Launch Date: March 17
Launch Window: 12:01pm PDT (3:01pm EDT, 19:01 UTC) - 5hr 15min launch window
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - OCISLY
Booster: B1071.8
Fairings: Reused - 5th time for each
Mass: 52 Starlink satellites
Orbit: LEO
Yearly Launch Number: 18
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 71st group of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 2-8. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. This batch is the sixth launch of Starlink satellites headed for the 2nd shell of Starlink's first generation constellation. This shell is planned to be comprised of 36 orbital planes with 20 satellites per plane for a total of 720 satellites. The satellites in this shell will be located at a roughly 570km circular orbit and at a 70º orbital inclination. For this mission, Falcon 9 will likely carry 50-52 satellites into a 310x320km 70º orbit. From here the satellites will then raise their orbits to operational altitude.
Launch Window: 12:01pm PDT (3:01pm EDT, 19:01 UTC) - 5hr 15min launch window
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - OCISLY
Booster: B1071.8
Fairings: Reused - 5th time for each
Mass: 52 Starlink satellites
Orbit: LEO
Yearly Launch Number: 18
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 71st group of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 2-8. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. This batch is the sixth launch of Starlink satellites headed for the 2nd shell of Starlink's first generation constellation. This shell is planned to be comprised of 36 orbital planes with 20 satellites per plane for a total of 720 satellites. The satellites in this shell will be located at a roughly 570km circular orbit and at a 70º orbital inclination. For this mission, Falcon 9 will likely carry 50-52 satellites into a 310x320km 70º orbit. From here the satellites will then raise their orbits to operational altitude.
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