SpaceX F9 - Starlink V1.0-13 - LC-39A

[Grendal]

Launch Date: October 18
Launch Window: 1227 GMT (8:27 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS
Booster: B1051.6
Fairings: TBD
Mass: 60 satellites at 260 kg each - 15,600 kg (34,500 lbs)
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 14th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 13.

 

[Oldmanelectron]

When the Apollo went to the moon, all the world was watching. After that, it became common place and no one really cared, until Apollo 13 happened. These Space X Starlink launches have become hohum. Now if this were the final set of satellites. Then you announced that Starlink would be up and running with in a month, then people would take notice. Think about it.

 

[Cosmacelf]

I think they’ve got a date now. Oct 18, 5:27am PDT

 

[Grendal]

I think they’ve got a date now. Oct 18, 5:27am PDT

Yes. Thanks. The first post has been updated. Also moved to 39A.

It looks like SpaceX has created a more official designation for Starlinks. So the thread title has been updated as well. SpaceX are anticipating upgraded versions of their satellites and have created a designation to reflect that. These satellites are Version 1.0 and this is the thirteenth official launch of this type.

 

[Grendal]

70% of favorable weather.

 

[Grendal]

 

[Grendal]

 

[Grendal]

Great launch, MECO, landing was spot on, and orbital insertion.

17th launch of the year.
62 successful booster landings.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

Great launch, MECO, landing was spot on, and orbital insertion.

17th launch of the year.
62 successful booster landings.

Yes, perhaps it is just that I am getting used to the process but everything does seem to be getting smoother. I guess practise makes perfect. The recent landings appear to be closer to the centre of the drone ship than the first dozen or so.

So SpaceX 62 successful landings, everyone else still trying to catch up. Looking forward to the first SH landing.

 

[HVM]

"We saw a brief clip from one of fairing recovery ship on stream. They've caught a fairing but it looks like it may have torn through the net and hit the deck?
...
SpaceX has confirmed that the crew is safe. The corner of the net of this ship (Ms. Tree) gave way and caused the fairing to drop down."

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1317820577474924548

 

[HVM]

^---------- "Also, Ms. Chief caught her second ever fairing half! Hopefully, SpaceX will share some glam photos with us later on."

 

[ICUDoc]

That booster has clearly gotten much better with practice!

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

"We saw a brief clip from one of fairing recovery ship on stream. They've caught a fairing but it looks like it may have torn through the net and hit the deck?
...
SpaceX has confirmed that the crew is safe. The corner of the net of this ship (Ms. Tree) gave way and caused the fairing to drop down."

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1317820577474924548

OK, prepare to hear about new nets. SpaceX has had many different failures, each of them once.

 

[Grendal]

OK, prepare to hear about new nets. SpaceX has had many different failures, each of them once.

There was damage photographed on the net as it was leaving port. It looks like the fairing managed to hit the area where the damage was and causing it to fail.

 

[Cosmacelf]

There was damage photographed on the net as it was leaving port. It looks like the fairing managed to hit the area where the damage was and causing it to fail.

Ouch. That might have been a $2M slipshod repair job.

 

[adiggs]

But hey - they're getting better at getting the ships underneath the fairing halves where they need to be at the end.

And look - a launch thread for a launch that's already happened, and we're not even on page 2!