Watch live: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg, California

Spaceflight Now
9 May 202451:08

Summary

TLDRThis video script covers a live broadcast of SpaceX's Starlink 8-2 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, hosted by Robinson Smith with technical operations managed by Stephen Young. The script details the countdown, the launch process, and the Falcon 9 rocket's trajectory and milestones, including propellant loading and booster landings. It also features interactions with the audience through super chats, membership shout-outs, and viewership engagement strategies. Key highlights include the successful deployment of Starlink satellites and a smooth landing of the Falcon 9 booster, marking it as SpaceX’s 48th launch of the year.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 The broadcast covers a live SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base for the Starlink 8-2 mission, expected to lift off at 9:30 PM Pacific time.
  • 📅 This launch marks SpaceX's 33rd dedicated Starlink mission so far in 2024.
  • 🌍 The mission's live commentary is provided by Robinson Smith from NASA Kennedy Space Center, with technical operations handled by Stephen Young.
  • 🛰️ The Falcon 9 rocket will carry Starlink satellites into orbit, continuing SpaceX's development of its satellite internet constellation.
  • 🔧 Key milestones in the launch include propellant loading, engine chill, and various stages of fueling, leading to the final countdown and launch.
  • 📈 The coverage also includes updates on the launch's technical aspects, like the chill down process of the Merlin engines and the strong back retraction on the launch pad.
  • 🌐 Viewers are encouraged to support the broadcast by liking and sharing the stream, and joining as channel members for exclusive content and perks.
  • 💬 Audience engagement is highlighted through shoutouts, Super Chat features, and welcomes to new channel members during the broadcast.
  • 🎥 The broadcast also discusses other upcoming launches and provides a glimpse of payload fairings at Kennedy Space Center, hinting at future missions.
  • 🌟 The mission aims to land the first stage booster on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You', marking another recovery attempt for SpaceX.

Q & A

  • What was the purpose of the live coverage mentioned in the transcript?

    -The live coverage was focused on the latest mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base involving a Falcon 9 launch of the Starlink 8-2 mission.

  • Who provided commentary during the live coverage of the Falcon 9 launch?

    -Robinson Smith provided commentary during the live coverage of the Falcon 9 launch.

  • What are some key roles mentioned in the broadcast team for the mission?

    -Stephen Young was in charge of technical operations, Adam Bernstein and Michael Kane were launch photographers, and Robinson Smith was the commentator.

  • How many Starlink missions had SpaceX conducted in 2024 by the time of this launch?

    -By the time of this launch, SpaceX had conducted 33 dedicated Starlink missions in 2024.

  • What were the scheduled launch and landing times mentioned for the Starlink 8-2 mission?

    -The planned liftoff time was 9:30 p.m. Pacific Time, 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and 04:30 UTC. The exact landing time wasn't specified, but the booster landed around 8 minutes and 18 seconds after launch.

  • What is the purpose of the Starlink satellites mentioned in the transcript?

    -The Starlink satellites are designed to provide broadband internet services around the world, with some equipped with direct-to-cell capability as mentioned in the mission.

  • What significant milestones are mentioned during the Falcon 9 launch countdown?

    -Significant milestones include main engine cutoff (MECO), stage separation, second stage engine start (SES1), and fairing deployment.

  • How is the booster designated for the Starlink 8-2 mission identified, and what was its flight history before this mission?

    -The booster is identified as B1082. Before this mission, it had flown three times: two Starlink missions (7-9 and 7-14) and a national security mission (USSF 62).

  • What are the unique features of the Starlink V2 mini satellites compared to the previous models?

    -Starlink V2 mini satellites use argon Hall thrusters instead of the previously used Krypton Hall thrusters, and they have a solar panel wingspan of about 100 feet.

  • How does SpaceX handle the landing of the Falcon 9's first stage?

    -The first stage of Falcon 9 lands on a drone ship, specifically 'Of Course I Still Love You', marking it the 89th landing on this drone ship.

  • What are some of the community support activities mentioned in the coverage?

