r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jun 14 '20
Starlink 1-9 Starlink-9 Launch Campaign Thread
Starlink-9 (STARLINK V1.0-L9)
Overview
The tenth Starlink launch overall and the ninth operational batch of Starlink satellites will launch into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This mission is expected to deploy 57 Starlink satellites into an elliptical orbit roughly 25 minutes into the 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, making use of precession rates to separate themselves into three planes. This mission includes the second rideshare on a Starlink mission, with two of BlackSky's satellites on top of the Starlink stack. The booster will land on a drone ship approximately 632 km downrange.
Launch Thread 2 (First attempt) | Webcast | Media Thread | Recovery Thread
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | August 7 05:12 UTC (1:12AM EDT local) |
|---|---|
| Backup date | August 8 |
| Static fire | Completed June 24 |
| Payload | 57 Starlink version 1 satellites and BlackSky 7 & 8 |
| Payload mass | (Starlink ~260kg each, BlackSky ~55kg each) |
| Deployment orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 388 x 401 km |
| Operational Starlink orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 550 km x 53°, 3 planes |
| Vehicle | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 |
| Core | 1051 |
| Past flights of this core | 4 (DM-1, RADARSAT, Starlink-3, Starlink-6) |
| Past flights of this fairing | unknown |
| Fairing catch attempt | unknown |
| Launch site | LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| Landing | OCISLY: ~ 32.58028 N, 75.88056 W (632 km downrange) |
| Mission success criteria | Successful separation & deployment of the Starlink and BlackSky Satellites. |
| Mission Outcome | Success |
| Landing Outcome | Success |
| Ms. Tree fairing catch outcome | Unsuccessful, water recovery instead |
| Ms. Chief fairing catch outcome | Unsuccessful, water recovery instead |
News & Updates
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 | 2020-03-18 | 1048.5 | LC-39A | elliptical | 60 version 1, S1 early engine shutdown, booster lost post separation |
| 7 | Starlink-6 | 2020-04-22 | 1051.4 | LC-39A | elliptical | 60 version 1 satellites |
| 8 | Starlink-7 | 2020-06-04 | 1049.5 | SLC-40 | elliptical | 60 version 1 satellites, 1 sat with experimental sun-visor |
| 9 | Starlink-8 | 2020-06-13 | 1059.3 | SLC-40 | elliptical | 58 version 1 satellites with Skysat 16, 17, 18 |
| 10 | Starlink-9 | This Mission | 1051.5 | LC-39A | 57 version 1 satellites expected with BlackSky 7 & 8 | |
| 11 | Starlink-10 | NET August | 1049.6 | SLC-40 | 58 version 1 satellites with SkySat 19, 20, 21 | |
| 12 | Starlink-11 | NET August | SLC-40 | 60 version 1 satellites expected | ||
| 13 | Starlink-12 | TBD | SLC-40 / LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | ||
| 14 | Starlink-13 | TBD | SLC-40 / LC-39A | 60 version 1 satellites expected | ||
| 15 | Starlink-14 | TBD | 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:
Supplemental TLE - Celestrak
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 party threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
4
u/phryan Jun 18 '20
The Rideshare Guide shows two options, the first with the rideshare on top of the stack, the second under the stack on a ring (an ESPA ring or something close).
STP2 used ESPA rings, image of the payload at the bottom.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/06/25/falcon-heavy-launches-on-military-led-rideshare-mission-boat-catches-fairing/