SpaceX F9 - Starlink 11 - LC-39A

[Grendal]

Launch Date: September 3
Launch Window: 1246 GMT (8:46 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - OCISLY
Booster: B1060.2
Fairings: ?
Mass: 60 satellites at 260 kg each - 15,600 kg (34,500 lbs)
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 12th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 11. These satellites will join the current fleet of approximately 650 Starlink satellites.

 

[Grendal]

First post updated.

 

[favo]

Spaceflight Now has this launch postponed by one day to 8/30 at 10:08 AM EDT.

Moderator: Adjusted - and thanks!

 

[favo]

May be delayed again due to ripple effects from ULA NROL-44 scrub and resulting SAOCOM 1B delay.

 

[Nikxice]

 

[favo]

This would be SpaceX's 100th orbital launch attempt. Weather is 50% go. Backup dates are September 1, 2 and 3.

 

[ecarfan]

 

[Grendal]

80% favorable for tomorrow:

 

[Grendal]

Newest Webcast:

 

[808?]

Never gets old:

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

Was interested to hear on the webcast that SpaceX has successfully tested GB connectivity between Starlink satellites using 'SpaceLasers'. That seems a big milestone as I believe it completes the technology required for full operation of the 'mesh' of satellites as originally envisaged.

 

[Grendal]

Well done. Complete success again - except for confirmation of fairing recovery. We'll hear about that on twitter in an hour or two. Good luck for that.

 

[MyJoule]

They sure do make it look easy- however, keep remembering, Space is hard- There are a lot of dedicated people working to make this successful. Way to go SpaceX.

 

[ecarfan]

It’s always frustrating when the downlink to the booster is lost during the last few minutes before landing, but happy to see the booster sitting in the bullseye on OCISLY and the sats deployed successfully!

Briefly saw the fairing chutes deploying after separation, they were visible in the booster camera view.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Was interested to hear on the webcast that SpaceX has successfully tested GB connectivity between Starlink satellites using 'SpaceLasers'. That seems a big milestone as I believe it completes the technology required for full operation of the 'mesh' of satellites as originally envisaged.

Crucial for future use on Tristan da Cunha.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

Crucial for future use on Tristan da Cunha.

... and presumably cruise/shipping and aircraft operating over seas.

Not sure if it is planned to be used for low latency intercontinental connectivity. Perhaps someone else on the forum has info on this?

 

[EVCollies]

Crucial for future use on Tristan da Cunha.

I love this thread, no other way I would have learned about this island in the middle of nowhere. Here is a shot from the ISS.

 

[Cosmacelf]

“There is no airstrip of any kind on the main island; the only way of travelling in and out of Tristan is by boat, a six-day trip from South Africa.”. OK, now that’s a truly remote place! And it somehow manages to have a population of 250 people!

 

[bxr140]

... and presumably cruise/shipping and aircraft operating over seas.

Not sure if it is planned to be used for low latency intercontinental connectivity. Perhaps someone else on the forum has info on this?

Plenty of discussion in the starlink thread on ISL benefits:
1. Yes to oceanic service (small islands and boats)
2. Sometimes for trans-con latency (mostly not)
3. Yes for inter-con latency
4. Yes to minimizing ground station quantity
5. Very much yes for disaggregating traffic across multiple feeder links

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

“There is no airstrip of any kind on the main island; the only way of travelling in and out of Tristan is by boat, a six-day trip from South Africa.”. OK, now that’s a truly remote place! And it somehow manages to have a population of 250 people!

UK goverment has provided help at important times. Surely would have failed at some point without it. Sadly, humans have beought invasive species, including mice with explosive population growth that is killing off bird populations by eating eggs.

Anyway, still no word on the fairings, so I assume they were lost.