    -Community support includes channel memberships, Super Chats, and gifted memberships, with members like fig 816, kisty Elise, and Cindy Marlene mentioned for their support.

  • Describe the trajectory and objectives of the Falcon 9 rocket post-launch based on the coverage.

    -Post-launch, the Falcon 9 rocket follows a southeasterly trajectory along the coast of California and Mexico. Its main objectives include deploying Starlink satellites and landing the first stage booster on a drone ship.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to SpaceX's Starlink 8-2 Mission Coverage

The video script begins with a welcome address to the audience for the live coverage of SpaceX's Starlink 8-2 mission from Vanderberg Space Force Base. The speaker, Robinson Smith, introduces himself and his co-host, Stephen Young, and mentions the launch time. They discuss the propellant load process and the commitment to the planned launch. The video also acknowledges the channel's supporters, including new members and those who have gifted memberships. It provides information on how viewers can support the channel through likes, sharing, and channel memberships, which offer perks like 4k launch viewing and discounts at the online shop.

05:02

📅 Countdown and Fueling Process of the Falcon 9 Rocket

The second paragraph details the countdown and fueling process for the Falcon 9 rocket. It explains the milestones that have passed and what is expected in the fueling process. The countdown begins with the poll for propellant loading, which includes loading rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen. The process also involves chilling down the second stage and loading liquid oxygen. The speaker mentions the timeline for these events, including the main engine cut-off, stage separation, second stage engine start, and fairing deployment.

10:02

📹 Observations from Kennedy Space Center and Upcoming Missions

The speaker shares some observations from the Kennedy Space Center, including footage of payload fairings being moved, possibly for an upcoming Starlink mission. The video provides a view of various buildings and the Vehicle Assembly Building. It discusses the status of the C3 PF building, where work on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is taking place, and the Artemis missions. The speaker also talks about the mobile launcher 2, which is under construction and behind schedule.

15:28

💬 Viewer Interaction and Starlink G-2 Mission Overview

The script includes interaction with viewers through Super Chat and welcomes new channel members. It provides an overview of the Starlink G-2 mission, discussing the flight pattern and the Falcon 9 rocket's trajectory. The speaker talks about the booster landing on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' and the deployment of the Starlink satellites at a specific altitude and inclination. The script also mentions the direct sell capability of some satellites and provides a visual of a Starlink V2 mini on orbit.

20:31

🚀 Booster History and Pre-Launch Countdown

The speaker discusses the history of the Falcon 9 booster, tail number 1082, which is set to launch for the fourth time. The booster's previous missions are detailed, including Starlink missions and a national security mission. The script continues with the pre-launch countdown, highlighting the engine chill down sequence and the live chat interactions with viewers. It emphasizes the importance of viewer support through likes and Super Chats and acknowledges the educational aspect of the live coverage.

25:31

🛰️ Launch and Post-Launch Activities of the Falcon 9

The script describes the launch sequence of the Falcon 9 rocket, from ignition and liftoff to the deployment of the Hypersonic grid fins and fairing separation. It provides a play-by-play account of the rocket's progress, including the first stage main engine cut-off, stage separation, second stage engine start, and entry burn. The successful landing of the Falcon 9 booster is confirmed, and the script transitions to the post-launch activities, including the second stage's parking orbit and the planned deorbit burn to prevent space debris.

30:33

📊 Mission Stats and Global Launch Industry Overview

The speaker wraps up the coverage with mission statistics, including the number of Falcon 9 launches, booster landings, and orbital launches from various locations. It provides a global perspective on the launch industry, with statistics on launches from the US, China, Russia, Japan, India, and Iran. The script thanks the viewers for their support, encourages subscription and notification activation for future live streams, and teases upcoming video releases and podcast episodes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Falcon 9

Falcon 9 is a reusable rocket manufactured by SpaceX, designed for the efficient transport of satellites, cargo, and humans to space. In the transcript, Falcon 9 is mentioned several times, especially in relation to the Starlink 8-2 mission launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The Falcon 9's reusability is a key feature, contributing to the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of space flights.

