SpaceX F9 - Starlink 9/BlackSky Global 5 & 6 - LC-39A

[Grendal]

Launch Date: August 7
Launch Window: 1:33 AM EDT
Launch site: LC-39A
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - OCISLY
Booster: B1051.5
Fairings: ?
Mass: 57 satellites at 260 kg each - 15,000 kg (33,000 lbs) - Blacksky 55 kg each
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to launch the tenth batch of 57 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 9. Two Earth observation microsatellites for BlackSky Global, a Seattle-based company, will launch as rideshare payloads on this mission.

BlackSky launching two satellites on June Starlink mission - SpaceNews.com

 

[ecarfan]

I love the way SpaceX is partially funding Starlink launches with a few rideshare sats that don’t decrease the Starlink sat payload.

 

[Grendal]

One day slip - First post updated

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

One day slip - First post updated

Has there been any announcement re static fire - I am guessing that this has now been abandoned for all Starlink launches to build confidence in this approach?

 

[adiggs]

Has there been any announcement re static fire - I am guessing that this has now been abandoned for all Starlink launches to build confidence in this approach?

Since it's only happened once so far, we don't have enough points to draw a conclusion.

I'm hopeful though that they'll do exactly what you describe - skip the static fire on flight proven boosters with Starlink launches to start building evidence of how reliable this is without this additional time consuming and expensive step prior to launch.

 

[Grendal]

People who talk to people on the inside think that there will be a static fire with this booster. We're two days out and we haven't heard anything yet though.

 

[Grendal]

Two day slip. First post updated. Static fire likely for Tuesday. Weather not good for launch day. Though it is bad all week.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Damn it.

 

[Grendal]

Static Fire happened. Weather is better at 60% for tomorrow.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Latest SpaceX tweet:

Targeting tomorrow, June 26 at 4:18 p.m. EDT for launch of 57 Starlink satellites and 2 spacecraft from @SpaceflightInc’s customer BlackSky

 

[Grendal]

70% chance of launch - Webcast:

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

https://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/...- 26 Jun Launch.pdf?ver=2020-06-26-080438-300

8am forecast. Probability based on weather now up to 80%.

 

[ggr]

Postponed, possibly until after the GPS launch.

 

[Grendal]

And scrubbed for today. The webcast is saying three days but that could change.

 

[favo]

Spaceflight Now reports launch date is now July 8 at approximately 16:00 GMT (12 p.m. EDT).

 

[e-FTW]

Yeah, the first launch of a real busy July.

 

[Grendal]

60% go for launch tomorrow. The rocket is vertical on the pad.

 

[Grendal]

EA's webcast - play by play:

 

[Grendal]

New Webcast:

 

[Grendal]

Scrubbed for weather.