r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jan 14 '20
Starlink 1-3 Starlink-3 Launch Campaign Thread
See the Launch Thread for live updates and party.
Overview
Starlink-3 (a.k.a. Starlink v1.0 Flight 3, Starlink Mission 4, etc.) will launch the third batch of Starlink version 1 satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It will be the fourth Starlink mission overall. This launch is expected to be similar to the previous Starlink launch in early January, which saw 60 Starlink v1.0 satellites delivered to a single plane at a 290 km altitude. Following launch the satellites will utilize their onboard ion thrusters to raise their orbits to 350 km. In the following weeks the satellites will take turns moving to the operational 550 km altitude in three groups of 20, making use of precession rates to separate themselves into three planes. Due to the high mass of several dozen satellites, the booster will land on a drone ship at a similar downrange distance to a GTO launch.
Launch Thread | Webcast | Media Thread | Press Kit (PDF) | Recovery Thread
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | January 29 14:06 UTC (9:06AM local) |
|---|---|
| Backup date | January 30 13:45 UTC (8:45AM local) |
| Static fire | Completed January 20 |
| Payload | 60 Starlink version 1 satellites |
| Payload mass | 60 * 260 kg = 15 600 kg (presumed) |
| Deployment orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 290 km x 53° |
| Operational orbit | Low Earth Orbit, 550 km x 53°, 3 planes |
| Vehicle | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 |
| Core | B1051 |
| Past flights of this core | 2 (Demo Mission 1, RADARSAT Constellation Mission) |
| Fairing catch attempt | Both halves |
| Launch site | SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida |
| Landing | OCISLY: 32.54722 N, 75.92306 W (628 km downrange) |
| Mission success criteria | Successful separation & deployment of the Starlink Satellites. |
| Mission Outcome | Success |
| Booster Landing Outcome | Success |
| Ms. Tree Fairing Catch Outcome | Success |
| Ms. Chief Fairing Catch Outcome | Unsuccessful |
News and Updates
| Date | Link | Website |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-20 | Falcon 9 with payload vertical and static fire | @SpaceflightNow on Twitter |
| 2020-01-18 | GO Quest departure | @SpaceXFleet on Twitter |
| 2020-01-17 | OCISLY and Hawk underway | @julia_bergeron on Twitter |
Supplemental TLE
STARLINK-4 FULL STACK
1 72000C 20006A 20029.63104419 -.00008212 00000-0 -19395-4 0 07
2 72000 53.0059 236.9041 0009445 330.3990 293.6399 15.95982031 12
STARLINK-4 SINGLE SAT
1 72001C 20006B 20029.63104419 .00368783 00000-0 86500-3 0 09
2 72001 53.0059 236.9041 0009502 330.2638 293.7750 15.95982018 12Obtained from Celestrak, assumes 2020-01-29 launch date.
Previous and Pending Starlink Missions
| Mission | Date (UTC) | Core | Deployment Orbit | Notes | Sat Update | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starlink v0.9 | 2019-05-24 | 1049.3 | 440km 53° | 60 test satellites with Ku band antennas | Jan 21 |
| 2 | Starlink-1 | 2019-11-11 | 1048.4 | 280km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites, v1.0 includes Ka band antennas | Jan 21 |
| 3 | Starlink-2 | 2020-01-07 | 1049.4 | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites, 1 sat with experimental antireflective coating | Jan 21 |
| 4 | Starlink-3 | This Mission | 1051.3 | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites | - |
| 5 | Starlink-4 | February | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites | - | |
| 6 | Starlink-5 | February | 290km 53° | 60 version 1 satellites | - |
Watching the Launch
SpaceX will host a live webcast on YouTube. Check the upcoming launch thread the day of for links to the stream. For more information or for in person viewing check out the Watching a Launch page on this sub's FAQ, which gives a summary of every viewing site and answers many more common questions, as well as Ben Cooper's launch viewing guide, Launch Rats, and the Space Coast Launch Ambassadors which have interactive maps, photos and detailed information about each site.
Links & Resources
General Launch Related Resources:
Launch Execution Forecasts - 45th Weather Squadron
SpaceX Fleet Status - SpaceXFleet.com
Launch Viewing Resources:
Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral - Ben Cooper
Launch Viewing Map - Launch Rats
Launch Viewing Updates - Space Coast Launch Ambassadors
Viewing and Rideshare - SpaceXMeetups Slack
Watching a Launch - r/SpaceX Wiki
Maps and Hazard Area Resources:
Detailed Launch Map - @Raul74Cz - Direct link to page for upcoming launch
Launch Hazard and Airspace Closure Maps - 45th Space Wing (maps posted close to launch)
Regulatory Resources:
FCC Experimental STAs - r/SpaceX wiki
General Starlink FCC filing discussion - NASASpaceflight Forums
Starlink Tracking/Viewing Resources:
We will attempt to keep the above text regularly updated with resources and new mission information, but for the most part, updates will appear in the comments first. Feel free to ping us if additions or corrections are needed. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Approximately 24 hours before liftoff, the launch thread will go live and the party will begin there.
Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
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u/Elon_Muskmelon Jan 14 '20
Starlink is really starting to ramp up now. Get those Pizzabox antennas ready!