💡Starlink

Starlink refers to a satellite internet constellation being constructed by SpaceX that aims to provide global broadband coverage for high-speed internet access, particularly in underserved areas. In the video, the Starlink 8-2 mission is specifically discussed as the launch of the next batch of satellites into orbit, highlighting its role in expanding internet coverage.

💡Propellant load

Propellant load refers to the process of loading fuel into a rocket before launch. This is crucial for the mission as the fuel powers the rocket's engines. In the transcript, it is mentioned that the propellant load is underway, indicating that the launch sequence has begun and the mission is proceeding as planned.

💡Vandenberg Space Force Base

Vandenberg Space Force Base is a U.S. military installation and spaceport in California, used for launching satellites into polar orbits. The video mentions a Falcon 9 launch occurring at this location, emphasizing its strategic importance for certain types of orbital launches, particularly those requiring a southward trajectory.

💡Channel membership

Channel membership refers to a subscription model on YouTube that allows viewers to support creators financially in exchange for exclusive perks like badges, emojis, and access to members-only content. In the transcript, the video's host thanks channel members for their support, which helps fund the coverage of space missions.

💡Payload fairings

Payload fairings are the protective coverings that house and protect the payload, such as satellites, against atmospheric resistance and environmental factors during the ascent phase of a rocket launch. The transcript describes seeing payload fairings being transported near the Vehicle Assembly Building, indicating preparations for an upcoming mission.

💡Liquid oxygen

Liquid oxygen, often abbreviated as LOX, is used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants. The transcript mentions the loading of liquid oxygen into the Falcon 9 rocket stages, a critical step in the preparation for a rocket launch. It reacts with the fuel (typically RP-1 kerosene) to create the thrust needed for liftoff.

💡Drone ship

A drone ship is an autonomous, floating platform used by SpaceX to recover the first stage of Falcon 9 rockets at sea after they have completed their ascent phase. The transcript notes that the Falcon 9 first stage booster is expected to land on the drone ship named 'Of Course I Still Love You,' showcasing SpaceX's commitment to reusability.

💡Booster

In rocketry, a booster is the first stage of a rocket that provides the initial thrust to escape Earth's gravitational pull. In the video, the Falcon 9's booster is mentioned several times, particularly in relation to its landing and reuse, demonstrating SpaceX's innovative approach to reducing space launch costs.

💡Super Chat

Super Chat is a feature on YouTube that allows viewers to pay to have their messages highlighted during a live stream. In the transcript, the host thanks viewers for their Super Chats, which help fund their coverage and involve the community in the live discussion of the launch event.

Highlights

Live coverage of the latest mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base for a Falcon 9 launch.

Introduction of the broadcasting team and technical operators for the coverage.

Discussion on the photographers taking a break and upcoming Starlink launch from Florida.

Details on the countdown and SpaceX's commitment to the planned launch time for Starlink 8-2 mission.

Explanation of how viewers can support the coverage via likes, shares, and channel memberships.

Introduction of new channel members and acknowledgment of contributors.

Technical details of the Falcon 9 launch process and propellant loading milestones.

Discussion on the sequence of loading rocket propellants and gases, detailing each phase's timing.

Description of the SpaceX booster's previous missions and its reuse for the current launch.

Explanation of the flight trajectory of the Falcon 9 rocket for the Starlink 8-2 mission.

Details on the landing process of the Falcon 9 first stage booster and its significance.

Overview of the satellite deployment process post-launch and its impact on Starlink network expansion.

Introduction of the Starlink V2 mini satellites, their features, and functionalities.

Live reactions and engagement with the audience during the countdown and launch.

Post-launch analysis and viewer interactions highlighting community support and feedback.

