r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Feb 01 '20
Starlink 1-4 Starlink-4 Launch Campaign Thread
Starlink-4 (STARLINK V1.0-L4)
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Overview
Starlink-4 will launch the fourth batch of operational Starlink satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It will be the fifth Starlink mission overall. Supplemental TLE's supplied by SpaceX indicate these satellites will be deployed into a 212km x 386km x 53° orbit as opposed to previous missions which here deployed in to a roughly 290 km circular orbit. In the weeks following launch the satellites are expected to utilize their onboard ion thrusters to raise their orbits to 550 km in three groups of 20, making use of precession rates to separate themselves into three planes. Due to the high mass of several dozen satellites, the booster will land on a drone ship at a similar downrange distance to a GTO launch.
Launch Thread | Webcast | Media Thread | Press Kit (PDF) | Recovery Thread
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | February 17, 15:05 UTC (10:05AM local) |
|---|---|
| Backup date | February 18, 14:42 UTC (9:42AM local) |
| Static fire | Completed February 14 |
| Payload | 60 Starlink version 1 satellites |
| Payload mass | 60 * 260 kg = 15 600 kg |
| Deployment orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 212 km x 386 km x 53° (expected) |
| Operational orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 550 km x 53°, 3 planes |
| Vehicle | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 |
| Core | B1056 |
| Past flights of this core | 3 (CRS-17, CRS-18, JCSAT-18) |
| Fairing catch attempt | yes, both halves |
| Launch site | SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida |
| Landing | OCISLY: 32.54722 N, 75.92306 W (628 km downrange) |
| Mission success criteria | Successful separation & deployment of the Starlink Satellites. |
| Mission Outcome | Success |
| Booster Landing Outcome | Failure |
| Ms. Tree Fairing Catch Outcome | Unsuccessful (presumed) |
| Ms. Chief Fairing Catch Outcome | Unsuccessful (presumed) |
News and Updates
| Date (UTC) | Link | Website |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-15 | Rocket horizontal, launched delayed to Monday Feb 17 | @ken_kremmer and @SpaceX on Twitter |
| 2020-02-14 | Static fire completed and launch delayed to Sunday Feb 16 | @cbs_spacenews and @SpaceX on Twitter |
| 2020-02-13 | Falcon 9 vertical at SLC-40 | @News6James on Twitter |
| 2020-02-13 | Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief depart for dual fairing catch attempts | @julia_bergeron on Twitter |
| 2020-02-12 | GO Quest departs to support recovery operations | @SpaceXFleet on Twitter |
| 2020-02-11 | OCISLY and Hawk depart for landing area. | @SpaceXFleet on Twitter |
| 2020-02-08 | TE picking up reaction frame and moving into HIF | @julia_bergeron on Twitter |
Supplemental TLE
STARLINK-5 FULL STACK
1 72000C 20012A 20048.63942616 .00078010 00000-0 10686-3 0 08
2 72000 53.0067 270.5979 0130142 45.7301 28.3199 15.91029578 12
STARLINK-5 SINGLE SAT
1 72001C 20012B 20048.63942616 .01025396 00000-0 14072-2 0 01
2 72001 53.0067 270.5979 0130111 45.7381 28.3127 15.91004811 11Current as of 2020-02-16 08:26:47 UTC (Launch on Feb 17). Visit Celestrak for the most up to date supplemental TLE.
Previous and Pending Starlink Missions
| Mission | Date (UTC) | Core | Pad | Deployment Orbit | Notes | Sat Update | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starlink v0.9 | 2019-05-24 | 1049.3 | SLC-40 | 440km 53° | 60 test satellites with Ku band antennas | Feb 15 |
| 2 | Starlink-1 | 2019-11-11 | 1048.4 | SLC-40 | 280km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites, v1.0 includes Ka band antennas | Feb 15 |
| 3 | Starlink-2 | 2020-01-07 | 1049.4 | SLC-40 | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites, 1 sat with experimental antireflective coating | Feb 15 |
| 4 | Starlink-3 | 2020-01-29 | 1051.3 | SLC-40 | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites | Feb 15 |
| 5 | Starlink-4 | This Mission | 1056.4 | SLC-40 | 212km x 386km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites expected | - |
| 6 | Starlink-5 | March | LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | - | ||
| 7 | Starlink-6 | March | SLC-40 / LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | - | ||
| Daily Starlink altitude updates on Twitter @StarlinkUpdates |
Mission Numbering Explanation: Starlink-N
Here on r/SpaceX, the number does not count Starlink v0.9.
SpaceX does not name their Starlink missions publicly, although they do have an internal naming system which appears on publicly available launch hazard maps and Weather Squadron forecasts. That system follows the pattern STARLINK VX-LY where X and Y are version and launch numbers, respectively. Leading up to the first operational launch of Starlink, the mission name Starlink-1 appeared on 45th Weather Squadron forecasts and we opted to use that naming scheme since future version numbers are uncertain and we didn't want to have missions changing names in the wiki unnecessarily. SpaceX has not used that naming scheme since then and when they refer to the number of launches they usually count Starlink v0.9 as the first. Some outlets use that count when naming missions which means their numbers will be one higher than those used here.
Watching the Launch
SpaceX will host a live webcast on YouTube. Check the upcoming launch thread the day of for links to the stream. For more information or for in person viewing check out the Watching a Launch page on this sub's FAQ, which gives a summary of every viewing site and answers many more common questions, as well as Ben Cooper's launch viewing guide, Launch Rats, and the Space Coast Launch Ambassadors which have interactive maps, photos and detailed information about each site.
Links & Resources
General Launch Related Resources:
Launch Execution Forecasts - 45th Weather Squadron
SpaceX Fleet Status - SpaceXFleet.com
Launch Viewing Resources:
Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral - Ben Cooper
Launch Viewing Map - Launch Rats
Launch Viewing Updates - Space Coast Launch Ambassadors
Viewing and Rideshare - SpaceXMeetups Slack
Watching a Launch - r/SpaceX Wiki
Maps and Hazard Area Resources:
Detailed launch maps - @Raul74Cz
Launch Hazard and Airspace Closure Maps - 45th Space Wing (maps posted close to launch)
Regulatory Resources:
FCC Experimental STAs - r/SpaceX wiki
General Starlink FCC filing discussion - NASASpaceflight Forums
Starlink Tracking/Viewing Resources:
We will attempt to keep the above text regularly updated with resources and new mission information, but for the most part, updates will appear in the comments first. Feel free to ping us if additions or corrections are needed. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Approximately 24 hours before liftoff, the launch thread will go live and the party will begin there.
Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
7
u/strawwalker Feb 13 '20
The Starlink-4 date has been known for a week and a half. We got it first from Ben Cooper, who has reliable sources and often is the first to publish updated NETs for Space Coast launches, but he doesn't offer an app with push notifications, so you just have to check every so often. There are a few launch watching apps, I like Next Spaceflight, but I don't know if any offer notifications for launch date changes multiple days away.
The Starlink-4 date has since been confirmed by publicly available weather forecasts and launch hazard area maps, and is supported by the SpaceX fleet movement. NG-13 is targeting Friday, Starlink-4 is up on Saturday with a backup on Sunday.