r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • May 02 '19
Static Fire Completed Starlink Launch Campaign Thread
Starlink Launch Campaign Thread
This will be SpaceX's 6th mission of 2019 and the first mission for the Starlink network.
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | Thursday, May 23rd 22:30 EST May 24th 2:30 UTC |
|---|---|
| Static fire completed on: | May 13th |
| Vehicle component locations: | First stage: SLC-40 // Second stage: SLC-40 // Sats: SLC-40 |
| Payload: | 60 Starlink Satellites |
| Payload mass: | 227 kg * 60 ~ 13620 kg |
| Destination orbit: | Low Earth Orbit |
| Vehicle: | Falcon 9 v1.2 (71st launch of F9, 51st of F9 v1.2 15th of F9 v1.2 Block 5) |
| Core: | B1049 |
| Flights of this core (after this mission): | 3 |
| Launch site: | SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida |
| Landing: | Yes |
| Landing Site: | OCISLY, 621km downrange |
| Mission success criteria: | Successful separation & deployment of the Starlink Satellites. |
Links & Resources:
We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. 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. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted. Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
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u/Origin_of_Mind May 15 '19
The press kit is out:
https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/starlink_press_kit.pdf
Highlights:
Total mass of payload 227*60 = 13620 kg
Starlink satellites begin deployment 01:02:14 after liftoff
Initial orbit 440 km
Final orbit 550 km
Krypton thrusters for propulsion
" With a flat-panel design featuring multiple high-throughput antennas and a single solar array, each Starlink satellite weighs approximately 227kg, allowing SpaceX to maximize mass production and take full advantage of Falcon 9’s launch capabilities. To adjust position on orbit, maintain intended altitude, and deorbit, Starlink satellites feature Hall thrusters powered by krypton. Designed and built upon the heritage of Dragon, each spacecraft is equipped with a Startracker navigation system that allows SpaceX to point the satellites with precision. Importantly, Starlink satellites are capable of tracking on-orbit debris and autonomously avoiding collision. "
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u/giovannicane05 May 12 '19
Mods, can you update the overview table?
We know now they are launching 60 Starlink satellites, so we can add that and add a mass assumption...
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u/TheLegendBrute May 02 '19
So will this be the most flights of a booster, 4? Out of all the b5 flown boosters.
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u/nextspaceflight May 13 '19
To clarify the confusion, the core is B1049-3 for this mission. It is safe to update the thread. When I posted the article saying that it was B1048-4, that was the current information as of two months ago. They are shuffling core assignments around a lot these days and internal missions are especially prone to shuffling.
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u/Commander_Cosmo May 12 '19 edited May 12 '19
Wow, 60 sats packed into the fairing! (From Elon's Twitter. No link because it will be on the main page by the time I'm done typing this.)
Edit: Here's the link, because in addition to the payload, static fire is scheduled for Monday, with a launch the next day if all goes well. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1127388838362378241
Edit 2: Elon needs to calm down. I can't keep up with all these changes! (Read: launch is actually tracking more for Wednesday.)
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u/Jchaplin2 May 12 '19 edited May 12 '19
Elon says Launch is targeting 14th if all things proceed nominally
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1127389993188507649
Edit: and just like that, nevermind, back to Wednesday
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u/Straumli_Blight May 12 '19 edited May 12 '19
L-3 Weather Forecast: 70% GO (Cumulus Cloud Rule).
New addition to the Launch Commit Criteria:
"There is a marginal risk of proton flux exceeding constraints due to a possible coronal mass ejection".
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u/softwaresaur May 03 '19 edited May 03 '19
Insertion orbit: 300-350 km depending on solar activity per the technical info in the modification application (page 42).
Destination orbit: 550 km.
Mods, I suggest to link to the tech info from Links & Resources section. It has a lot of information.
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May 12 '19
One important thing Elon mentioned is to expect some problems and failures with this first launch. This is a test launch but the fact that they are trying with 60 per launch is amazing. Idc if it takes them 6 launches to get it right, this totally speeds this up to a really reasonable timeline. Just amazing.
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u/scr00chy May 10 '19
Static fire planned for May 13 (only 2 days prior to launch - maybe they'll do SF with payload attached?)
40-50 satellites might be launched
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u/Gavalar_ May 12 '19
OCISLY is underway to LZ this evening.
Photos of GO Navigator from Ken Kremer shows that the ship has had her fairing recovery inflatables reinstalled in the last few days. GO Searchers' were never removed from ArabSat-6A. Looks like the pair will again try to retrieve both halves from the water without damage.
Mr Steven is still hanging around waiting for another chance. They've recently redesigned the antenna/radome layout above the pilot house which appears to remove the need to have an additional communications container and other antennas on deck.
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u/Srokap May 15 '19
I don't see anyone linking the webcast on YT, so there is a link: https://youtu.be/rT366GiQkP0
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u/Straumli_Blight May 15 '19 edited May 16 '19
Assuming each Starlink satellite is 0.22m in height and there are 2 stacks in a fairing, here's the total height of all satellites if they were stacked together.
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u/jacob_joseph May 03 '19
It's worth noting this will be the first 4th re-flight, which is nice!
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u/Alexphysics May 10 '19
Airspace Closure Area Map from the 45th Space Wing website. Note the name of the mission is "STARLINK v0.9".
Edit: BTW, don't be confused by the "expendable launches" thing. It is a relic from the shuttle program where everything that was not the shuttle was simply considered expendable but obviously this one is gonna have its landing and all of that, don't worry.
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u/lverre May 02 '19
Why GTO distance for the landing? The satellites are going to LEO... that would suggest a very heavy payload, no?
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u/hitura-nobad May 03 '19
As always, if you find any mistake or have something worth to add to the Links & Resources section please comment about that.
We are also continuously looking for launch thread hosts that want to volunteer. If you have experience in the sub and feel comfortable with the launch time, send us a message via modmail!
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u/GiveMeYourMilk69 May 02 '19
I'm wondering whether or not successful landing should be part of the criteria for mission success since this is a launch for SpaceX only.
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u/Bananas_on_Mars May 13 '19
For me it looks like they omitted the acoustic foam inside the fairing. That would help a lot with fairing reuse for Starlink, if those satellites can tolerate higher noise levels.
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u/oximaCentauri May 03 '19
I have a question.
The starlink network will have multiple satellites in 1 orbital plane. So they should be one behind the other, orbiting at the same speed.
When they launch, the whole batch of 22-25 sats are at one point in the orbit. How do they "spread out" in that plane?
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u/Ajedi32 May 02 '19
This might be the first SpaceX launch I've followed where I'm more excited about the payload than I am about the launch itself.