Transcripts

00:00

for

00:47

good evening everyone and Welcome to our

00:48

live coverage of the latest Mission from

00:50

vanderberg space Forest base it's been a

00:53

while since we've been able to say that

00:55

it's good to be

00:56

back in the Golden State getting ready

00:58

for a falcon9 launch

01:02

well Robinson Smith I'll be providing

01:04

our commentary for the duration of this

01:05

coverage we're broadcasting from the

01:07

space flight now news Bureau here at

01:09

Nasa Kennedy Space Center Stephen young

01:12

is running the technical operations of

01:14

the

01:15

broadcast of course being that this is a

01:18

West Coast based Mission our launch

01:20

photographers Adam Bernstein and Michael

01:22

Kane are off getting some well earned

01:26

rest but rest assured they'll be back in

01:28

Action before you you know it as we are

01:30

tracking a starlink launch from here in

01:34

Florida coming up in just a few days but

01:36

we'll have more on that just a moment

01:38

for now we are T-minus 30 minutes 31

01:42

seconds and counting to the launch of

01:44

the starlink 8-2 mission we do have word

01:47

from SpaceX that propellant load is in

01:50

fact underway on tonight's Mission which

01:52

means they are committing to the planned

01:55

launch attempt of the t0 liftoff time

01:58

see that right there on your screen 9

01:59

:30 p.m. Pacific 12:30 a.m. eastern

02:02

04:30 UTC for our friends joining from

02:05

around the

02:07

world this will be spacex's 33rd

02:11

dedicated starlink Mission so far in

02:20

2024 like to help support our coverage

02:22

of the Space Program there's a quick and

02:24

easy way to do that if you are among the

02:27

5700 of you 5800 VI excuse me that are

02:30

watching with us live first of all

02:32

thanks for being with us on a Thursday

02:35

evening although technically now on the

02:38

East Coast it is Friday morning just

02:41

past

02:44

midnight so happy Friday everyone on the

02:46

East Coast we have almost made it to the

02:51

weekend as I was saying you can help

02:54

support this channel it's quick and easy

02:56

just by hitting the like button and

02:58

sharing the Stream it allows more folks

03:00

to find this live coverage and let the

03:02

YouTube algorithm do its

03:05

thing also we are powered by a wonderful

03:09

Channel member Community here on

03:13

YouTube so thanks to folks like fig

03:17

816 kisty Elise Cindy

03:20

Marlene uh gusy Janine

03:24

deera uh zepher wolf Stefan

03:27

Michael Valerie Korea

03:30

and many others for supporting us the

03:33

channel membership we're very

03:34

appreciative of

03:35

that channel membership has a number of

03:39

perks including the ability to watch all

03:42

of our launches from the cape and the

03:44

liftoff of those in 4k hello Lita and to

03:48

Crazy ke that opal guy as

03:51

well Channel membership also allows

03:54

discounts online shop shop. spacelight

03:57

now.com

04:01

and access to member only videos here on

04:07

YouTube last but not least you can use

04:10

the YouTube Super Chat feature if you

04:12

have a comment or

04:13

question that you'd like to have be a

04:16

part of the show or uper consideration

04:19

and your comment or question is

04:20

appropriate to be on our show we'd love

04:21

to bring you into this topic of

04:25

discussion either related directly to

04:27

the starlink launch tonight if you have

04:29

something else on your mind in the space

04:32

domain love to talk about it as we step

04:35

on through the next oh 27 minutes 35

04:38

seconds or

04:40

so going back to the memberships uh want

04:44

to welcome a few new channel members who

04:45

happened to pop in to the community as

04:48

we were getting things going so welcome

04:51

to Robert Slayton Larry Barker Larry

04:54

Baker excuse me and David Mills all

04:56

joining at the pad leader level welcome

04:59

aort we're glad to have you with

05:02

us and also Clayton Clemens joining us

05:05

Channel membership with pad leader level

05:07

welcome to all four of

05:09

you and for the generosity of some of

05:12

our channel members kalis Lee gifting 10

05:14

