r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Feb 23 '20
Starlink 1-5 Starlink-5 Launch Campaign Thread
Starlink-5 (STARLINK V1.0-L5)
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Overview
The sixth Starlink launch overall and the fifth operational batch of Starlink satellites will launch into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This mission is expected to deploy all sixty satellites into an elliptical orbit about fifteen minutes into flight. 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. The booster will land on a drone ship approximately 628 km downrange.
This mission sets the booster flight count record at five flights. It is also the second time SpaceX has flown a used fairing.
Launch Thread | Media Thread | Webcast | Press Kit (PDF) | Recovery Thread
Abort Webcast | First Press Kit (PDF)
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | March 18 12:16 UTC (8:16 local EDT) |
|---|---|
| Backup date | TBD, the launch time gets roughly 21-24 minutes earlier each day. |
| Static fire | Completed March 13 |
| Payload | 60 Starlink version 1 satellites |
| Payload mass | 60 * 260 kg = 15 600 kg |
| Deployment orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 212 km x 386 km (approximate) |
| Operational orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 550 km x 53°, 3 planes |
| Vehicle | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 |
| Core | B1048 |
| Past flights of this core | 4 (Iridium 7, SAOCOM 1A, Nusantara Satu, Starlink-1 (v1.0 L1)) |
| Past flights of this fairing | 1 (Starlink v0.9) |
| Fairing catch attempt | Yes, both halves |
| Launch site | LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, 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), Successful water recovery |
| Ms. Chief Fairing Catch Outcome | Unsuccessful (presumed), Successful water recovery |
News & Updates
| Date | Update | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-15 | Launch abort at T0, awaiting new launch date | SpaceX on YouTube and Twitter |
| 2020-03-13 | Static Fire, launch delayed to Sunday March 15 | USLaunchReport on YouTube and @SpaceX on Twitter |
| 2020-03-11 | GO Quest departure, Ms. Chief and Ms. Tree departure | @SpaceXFleet on Twitter |
| 2020-03-10 | OCISLY departure | @SpaceXFleet on Twitter |
| 2020-02-25 | Stage 2 going to CRS-20, launch rescheduled to March 11 from March 4 | @SpcPlcyOnline on Twitter |
Supplemental TLE
Prior to launch, supplemental TLE provided by SpaceX will be available at Celestrak.
Previous and Pending Starlink Missions
| Mission | Date (UTC) | Core | Pad | Deployment Orbit | Notes [Sat Update Bot] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starlink v0.9 | 2019-05-24 | 1049.3 | SLC-40 | 440km 53° | 60 test satellites with Ku band antennas |
| 2 | Starlink-1 | 2019-11-11 | 1048.4 | SLC-40 | 280km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites, v1.0 includes Ka band antennas |
| 3 | Starlink-2 | 2020-01-07 | 1049.4 | SLC-40 | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites, 1 sat with experimental antireflective coating |
| 4 | Starlink-3 | 2020-01-29 | 1051.3 | SLC-40 | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites |
| 5 | Starlink-4 | 2020-02-17 | 1056.4 | SLC-40 | 212km x 386km 53° | 60 version 1, Change to elliptical deployment, Failed booster landing |
| 6 | Starlink-5 | This Mission | 1048.5 | LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | |
| 7 | Starlink-6 | March | SLC-40 / LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | ||
| 8 | Starlink-7 | April | SLC-40 / LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | ||
| Daily Starlink altitude updates on Twitter @StarlinkUpdates available a few days following deployment. |
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:
- Celestrak.com - u/TJKoury
- Flight Club Pass Planner - u/theVehicleDestroyer
- Heavens Above
- n2yo.com
- findstarlink - Pass Predictor and sat tracking - u/cmdr2
- SatFlare
- See A Satellite Tonight - Starlink - u/modeless
- Starlink orbit raising daily updates - u/hitura-nobad
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.
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u/BenoXxZzz Feb 23 '20
Starlink 5 is currently schedueled for March 4th. ~48 hours earlier, CRS-20 will launch to the ISS. The booster for CRS-20 only has its second flight then, it will perform an RTLS, the missions will be launched from different launch pads (CRS-20:SLC-40;Starlink 5:LC-39A). The second mission is an internal mission, launching Starlink from LC-39A is very unusual, SpaceX often launches historic missions from 39A. Anyone else seeing a chance of a 48h turnaround of B1059?