SpaceX F9 - Starlink V1.0-L27 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: May 9
Launch Window: 2:42 AM EDT or 0642 UTC (11:42 PM May 8 PDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - JRTI
Booster: B1051-10
Fairings: Reused from GPS III
Mass: 60 satellites at 260 kg each - 15,600 kg (34,500 lbs)
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 27th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L27.

 

[adiggs]

May 4th, 2021 - @e-FTW (I misremembered my own bet)
June 2, 2021 - @adiggs

Well heck - if the May 9 date and expected booster are correct, then I'm off by 23 days and @e-FTW is off by 5 days. I'll need a slip of about 10 days to move back into the lead.

When was the last time that a Starlink launch slipped 10+ days?


I'm not liking my odds.

 

[Grendal]

Well heck - if the May 9 date and expected booster are correct, then I'm off by 23 days and @e-FTW is off by 5 days. I'll need a slip of about 10 days to move back into the lead.

When was the last time that a Starlink launch slipped 10+ days?


I'm not liking my odds.

Yeah. I've got a second confirmation this will be B1051 from EA's website.

That said, SpaceX has labelled this as the 27th Starlink mission internally. The 26th batch will launch after this one.

Thread headline has been changed and updated with known information.

 

[e-FTW]

Let's do THIS! 10! Ten!

 

[Grendal]

80% favorable weather.

 

[Cosmacelf]

 

[Grendal]

A little early:

 

[Nikxice]

A little early:

A middle of the night launch almost seems designed to fit right into Elon's schedule. I'm assuming he'll still be running high on (adrenaline?) from the SNL afterparty. Go 10!

 

[Cosmacelf]

It's official. The first stage has done its job. 10 Reuses confirmed.

 

[Grendal]

Congratulations e-FTW.

 

[Grendal]

Successful launch, MECO, landing (First 10th!!!), and SECO. We're in the coast phase.

B1051 is the winner is the first tenth launch. 83rd successful landing. Not a bullseye, but a safe landing.

 

[Cosmacelf]

And first stage just landed. Looks like a little fire at the base on the drone ship. Hopefully isn’t too bad.

So, what's the next bet? Date of first Starship orbit?

 

[HVM]

Arianespace officials told, some years ago, that SpaceX rocket re-use program was a fool's errand. They had calculated that (for them),that they needed over twenty launches per year and at least ten re-uses per booster for program to be commercially viable, that according them that was impossible...

 

[Nikxice]

Congrats to SpaceX for capturing a tenbagger! Does Elon now want to crank it up to 11?
An orbital Starship contest might heighten interest during the gap between suborbital testing and reaching orbit. Perhaps include winning contingent on a successful landing.

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1391284955582537728

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1391298872895414272

 

[Cosmacelf]

Congrats to SpaceX for capturing a tenbagger! Does Elon now want to crank it up to 11?

Nice. That'll be Elon's tweet when that mission is announced...

An orbital Starship contest might heighten interest during the gap between suborbital testing and reaching orbit. Perhaps include winning contingent on a successful landing.

And the contest negotiations have begun. I'll start a new thread about the next bet!

 

[e-FTW]

And I'll start the bet thread on first Falcon 9 to 100 flights.

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392111800615903237

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392556522354446339

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392562121708294148

Bit blacker than others, but look otherwise fine. -Fine; like ready to do another ten flights.