space flight now memberships thanks so

05:16

much kisty really appreciate that bit of

05:18

generosity to kick us off in a good way

05:21

psychon not not only gifting a space

05:22

flight now membership but also joining

05:24

with Channel membership himself at the

05:25

pad leader level welcome aboard psycho N

05:28

I know we've seen your handle pop up a

05:31

number of times in these streams so glad

05:32

you're joining the member community that

05:34

is great to see and to Oscar the

05:38

roselina fan 2022 has been a member for

05:40

two months saying thank you for two

05:42

months I hope ready rocket launches

05:45

you're in Panorama City certainly hope

05:49

that the launch goes off tonight as it

05:52

was a long night last night hoping and

05:54

waiting for what it end up being a scrub

05:58

so fingers crossed there in a better

06:00

configuration this time

06:01

around also want to

06:03

welcome Aldo Castleton joining us at pad

06:07

leader level of Channel membership and a

06:09

thanks to both Wicked code and to

06:12

Trinity AKA mam t two of our

06:14

pre-existing wonderful channel members

06:16

for gifting five space line now channel

06:18

memberships a

06:20

peace as an independent news

06:23

organization we are very appreciative to

06:25

our

06:27

members helping create new members so

06:30

thanks to all of you for that and lastly

06:33

for now thanks to ad and welcome aboard

06:35

to channel membership joining us at the

06:37

P leader

06:40

level and with all that for now let's

06:42

turn back to the mission at

06:45

hand starlink

06:47

8-2

06:49

Mission we're about 10 minutes into the

06:52

process of propellant load for this

06:53

Falcon 9 flight from Vanderburg space

06:55

Force Base

06:59

again SpaceX looking for a t0 liftoff at

07:02

9:30 Pacific 12:30 a.m. eastern 0430 UTC

07:07

let's go ahead and talk about the

07:09

countdown for that mission some of the

07:11

Milestones that have passed and what is

07:13

still yet to come in this fueling

07:16

process the countdown for a falcon 9

07:18

begins of course with the poll being

07:20

taken to start propo that comes up at

07:23

the team minus 38 minute Mark we do know

07:26

that of course the go-ahead for fueling

07:28

was given which began a little more than

07:30

10 minutes ago with a couple of

07:32

Events first was uh propellant loading

07:36

with both rp1 or rocket gr kerosene on

07:38

the first and second stages of the

07:40

Falcon 9 rocket at the same time liquid

07:42

oxygen is also loaded on board the first

07:45

stage at the T minus 30 minute mark it

07:50

begin loading cenic helium into the

07:52

pressure vessels on the falcon9 first

07:54

stage that helies used to pressurize the

07:56

main propellant tanks during flight same

07:59

process comes up at about the T-minus 26

08:02

minute Mark so just about 2 minutes ago

08:04

is when that

08:07

began T minus 23 minutes the loading of

08:10

the second stage kerosene tank

08:13

concluded or is about to conclude I

08:15

guess we're just a minute away from that

08:17

wrapping

08:19

up at about tus 20 minutes and 50

08:24

seconds strong back chill down process

08:28

begins or folks who have been with us

08:30

for a cape base launch you'll know that

08:32

as the big

08:35

vent happens as the feed Lin being

08:37

chilled and prior to Second Stage liquid

08:40

oxygen loading which Speaking of that

08:42

comes up at about T-minus 16 minutes

08:44

before

08:49

liftoff the T-minus 7 Minute Mark the

08:51

chill down of the N9 Marland entrance

08:53

gets under way it evolves flowing a

08:54

small amount of liquid oxygen through

08:56

the plumbing and the Turbo pumps and it

08:58

protects the engines from the risk of

08:59

thermal shock and damage during the

09:01

startup

09:01

sequence about 6 minutes prior to

09:04

liftoff the first stage kerosene tank

09:06

should be full then at tus 4 and a half

09:08

minutes we'll see the strong back

09:09

retract sequence

09:11

begin starts with the clamp arms

09:13

underneath the payload fairings opening

09:15

up and then the transporter erector with

09:18

a strong back will recline about 13

09:20

