SpaceX F9 - Starlink V1.5 - 4-1 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: November 13
Launch Window: 7:20am EST (4:20am PST, 12:20 UTC)
Launch site: SLC-40 Cape Canaveral Space Fore Base
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS - ASOG
Booster: B1058-9
Fairings: Reused - Yes
Mass: 53 satellites - no data on mass
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 31st batch of 53 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 4-1. This will be the first launch of the 4th (550 km) shell.

Starlink Block v1.5​

Starlink is SpaceX's 12.000-satellite low earth orbit constellation to provide broadband Internet access.
space.skyrocket.de
These are the newest design satellites designated version 1.5.

 

[Grendal]

 

[Grendal]

 

[808?]

Scrubbed for today, try again tomorrow.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

Has the launch been pushed back a day? The link is saying it will be live in 23 hours

Edit: Thanks for the confirmation @808?

 

[Cosmacelf]

What ever happened to all the polar launches from Vandenberg they were supposed to do this fall?

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1459498487498878979

 

[Nikxice]

The fog surrounding the base of the F9 made for a spectacular morning launch! Worth rewinding, first indication was the plume of exhaust rising rapidly out from the flame deflection tunnel. The ASDS landing was nominal under clear skies. Video freeze, hope SpaceX can eventually develop a consistent livestream for these cool landings.

 

[Grendal]

What ever happened to all the polar launches from Vandenberg they were supposed to do this fall?

Good question. I haven't read anything on what is causing the delays. A WAG would be some kind of Vandenberg paperwork or bureaucratic issue. There have been a few times that it appeared to be scheduled.

 

[Grendal]

I doubt I was the only one that thought they lost the booster when there was a lengthy delay before confirmation of a successful landing.

 

[Electroman]

Watch carefully approximately to the right and towards the bottom of the screen from T+16:25 for 10 seconds. There is an object well below Falcon 2nd stage and above the clouds that flies pretty fast and also casts a long shadow on the clouds for about two seconds. What is that?

 

[HVM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1459518399373922304

 

[HVM]

Watch carefully approximately to the right and towards the bottom of the screen from T+16:25 for 10 seconds. There is an object well below Falcon 2nd stage and above the clouds that flies pretty fast and also casts a long shadow on the clouds for about two seconds. What is that?

Tension rods, left one is visible against black of space and your "shadow" is the right one. it's barely observable against bright globe.

 

[ICUDoc]

Flawless.
And some beautiful moments.

 

[bxr140]

A WAG would be some kind of Vandenberg paperwork or bureaucratic issue. There have been a few times that it appeared to be scheduled.

FWIW, rarely is there some bureaucratic reason for moving otherwise 'booked' (officially or not) launch dates.

If I had to guess I'd say SpaceX is simply prioritizing their inclined planes over the polar shell, either from a satellite perspective (more sats = less service holes) or a launcher perspective (notably the launcher team--its not like there's a full crew just hanging out a Vandy waiting to hit a button).

It could potentially be a laser terminal thing too--in a world where SpaceX is never done iterating perhaps there's a step function production break point where it makes sense to just not send up any polar sats right now? Ultimately the inclined shell will have many more laser paths available AND most of the traffic won't go through the ISLs anyway...so if there's some less awesome hardware scattered in there its probably much less of a deal than the polar planes.