
A1580/24 NOTAMN
Q) NTTT/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2843S12112W120
A) NTTT
B) 2412161120 C) 2412221435
D) 16 1120-1558, 17 1107-1545, 18 1053-1531, 19 1039-1517,
20 1025-1503, 21 1011-1449, 22 0957-1435
E) TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY OF SPACEX
NROL-149 SECOND STAGE IN TAHITI FIR WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED
BY FOLLOWING POINTS :
2759S12244W - 2709S12043W - 2843S12000W - 3000S12000W -
3000S12153W - 2759S12244W
THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTS SCIZ 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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

From https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15# (select "ADP Link Files"):

[VLN]

B2385/24 NOTAMN
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFR
B) 2412160933
C) 2412221240
D) 16 0933-1403, 17 0920-1350, 18 0906-1336, 19 0852-1322, 20 0838-1308,
   21 0824-1254, 22 0810-1240
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET NROL-149
   LATERAL LIMIT: AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
   2950N 11747W
   3017N 11755W
   3021N 11748W
   2955N 11727W
   2932N 11720W
   2927N 11700W
   2911N 11651W
   2851N 11707W
   2847N 11729W
   2900N 11740W
   2914N 11738W
   2925N 11727W
   2950N 11747W
   MMFR
F) SFC
G) UNL

R0325/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/4100S11910W715
A) SCIZ B) 2412161120 C) 2412221435
D) DEC 16 1120-1558 DEC 17 1107-1545 DEC 18 1053-1531
DEC 19 1039-1517 DEC 20 1025-1503 DEC 21 1011-1449
DEC 22 0957-1435
E) ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY SPACEX NROL-149
STAGE 2
-REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
3000S 12153W
3000S 12000W
2843S 12000W
5909S 09534W
5958S 09905W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024 KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ
INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

Both perimeters match exactly those of NROL-126. The launch windows are summarized in the table below.

Incidentally, the first launch window begins 3 days and 14 hours after the first window for Starlink 11-2. So for both launches to occur at their first opportunity, the marine crews would have to step lively indeed.

[zubenelgenubi]

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:
1063.22  Oct 24
1082.9    Nov 14  Starlink 11-2
1071.21  Nov 18
1075.16  Nov 24

Edit December 17: It's B1063.22, at last.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Delayed to December 17 per https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15#:

Primary Launch Day 17 Dec 0920Z-1350Z Backup Launch Day (1) 18 Dec 0906Z-1336Z Backup Launch Day (2) 19 Dec 0852Z-1322Z Backup Launch Day (3) 20 Dec 0838Z-1308Z Backup Launch Day (4) 21 Dec 0824Z-1254Z Backup Launch Day (5) 22 Dec 0810Z-1240Z

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice (expected launch window 09:20-13:20 UTC).

140059Z DEC 24
NAVAREA XII 956/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS:
   A. 170920Z TO171350Z DEC, ALTERNATE
       180906Z TO 181336Z, 190852Z TO 191322Z, 
       200838Z TO 201308Z, 210824Z TO 211254Z,
       220810Z TO 221240Z, 230756Z TO 231226Z.
       IN AREA BOUND BY
       29-14.00N 117-38.00W, 29-32.00N 117-20.00W,
       29-27.00N 117-00.00W, 29-11.00N 116-51.00W,
       28-51.00N 117-07.00W, 28-47.00N 117-29.00W,
       29-00.00N 117-40.00W.
   B. 170920Z TO 171345Z DEC, ALTERNATE
       180906Z TO 181331Z, 190852Z TO 191317Z,
       200838Z TO 201303Z, 210824Z TO 211249Z,
       220810Z TO 221235Z, 230756Z TO 231221Z.
       IN AREA BOUND BY 
       29-51.00N 117-46.00W, 30-18.00N 117-53.00W,
       30-19.00N 117-49.00W, 29-57.00N 117-27.00W,
       29-33.00N 117-19.00W, 29-25.00N 117-27.00W,
       29-51.00N 117-46.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 231326Z DEC 24.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice (expected launch window 09:20-13:20 UTC).

Map from the NGA notice. As per NROL-126, the NGA define separate space debris areas for the booster and the fairing halves.

EDIT: Added second stage space debris area.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice.

140345Z DEC 24
HYDROPAC 3809/24(22,83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0943Z TO 1545Z DAILY 17 THRU 23 DEC
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   59-58.00S 099-05.00W, 59-09.00S 095-34.00W,
   27-09.00S 120-43.00W, 27-59.00S 122-44.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 231645Z DEC 24.

[VLN]

Delayed to December 17 per https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15#:

Primary Launch Day 17 Dec 0920Z-1350Z Backup Launch Day (1) 18 Dec 0906Z-1336Z Backup Launch Day (2) 19 Dec 0852Z-1322Z Backup Launch Day (3) 20 Dec 0838Z-1308Z Backup Launch Day (4) 21 Dec 0824Z-1254Z Backup Launch Day (5) 22 Dec 0810Z-1240Z

This first launch window begins 3 days+11:25 after the actual time of the Starlink 11-2 launch. So far, the West Coast recovery ships have never demonstrated the ability to turn around in less than 4 days (launch-to-launch). I doubt that SpaceX would take the necessary risks (maritime or other) to meet this launch window 17 Dec 0920Z-1350Z. So I predict it will slip again.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/1868287421432881211

LAUNCH UPDATE: #NROL149 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET December 17.

This mission is the sixth launch of NRO's proliferated architecture, eighth launch of 2024 and last launch of the year!

[realnouns]

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Dec 10 @ 6:15pm PT

Debra C + OCISLY + B1082 returned to PC on Dec 15 @ 6:56am PT

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Dec 15 @ 3:27pm PT

[realnouns]

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Dec 10 @ 8:15pm PT

Go Beyond returned to PoLB on Dec 15 @ 4:46am PT

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Dec 15 @ 4:46pm PT

[ApolloLee]

What are the jellyfish/visibility possibilities from the Vegas/Southern Utah area?

[jcm]

B1063.22 per SpaceX web page

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=nrol-149

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, December 17 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-149 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The instantaneous launch window opens at 5:19 a.m. PT. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Wednesday, December 18 starting at 1:07 a.m. PT.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about ten 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 22nd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, SDA-0B, Iridium OneWeb, Transporter-7, NROL-113, NROL-167, and 14 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.