degrees away from the Falcon 9 a little

09:22

bit different here in Vandenberg

09:23

compared to the cap based launches

09:29

3 minutes out the first stage liquid

09:31

oxygen load is complete and at T minus 2

09:34

minutes second stage locks load has

09:36

wrapped up at which point the Falcon 9

09:40

rocket is fully fueled with 1 million

09:42

pounds of propellant in the final 60

09:44

seconds control of the countdown is

09:46

handed over from the ground sequencer

09:48

the Falcon 's onboard flight computers

09:50

the propell tanks are brought up to

09:51

flight pressure SpaceX launch director

09:54

gives their go for liftoff at 45 seconds

09:57

out ENT ignition Comm command is issued

09:59

at T minus 3 seconds and if all nine

10:02

Merlin engs ignite and are healthy the

10:04

flight computer will give the command

10:06

for the hold down clamps to release the

10:07

Falcon 9 or t0o

10:10

liftoff coming

10:14

up once again at 9:30 p.m. Pacific 12:30

10:18

a.m. eastern 0430 UTC or in 21 minutes

10:23

and 50 seconds

10:56

well there wasn't a launch today here in

10:58

FLA Florida but there was some action

11:01

that we spotted over near the Press site

11:04

NASA's Kennedy Space

11:07

Center take a look at some video that I

11:09

was able to capture you see a pair of

11:12

payload fairings that were cruised on by

11:14

the Vehicle Assembly Building which

11:16

will'll come into frame in just a moment

11:20

here you can tell these payload fairings

11:23

have some age on them so more than

11:25

likely flight proven fairings although

11:28

SpaceX doesn't publ

11:30

the tail number of the fairings or how

11:32

many times they've flown so it's a

11:34

little hard to track the history of them

11:38

we believe these fairings will be used

11:40

in an upcoming starlink Mission which is

11:42

set for this

11:55

weekend this is a good video because it

11:57

gives you a set of scale and for had

12:00

just a a temporary Focus issue there got

12:04

right back to

12:05

it can see in the background some of the

12:08

buildings of importance here at the uh

12:11

Kennedy Space Center those small ones

12:14

just to the left of the

12:15

VAB it's near the area where they work

12:19

on the

12:20

X-37B space plane and just behind the

12:24

VAB on the left hand side from this

12:26

perspective is the C3 PF the build where

12:29

they were working on Starliner Boeing's

12:33

spacecraft that'll bury astronauts to

12:36

the International Space Station Now set

12:37

to launch on May

12:39

17th and that building now immediately

12:43

behind the

12:46

fairings is a launch control

12:49

center where they have the firing

12:56

rooms and you can see actually just in

12:58

the back background and I didn't I

13:00

didn't even notice this when I was

13:01

shooting it this evening but you can see

13:03

the crawler transporter

13:06

to hanging out in the background

13:11

there is getting ready to move the base

13:16

of the mobile launcher 2 which will be

13:18

used for future Artemis missions

13:21

starting with the Artemis

13:26

4light now is going to be using a

13:28

slightly larger version of the SLS

13:30

rocket which instead of the itum

13:33

cryogenic propulsion stage or of the

13:36

upper part of the rocket that will be

13:39

retired and instead they'll use What's

13:40

called the exploration upper

13:43

stage and so because the rocket is

13:45

taller they need a taller mobile

13:48

launcher and that is currently in the

13:50

works by a company called Beal

13:59

unfortunately the mobile launcher 2 is

14:02

years behind schedule and quite notably

14:06

over budget

14:07

but they seem to have gotten their

14:10

finances in order and have gotten the

14:13

schedule in a little bit of a better

14:15

place so the work has been progressing

14:16

fairly steadily

14:26

now just to the right of this fr frame

14:30

is the pad where actually mobile

14:32

launcher 1 is sitting at right now

14:34

that's pad 39b where the space launch

14:37

system rocket

14:40

launches previously of course the space

14:49

shuttle we're now tmin 17 minutes 20

14:52

seconds and counting just a little over

14:55

