SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 - Starlink V0,9 “L0” - Launching May 23/24, 2019
Screenshot: SpaceX Starlink V0,9 L0 May 23-24, 2019 with Tim Dodd as host
Mission Rundown: SpaceX B5 - Starlink V0.9 - “L0”
Written: January 6, 2021
Doing a magic trick with lot’s of “cards”
SpaceX will be launching 60 satellites (227 kg - 500 pounds each) on top of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
This will be the first test launch of SpaceX’s near-global satellite constellation – Starlink, which aims to deliver a fast, low-latency broadband internet service to locations where access has previously been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.
SpaceX plans to offer service in North America by the end of 2020 and estimates that once complete, its venture will make $30-50 billion annually. The funds from which will, in turn, be used to finance its ambitious Mars program.
B1049 first flew with the Telstar 18V/Apstar-5C satellite on September 10, 2018. After launching Starlink V0.9 ‘L0’ the booster’s designation changed to B1049-3.
Grafik: Geoff Barrett - Webcast screenshot
After boosting the second stage with its payload towards orbit, the first stage will perform an entry burn to slow the vehicle down in preparation for atmospheric reentry. The booster will then land 628 km downrange aboard SpaceX’s autonomous spaceport drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’
Approximately one hour and two minutes after liftoff, the Starlink satellites will begin deployment at an altitude of 440 km, where they will conduct tests. They will then use the onboard ion propulsion to first reach an operational altitude of 550 km.
About the Starlink constellation
Screenshot from Twitter and YouTube of Starlink V1.0 “House of Cards”
The Starlink V0.9 satellites have half the number of steerable faze array broadband beams, 25% data put through in each satellite and no KAA antenna system. The Starlink 0.9 in this first bunch of satellites will serve as testbeds for internet data relay and in time be retired aka. deorbited. Compared to Starlink V1.0 there is less equipment on V0.9 type.
About the deployment
Just like Jet Fighters in tight formation peel off just before landing, the 60 Starlink satellites will peel off one by one with a 6 degree separation in their first 440 km orbit. If that is a 90 minute orbit, then they will start their Ion thrusters with 90 seconds partition and enough thrust to reach their operational orbit of 550 km, where they will reignite their Ion thrusters until their orbit is circularized.
In reality it’s a Snail Race in slow motion, not like Jet Fighters peeling off one by one. Ion drive is not a fast drive and even less with cheap Krypton gas compared to Xenon gas.
To achieve initial coverage, SpaceX plans to form a net of 12 000 satellites, which will operate in conjunction with ground stations, akin to a mesh network. In addition SpaceX recently filed for FCC permission on an additional 30 000 spacecraft, which, if granted, could see the constellation amount to a lucrative 42 000.
This would octuple the number of operational satellites already in earth orbit, further raising concerns regarding the constellation's effect on the night sky and earth-based astronomy. Such mega-constellations have only recently been made possible with the advent of reusable rocketry, pioneered by SpaceX. For more information on Starlink, I recommend watching the Real Engineering video listed below.
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