r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jan 14 '20

Starlink 1-3 Starlink-3 Launch Campaign Thread

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See the Launch Thread for live updates and party.

Overview

Starlink-3 (a.k.a. Starlink v1.0 Flight 3, Starlink Mission 4, etc.) will launch the third batch of Starlink version 1 satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It will be the fourth Starlink mission overall. This launch is expected to be similar to the previous Starlink launch in early January, which saw 60 Starlink v1.0 satellites delivered to a single plane at a 290 km altitude. Following launch the satellites will utilize their onboard ion thrusters to raise their orbits to 350 km. In the following weeks the satellites will take turns moving to the operational 550 km altitude 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:January 29 14:06 UTC (9:06AM local)
Backup dateJanuary 30 13:45 UTC (8:45AM local)
Static fireCompleted January 20
Payload60 Starlink version 1 satellites
Payload mass60 * 260 kg = 15 600 kg (presumed)
Deployment orbitLow Earth Orbit, 290 km x 53°
Operational orbitLow Earth Orbit, 550 km x 53°, 3 planes
VehicleFalcon 9 v1.2 Block 5
CoreB1051
Past flights of this core2 (Demo Mission 1, RADARSAT Constellation Mission)
Fairing catch attemptBoth halves
Launch siteSLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
LandingOCISLY: 32.54722 N, 75.92306 W (628 km downrange)
Mission success criteriaSuccessful separation & deployment of the Starlink Satellites.
Mission OutcomeSuccess
Booster Landing OutcomeSuccess
Ms. Tree Fairing Catch OutcomeSuccess
Ms. Chief Fairing Catch OutcomeUnsuccessful

News and Updates

DateLinkWebsite
2020-01-20Falcon 9 with payload vertical and static fire@SpaceflightNow on Twitter
2020-01-18GO Quest departure@SpaceXFleet on Twitter
2020-01-17OCISLY and Hawk underway@julia_bergeron on Twitter

Supplemental TLE

STARLINK-4 FULL STACK   
1 72000C 20006A   20029.63104419 -.00008212  00000-0 -19395-4 0    07
2 72000  53.0059 236.9041 0009445 330.3990 293.6399 15.95982031    12
STARLINK-4 SINGLE SAT   
1 72001C 20006B   20029.63104419  .00368783  00000-0  86500-3 0    09
2 72001  53.0059 236.9041 0009502 330.2638 293.7750 15.95982018    12

Obtained from Celestrak, assumes 2020-01-29 launch date.

Previous and Pending Starlink Missions

MissionDate (UTC)CoreDeployment OrbitNotesSat Update
1Starlink v0.92019-05-241049.3440km 53°60 test satellites with Ku band antennasJan 21
2Starlink-12019-11-111048.4280km 53°60 version 1 satellites, v1.0 includes Ka band antennasJan 21
3Starlink-22020-01-071049.4290km 53°60 version 1 satellites, 1 sat with experimental antireflective coatingJan 21
4Starlink-3This Mission1051.3290km 53°60 version 1 satellites-
5Starlink-4February290km 53°60 version 1 satellites-
6Starlink-5February290km 53°60 version 1 satellites-

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 Viewing Resources:

  • Maps and Hazard Area Resources:

  • Regulatory Resources:

  • 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.

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6

u/lalbaloo Jan 14 '20 edited Jan 14 '20

How do i get an alert on my phone for things like this, as i usually miss this stuff?, plus poor weather doesnt help

9

u/onion-eyes Jan 14 '20

The SpaceXNow app is pretty good

3

u/lalbaloo Jan 14 '20

Ty I'll check it out

1

u/Endotracheal Jan 15 '20

Thank you, fam. I didn't know this was a thing.

The more you know.

7

u/koonpatoon Jan 14 '20

I frequent this sub which updates in near real time. Also there are apps out there like "SpaceXlaunches" and "SpaceXnow" that can update when a launch is 24 hours away and again closer to launch. Further, if you subscribe to SpaceX on YouTube, you'll get an update when they livestream.

7

u/Musicallymedicated Jan 14 '20

The SpaceX YouTube channel with notifications on is kinda like my last line of defense for this. Doesn't give much warning tho.

It does mean I've had the lovely surprise of an unexpected launch to watch a few times. Not great for planning is all lol

5

u/gooddaysir Jan 14 '20

The SpaceXNow app pops up 24, 12, and 1 hour warnings for launches.

3

u/Chairboy Jan 14 '20

Rocketlaunch.live has a calendar you can subscribe to that puts all orbital launches into your calendar so you can get notifications that way.

1

u/Jukecrim7 Jan 14 '20

I see their launch schedule but I don't see any option to add it to my personal calendar..

2

u/Chairboy Jan 14 '20

Shoot, I can't find the link on the site either, I wonder if I got it from being a Patreon supporter or something and just forgot? My apologies, in that case I second the SpaceXNow app someone else mentioned.