Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Join this forum to discuss the latest news that happened in the world of commercial aviation.

Moderator: Latest news team

Post Reply
Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

In about 1 hour, planned 1930UTC, SpaceX will launch from Kennedy Space Center the Starlink-6 mission.
https://www.spacex.com/webcast

As now common, the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket will put in low earth orbit (550km) another set of 60 satellites, I say again sixty !

Starlink-1 was launched in November last year.
Starlink-2 and -3 were launched in January 2020.
Starlink-4 was launched in February, and Starlink-5 on March 22nd.
The next batch will launch in a couple of weeks.

The concept of Starlink is to provide internet access via satellites (some 12 000) as described here :
https://www.aviation24.be/space/spacex/ ... atellites/

The satellites are sometimes visible from Belgium (was the case two days ago) and this web site is quite useful for planning : https://www.heavens-above.com/?lat=50.8 ... CET&cul=en

Typical 3-D view : https://www.heavens-above.com/StarLink. ... CET&cul=en
Starlink 5.png

Soon another entry in the Spotter’s forum?

H.A.

Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

According to Chris Peat, the developer of Heavens Above web site, “Observers in Europe have a good chance to see the rocket upper stage and payload just after launch”.

This should be some 22 minutes after launch, i.e. 21:50 UTC+2 if they launch at planned time.

The satellites will start being released some 13 minutes after launch so we should be able to see a string of pearls and possibly the upper stage of Falcon 9 , itself a pretty large target to spot.

Chris Peat calcs make it visible tonight as from 21:50LT low on the WNW horizon, quickly raising to nearly vertical before disappearing on ESE. Total visibility slot about 3 minutes. Must be pretty brightly lit I guess.

About the same display tomorrow 5 minutes later, though lower over the horizon (max 50°SSW) and a bit less shinny.

Enjoy.

H.A.

Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

Actually the string of satellites of Starlink-5 mission launched last month are currently passing overhead Belgium as well.
Not dark enough at the moment to see those leading the string but a handful of others will become visible in about 30 minutes.
All visible at a pretty high elevation above the horizon.
Starlink5 20200422T1905.png

H.A.

Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

Launch processing well.
Live show at : https://www.spacex.com/webcast

H.A.

pitrixplanespotting
Posts: 638
Joined: 04 Feb 2016, 18:11

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by pitrixplanespotting »

Saw multiple stages? after each other clearly visible, anyway you made my day, thank you! :) :!:

User avatar
luchtzak
Posts: 11734
Joined: 18 Sep 2002, 00:00
Location: Hofstade, Zemst - Belgium
Contact:

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by luchtzak »

Well, we saw something passing. But the satellites were still close to each other. I was expecting more like a line of several satellites lined up after each other. Maybe we can spot them tomorrow?

Next tip: shooting stars tonight between 4 and 4:30 (UTC +2) above Belgium.

Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

Yes the cluster was deployed from the rocket only 15 minutes after launch but it does indeed take more time for the satellites to deploy and even more for each to reach its position in orbit.

Amazing that SpaceX had placed a camera catching live these events :
Starlink-6 Cluster Deployment.png

Launch from KSC :
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink-6.png

And the first stage is recovered by landing onto a platform in the Atlantic. This one has now been used four (4) times.


According to https://www.heavens-above.com/ the StarLink-6 cluster will be visible, this time as a string of pearls, on Saturday evening around 23h00 Belgian time.
The show will originate from the WNW, reaching its top elevation (70-90°above the horizon) at a NNE azimuth, and disappear on the East.

H.A.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by lumumba »

Homo Aeroportus wrote: 23 Apr 2020, 09:49 Yes the cluster was deployed from the rocket only 15 minutes after launch but it does indeed take more time for the satellites to deploy and even more for each to reach its position in orbit.

Amazing that SpaceX had placed a camera catching live these events :
Starlink-6 Cluster Deployment.png


Launch from KSC :
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink-6.png


And the first stage is recovered by landing onto a platform in the Atlantic. This one has now been used four (4) times.


According to https://www.heavens-above.com/ the StarLink-6 cluster will be visible, this time as a string of pearls, on Saturday evening around 23h00 Belgian time.
The show will originate from the WNW, reaching its top elevation (70-90°above the horizon) at a NNE azimuth, and disappear on the East.

H.A.
Thx.
Hasta la victoria siempre.

Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

According to heavens-above.com, last update gives a potentially nice show this evening.
The 60 satellites making the StarLink-6 batch are somewhat spread apart and the string of pearls should be brightly lit.
Raising from the WNW as from 21:55, culminating at about 50° above the horizon in the SSW sector, disappearing on the SE by 21:58.
All 60 within only 17 seconds burst between first and last of the row.

H.A.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by lumumba »

Beautiful....
Next Saturday again :D
Hasta la victoria siempre.

User avatar
Airbus330lover
Posts: 883
Joined: 21 Jul 2005, 00:00
Location: Rixensart

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Airbus330lover »

lumumba wrote: 23 Apr 2020, 22:01 Beautiful....
Next Saturday again :D
saturday 25 ?

User avatar
luchtzak
Posts: 11734
Joined: 18 Sep 2002, 00:00
Location: Hofstade, Zemst - Belgium
Contact:

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by luchtzak »

This evening around 22:00 (UTC +2)

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by lumumba »

Airbus330lover wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 10:23
lumumba wrote: 23 Apr 2020, 22:01 Beautiful....
Next Saturday again :D
saturday 25 ?
Yes and tonight also 2 times 21.56 West to South 27 degrees and 22.11 East to West 56 degrees.
Regards
Pat
Hasta la victoria siempre.

User avatar
Established02
Posts: 1623
Joined: 16 Oct 2002, 00:00

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by Established02 »

luchtzak wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 10:26 This evening around 22:00 (UTC +2)
Wow, I was really stunned by today's sighting.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by lumumba »

Established02 wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 22:16
luchtzak wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 10:26 This evening around 22:00 (UTC +2)
Wow, I was really stunned by today's sighting.
Yes it was beautiful again,two lines in fact.
Hasta la victoria siempre.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by lumumba »

Can somebody confirm that Starlink will pass by tonight at 23h?
Hasta la victoria siempre.


User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by lumumba »

DIBO wrote: 25 Apr 2020, 18:15 have a look here: https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/ ... l=starlink
Thx
Hasta la victoria siempre.

DIBO
Posts: 672
Joined: 28 Mar 2009, 14:54

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by DIBO »

lumumba wrote: 25 Apr 2020, 17:51 Can somebody confirm that Starlink will pass by tonight at 23h?
DIBO wrote: 25 Apr 2020, 18:15 have a look here: https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/ ... l=starlink
info on the internet regarding the exact timing, seems to be conflicting...

User avatar
luchtzak
Posts: 11734
Joined: 18 Sep 2002, 00:00
Location: Hofstade, Zemst - Belgium
Contact:

Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.

Post by luchtzak »

New chance: tonight between 23:25 and 23:35 (UTC +2) above the Benelux

Post Reply