a minute away from the start of second

14:56

stage liquid oxygen load on the Falcon

14:58

and

15:27

rocket e

16:14

we're now tus 15 minutes 57 seconds of

16:17

counting taking a look back at the live

16:19

chat for a moment here want to thank uh

16:23

Nick trins for our $10 Super Chat thank

16:26

you so much Nick really appreciate that

16:28

giving a shout out to Nikki Gracie and

16:31

Dad down in Santa Pao

16:34

California hope the family is doing well

16:38

want to welcome both Dave rich and media

16:41

Zoo for joining at the mission

16:43

specialist and launch director levels

16:45

respectively Channel membership really

16:47

appreciate that from the both of you and

16:49

welcome aboard we're glad to have you

16:50

with us and a thanks to uh k h another

16:55

one of our wonderful channel members

16:57

gifting $20 Super Chat really appreciate

16:59

that KH who I think was a gifted Channel

17:02

membership just this evening if I'm not

17:05

mistaken KH says thank you to this

17:07

community so

17:14

kind we've talked about the timeline of

17:17

events for the fueling process of the

17:19

Falcon 9 let's go ahead now and pivot to

17:22

the flight of this vehicle and where it

17:24

will be going once it leaves the

17:26

LaunchPad

17:33

Starling g-2 Mission similar flight

17:37

pattern to

17:39

the missions heading to the seventh

17:41

shell of the starlink constellation

17:44

after lifting off from slick 4E or space

17:47

launch complex 4 East and federber space

17:50

Force Base the Falcon 9 rocket will fly

17:52

in a southeasterly trajectory along

17:56

coast of California and Mexico

18:01

following stage separation first stage

18:03

booster is going to land on the only

18:06

drone ship that is out there on the west

18:07

coast that is of course I still love

18:17

you if successful this Mission will Mark

18:20

the 89th Landing of a booster on this

18:23

particular drone ship as well as the

18:26

306th Falcon booster Landing to date

18:39

on board this Falcon 9 rocket of course

18:42

batch of starlink

18:44

satellites taking a look at what those

18:46

starlinks look like in launch

18:50

configuration there are 20 of them on

18:52

board this particular Mission each of

18:54

them clocking in at about

18:56

1,760 lb or about 800 kilog with their

19:00

solar panels infilled they have a

19:01

wingspan of about 100 ft or 30 m they

19:04

use argon Hall thrusters for inorbit

19:07

Maneuvers as opposed to the previously

19:08

used Krypton Hall thrusters they were

19:10

built in Redmond Washington which is

19:12

near Seattle and they'll be deployed at

19:15

about 180 Mi or 290 kg in altitude at a

19:18

53 Dee

19:21

inclination if you haven't already had a

19:23

chance to pop over to our website

19:25

spaceflightnow.com and read the preview

19:28

article on this launch we'll note that

19:31

there are only 20 starlinks in total on

19:35

this flight however 13 of those have the

19:39

direct sell capability something that

19:41

SpaceX has been rolling out over the

19:43

course of this year a little by little

19:45

until this will bring the total number

19:47

of announced direct to cell starlinks up

19:50

to

19:51

25 so far

20:05

well we don't have a great uh image from

20:09

SpaceX of what the starlink V2 minis

20:11

look like and they're on orbit

20:14

configuration we do have this image from

20:15

hoo robotics to give you an idea of what

20:18

a starlink V2 mini looks like on orbit

20:22

you see the solar panels stretching out

20:24

to either side of the satellite main

20:27

body

20:30

this photo was captured last

20:33

year claiming to be the first direct

20:35

observation of a starling V2 mini on

20:41

orbit at T minus 11 minutes 28 seconds

20:45

in

20:51

counting as was the case with our most

20:54

recent launch from the

20:56

cape this is a fair fairly young booster

20:59

as compared to some of

21:01

the quotequote oldtimers for the SpaceX

21:04

Fleet this booster only launching for

21:07

the fourth time on this flight let's go

21:09

ahead and take a moment talk about the

21:11

history of this particular booster till

21:14

number 1082 in the SpaceX Fleet it's

21:17