SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-100 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 18 January 2026 (23:31 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Thread for the Starlink Group 6-100 launch.

Launch 18 January 2026, at 23:31:40 UTC (6:31 pm EST), from CCSFS SLC-40, on booster 1080-24. The first stage has successfully landed aboard A Shortfall Of Gravitas.

Payload 29 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, to a 42.99 degrees inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 254 x 264 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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Finally we see a Starlink launch with a 3-digit batch number... ("only" the 99th known for Group 6 launches as 6-50 is still missing)

From CADENA OIS:

Primary Launch Day 18 JAN 0500Z-0900Z Backup Launch Day 19 JAN 0500Z-0900Z Backup Launch Day 20 JAN 2025Z-0108Z Backup Launch Day 21 JAN 1959Z-0042Z Backup Launch Day 22 JAN 1933Z-0016Z Backup Launch Day 23 JAN 1907Z-2350Z Backup Launch Day 24 JAN 1841Z-2324Z

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-6-100

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

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 X TV app.

This will be the 24th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Ax-2, Euclid, Ax-3, CRS-30, SES ASTRA 1P, NG-21, and 17 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-6-100
Launch 18 January 05:00 to 08:17 UTC = 12:00 midnight to 3:17 am EST

3rd consecutive recovery by ASOG.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-6-100
Launch delayed circa 2/3 day to new window open.
January 18 22:04 to January 19 02:04 UTC = 5:04 - 9:04 pm EST

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15

Primary Launch Day 18 JAN 2204Z-0247Z
Backup Launch Day 19 JAN 2138Z-0221Z
Backup Launch Day 20 JAN 2111Z-0154Z
Backup Launch Day) 21 JAN 2045Z-0128Z
Backup Launch Day 22 JAN 2019Z-0102Z
Backup Launch Day 23 JAN 1953Z-0036Z
Backup Launch Day 24 JAN 1927Z-0010Z

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt

PLANNED LAUNCH/REENTRY:
SPACEX NROL 105, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   01/17/26   0418Z-0536Z
BACKUP:      01/18/26   0404Z-0522Z

SPACEX STARLINK 6-100, CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FL
PRIMARY:   01/18/26   2204Z-0247Z
BACKUP:      01/19/26   2138Z-0221Z

STRATOLAUNCH ACHILLES, MOJAVE AIR AND SPACEPORT, CA
PRIMARY:   01/20/26   1330Z-2000Z
BACKUP:      01/21/26   1330Z-2000Z

NEXT PLANNING WEBINAR: 2215Z
152025-152259
26/01/15 20:25  DCCOPS.lxstn35

[zubenelgenubi]

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2026 Jan 16 04:17:24 UTC (Day 016)

Starlink G6-100 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G6-100 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2026-01-18 22:04:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:09:04.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:04:00 UTC to 2026-01-19 02:04:00 UTC.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g6-100&FORMAT=tle
Pre-Launch Derived Orbit:
254 km x 264 km x 42.99 deg

[zubenelgenubi]

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2026 Jan 16 21:57:29 UTC (Day 016)

Starlink G6-100 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G6-100 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2026-01-18 22:06:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:11:14.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:06:10 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:15:59 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:20:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:25:14.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:20:10 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:21:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:29:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:34:34.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:29:30 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:34:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:34:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:39:34.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:34:30 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:38:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:41:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:46:44.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:41:40 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:41:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #5   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:42:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:47:54.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:42:50 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:45:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #6   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:46:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:51:04.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:46:00 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:47:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #7   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:51:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:56:44.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:51:40 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:52:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #8   
Launch: 2026-01-18 22:56:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-19 00:01:04.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:56:00 UTC to 2026-01-18 23:02:59 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #9   
Launch: 2026-01-18 23:03:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-19 00:08:04.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 23:03:00 UTC to 2026-01-18 23:17:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #10   
Launch: 2026-01-18 23:17:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-19 00:22:24.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 23:17:20 UTC to 2026-01-18 23:24:29 UTC.

[catdlr]

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

SpaceX's direct live broadcast on
Website: https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-6-100
 Twitter:  https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1dRKZaZOMnMxB

NSF Live Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=wrP2tmrfVzY

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube:
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=hx5Zw8HB7xE

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

Post Launch Extras:

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Max-Qproductions by Pete Carstens: https://www.youtube.com/@maxqproductions1

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints:
https://45thweathersquadron.nebula.spaceforce.mil/pages/launchForecastSupport.html

[catdlr]

Probability of Weather Violations:

[catdlr]

T-24 hours.  The launch is still aligned with the initial launch opportunity.

Starlink G6-100 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G6-100 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2026-01-18 22:06:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:11:14.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:06:10 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:15:59 UTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

SpaceX page updated.

Starlink G6-100 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G6-100 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as for a single satellite.

Launch: 2026-01-18 22:06:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2026-01-18 23:11:14.520 UTC.
Launch window: 2026-01-18 22:06:10 UTC to 2026-01-18 22:15:59 UTC.

[catdlr]

Dillon
@Dillonshrop06
Hazard Map for Starlink 6-100

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/Dillonshrop06/status/2012915796062711919

Dillon
@Dillonshrop06
·
Current planned T-0 does inhibit a visible twilight effect.
 
However if the launch delays further into the launch window there would be possibilities!

Puerto Rico and Domincan Republic should look for any launch at or after 22:29:30 UTC

Eastern Cuba and Bahamas should look for times at or after 22:51:40 UTC

Florida and most of Cuba should look for times at or after 23:03:00 UTC

Dillon
@Dillonshrop06
Additionally, any launch time after 22:34:30 UTC should start to yield opportunities for SOME regions to see the 2nd stage de-orbit burn!

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/BrevardEOC/status/2012995495942148576

Brevard EOC
@BrevardEOC
1/18/26 4:08 PM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 5:04 - 9:04 PM

[catdlr]

Finally, someone moved the launch time:

Now scheduled for 6:31 Pm ET  (23:31 UT)
window closes at 9:04 PM ET  (02:04 UT)
 

The Supplemental GP Element Sets don't match

[catdlr]

Just under T-50 min, NSF is broadcasting a live feed

[catdlr]

T-40 min decision time coming up to start propellant loading

[zubenelgenubi]

The Supplemental GP Element Sets don't match

I'm keeping eyes open for a revision with launch opportunities beyond backup #10.

Edit: Revised list did not appear.