SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 15-6 : VSFB SLC-4E : 12/13 June 2025 (01:54 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 15-6 launch.

Launch 13 June 2025, at 01:54:50 UTC (12 June 6:54 pm PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1081-15. The first stage will land aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 26 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, to a 70.01 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 266 x 278 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]

Near-term SLC-4E schedule, UTC date:

Starlink 17-1      May 27  OCISLY  ✅️

Starlink 11-18    May 31  OCISLY  ✅️

Starlink 11-22    Jun 4 3  OCISLY

Starlink 15-8      Jun 8     OCISLY

<more Starlink launches in June here>

Transporter-14  Jun 21    LZ-4


Next Starlink launch as early as ~June 12?

Don't forget: NROL-48 is also pending, NET June.

Updated June 2: It's Starlink 15-6 on June 13 UTC.

[GewoonLukas_]

Starlink Group 15-6 has appeared on https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15 with launch NET June 13th at 01:46 UTC:

Primary Launch Day 13 JUN 0146Z-0614Z
Backup Launch Day (1) 14 JUN 0132Z-0600Z
Backup Launch Day (2) 15 JUN 0118Z-0546Z
Backup Launch Day (3) 16 JUN 0104Z-0532Z
Backup Launch Day (4) 17 JUN 0050Z-0518Z
Backup Launch Day (5) 18 JUN 0036Z-0504Z
Backup Launch Day (6) 19 JUN 0023Z-0451Z

[zubenelgenubi]

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.

I note B1063, B1071, and B1088 were used for eight of the ten previous NRO Future Proliferated Architecture launches. 📝

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1063.26  Apr 28   Starlink 11-22
1081.15  May 10
1088.7    May 13  Starlink 15-8
1093.3    May 16
1075.19  May 23
1082.14  May 27
1071.26  May 31

Edit June 12: It's B1081.15.

[randomname]

NGA notices for this launch.

030157Z JUN 25
NAVAREA XII 339/25(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   130146Z TO 130614Z JUN, ALTERNATE
   140132Z TO 140600Z, 150118Z TO 150546Z,
   160104Z TO 160532Z, 170050Z TO 170518Z,
   180036Z TO 180504Z AND 190023Z TO 190451Z JUN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 32-50.00N 119-08.00W, 32-39.00N 119-11.00W,
      34-35.00N 120-39.00W, 34-40.00N 120-38.00W,
      34-27.00N 120-15.00W.
   B. 29-04.00N 117-27.00W, 29-24.00N 117-48.00W,
      30-25.00N 117-56.00W, 29-44.00N 117-03.00W,
      29-15.00N 116-59.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190551Z JUN 25.

060110Z JUN 25
HYDROPAC 1472/25(22,83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   130333Z TO 130725Z JUN, ALTERNATE
   140319Z TO 140725Z, 150305Z TO 150725Z,
   160251Z TO 160725Z, 170237Z TO 170715Z,
   180223Z TO 180701Z AND 190210Z TO 190648Z JUN
   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 190748Z JUN 25.

[zubenelgenubi]

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

Starlink
Matching Results, All Launches: 692*
Derived from latest Starlink ephemeris data from SpaceX's public data repository.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Jun 10 16:47:51 UTC (Day 161)

Starlink G15-6 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-6 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-06-13 01:47:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 02:48:59.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 01:47:30 UTC to 2025-06-13 01:59:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1   
Launch: 2025-06-13 01:59:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 03:01:09.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 01:59:40 UTC to 2025-06-13 01:59:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2   
Launch: 2025-06-13 02:01:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 03:03:19.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 02:01:50 UTC to 2025-06-13 02:24:09 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:23:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 05:24:29.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:23:00 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:24:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:27:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 05:29:19.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:27:50 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:38:09 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #5   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:38:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 05:39:39.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:38:10 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:42:59 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #6   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:55:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 05:56:49.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:55:20 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:59:59 UTC.

And, https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g15-6&FORMAT=tle
Pre-Launch Derived Orbit: 266 km x 278 km x 70.01 deg

[AndrewM]

Celestrack updated to show a new T-0 of 2025-06-13 01:54:50 UTC (as of 2025-06-12 02:30 UTC).

Starlink G15-6 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-6 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-06-13 01:54:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 02:56:19.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 01:54:50 UTC to 2025-06-13 01:58:59 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1   
Launch: 2025-06-13 02:04:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 03:06:09.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 02:04:40 UTC to 2025-06-13 02:24:09 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:24:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 05:25:29.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:24:00 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:28:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:42:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 05:43:39.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:42:10 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:43:09 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4   
Launch: 2025-06-13 04:59:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-13 06:00:39.700 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-13 04:59:10 UTC to 2025-06-13 04:59:59 UTC.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-15-6

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, June 12 for a Falcon 9 launch of 26 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 6:54 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 9:59 p.m. PT. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Friday, June 13 starting at 6:32 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 will be the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, NROL-186, Transporter-13, and seven Starlink missions. (=B1081-15) 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.

There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.

[catdlr]

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

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

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=e_ytYP3acHQ

There is no planned NSF Live coverage, alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceflightNowVideo/streams

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 local resident in Santa Barbara - I'll post if available)

Fleet Booster Number:  https://twitter.com/BoosterSpX

[catdlr]

Updated with Alternate Pre-Launch Coverage Link

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

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

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=e_ytYP3acHQ

There is no planned NSF Live coverage. Alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=8C_HAhGCnZM

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 local resident in Santa Barbara - I'll post if available)

Fleet Booster Number:  https://twitter.com/BoosterSpX

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/BoosterTracker/status/1933338491976577370

Starlink Group 15-6 will mark SpaceX's 506th mission and 137th landing success on Of Course I Still Love You.

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Webcast has begun.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-3 minutes. First stage LOX load is complete.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-2 minutes. Second stage LOX load is complete.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-1 minute. Falcon 9 is in startup.

LD is go for launch.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Liftoff!

[catdlr]

Launch

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1933342887028174951

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+1 minute.

[catdlr]

MAX-Q