Donnerstag, 4. März 2021 - 10:30

Raumfahrt - Start von SpaceX’s 19th Starlink v1.0 mission and 20th Starlink launch

16.02.2021

SpaceX launches 19th batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral

At Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A, meanwhile, teams aren't slowing down. Yet another Falcon 9 rocket with yet another batch of 60 Starlink satellites is currently slated to launch at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday, the opening of an instantaneous window.

If everything stays on track, the previously flown rocket will attempt to land on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship, which is also stationed in the Atlantic. The Space Force expects 80% "go" conditionslate Tuesday into early Wednesday.

Launch Wednesday, Feb. 17

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
Mission: 20th launch of Starlink satellites
Launch Time: 12:55 a.m. ET
Launch Pad: 39A at Kennedy Space Center
Trajectory: Northeast
Landing: Just Read the Instructions drone ship
Weather: 80% "go"

Quelle: Florida Today

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Update: 25.02.2021

SpaceX targeting weekend launch from Florida just as Starlink expands

SpaceX teams at Kennedy Space Center will target this weekend for the next launch of a Falcon 9 rocket with dozens of Starlink satellites, the company said Wednesday.

"Static fire test complete," SpaceX said after the early morning checkout of the rocket's nine Merlin main engines at pad 39A. "Targeting Sunday, February 28 at 8:37 p.m. EST for launch of Starlink."

Sunday's launch – the Space Coast's sixth of the year and eighth flight for this Falcon 9 – will boost 60 Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit after a roughly hour-long deployment process. It will mark the 20th overall mission for Starlink.

After liftoff and a northeast flight trajectory, Falcon 9 will target a drone ship landing in the Atlantic Ocean. A successful deployment of all 60 Starlink satellites will mean SpaceX has launched more than 1,200 to date.

The mission comes as SpaceX continues expanding eligibility for testing its internet-beaming constellation, which is currently serving some public customers in higher latitudes like the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

Some Space Coast residents previously interested in joining the network might have received an email from SpaceX Tuesday afternoon, which said a limited number of local users were eligible to sign up with a $99 deposit.

"Starlink is now available for order to a limited number of users in your coverage area," the email read. "Placing your order now will hold your place in line for future service."

"During beta, users can expect to see data speeds vary from 50 mbps to 150 mbps and latency from 20 ms to 40 ms in most locations over the next several months as we enhance the Starlink system. There will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all," the Starlink team said.

After an equipment fee of $499, users pay $99 a month for the service that provides speeds comparable to some residential plans offered on the Space Coast.

Though Starlink is more tailored toward people and communities far from ground infrastructure – like remote Native American tribes or emergency workers responding to communities ravaged by wildfires in California – anyone can use the service. SpaceX plans to eventually offer worldwide coverage.

A Space Force-issued weather forecast is expected Thursday morning.

Quelle: Florida Today

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Update: 28.02.2021

It's Launch Day! What you need to know about SpaceX's Sunday launch

It's launch day!

SpaceX is on track to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A.

Here's what you need to know for launch:

• Liftoff is scheduled for 8:37 p.m. Sunday.

• Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket's first-stage booster will target an automatic landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

• As of Friday, forecasters predicted 80% go conditions at the launch pad for liftoff.

• This is the company's 20th Starlink mission.

• If successful, the company will have boosted more than 1,200 of the satellites to low-Earth orbit.

• Starlink is SpaceX's space-based internet service, which is in public beta testing for customers in the higher latitudes of North America. After a $499 equipment fee, the roughly 100 to 150 Megabits per second connection costs $99 a month.

• Full coverage of the launch kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at floridatoday.com/space and will feature in-depth coverage, photos, charts and more. Ask our space team reporter Emre Kelly questions and strike up a conversation. We will also be hosting SpaceX's live webcast of the launch.

Quelle: Florida Today

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Update: 1.03.2021

SpaceX forced to scrub Starlink launch, setting stage for 24-hour turnaround

Update (March 1): SpaceX is now targeting no earlier than 7:53 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 2, for this launch.

Unspecified technical issues forced SpaceX to scrub a Falcon 9 rocket launch Sunday evening, setting up teams for a 24-hour turnaround at Kennedy Space Center.

With just over a minute left in the countdown, launch engineers reported an abort sequence had begun ahead of the 8:37 p.m. liftoff with 60 Starlink internet satellites. Starlink missions include instantaneous windows, meaning the rocket must launch on time or delay to another day.

The next attempt to fly from pad 39A is currently set for no earlier than 8:15 p.m. Monday. Weather for that window is expected to be roughly 70% "go."

The Falcon 9 selected for this mission – SpaceX's 20th for the Starlink constellation – has previously flown eight missions. After a liftoff toward the northeast, the 162-foot booster will target a landing on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

If successful, the flight will boost the network's size to more than 1,100 functioning satellites in low-Earth orbit. So far, SpaceX has opened up beta testing opportunities for members of the public located in higher latitudes like the Pacific Northwest, but that access is expected to expand south soon.

Starlink is currently being targeted toward people who live in remote areas without substantial ground infrastructure. It's also in use by emergency workers responding to wildfires, for example, and military branches like the Air Force.

Cost for the service, which offers speeds roughly equivalent to entry-level options on the Space Coast, runs $99 a month after $499 in equipment fees.

Launch Monday, March 1

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
Mission: 20th batch of Starlink internet satellites
Launch Time: 8:15 p.m.
Launch Pad: 39A at Kennedy Space Center
Trajectory: Northeast
Landing: Of Course I Still Love You drone ship
Weather: 70% "go"

Quelle: Florida Today

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Update: 3.03.2021

SpaceX delays upcoming Starlink launch from Kennedy Space Center, shifts window

SpaceX again delayed the next launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, citing poor weather conditions and range support availability.

Teams at pad 39A had been targeting Tuesday evening for the launch of 60 Starlink satellites – the company's 20th internet mission to date – but opted not to proceed due to inclement weather around the pad and drone ship recovery zone. SpaceX also cited "range availability" as an issue, though no other launches or launch activities were planned for Tuesday.

Falcon 9 is now slated to fly no earlier than 5:42 a.m. Thursday, a sharp deviation from the previous late-evening window. The shift likely indicates launch engineers will change orbital planes, meaning the rocket's second stage will deliver the 60 Starlink satellites to a different destination in low-Earth orbit.

If successful, the mission will mean SpaceX has launched more than 1,200 of the internet-beaming satellites to date. Though some have been lost due to malfunctions or other issues, the constellation has proven robust enough to offer public beta users more than adequate speeds in remote areas of the Pacific Northwest, for example.

The Falcon 9 for Thursday's mission has flown eight times to date, but the loss of a booster during SpaceX's last landing attempt translated to teams spending more time troubleshooting recovery issues. Had schedules remained steady, this 20th launch of Starlink satellites would have flown in late January.

Launch Thursday, March 4