Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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
Soon another entry in the Spotter’s forum?
H.A.
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
Soon another entry in the Spotter’s forum?
H.A.
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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.
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.
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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.
H.A.
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.
H.A.
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
Saw multiple stages? after each other clearly visible, anyway you made my day, thank you!
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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.
Next tip: shooting stars tonight between 4 and 4:30 (UTC +2) above Belgium.
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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 :
Launch from KSC :
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.
Amazing that SpaceX had placed a camera catching live these events :
Launch from KSC :
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.
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
Thx.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.
Hasta la victoria siempre.
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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.
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.
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
Beautiful....
Next Saturday again
Next Saturday again
Hasta la victoria siempre.
- Airbus330lover
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
This evening around 22:00 (UTC +2)
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
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.
- Established02
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Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
Yes it was beautiful again,two lines in fact.
Hasta la victoria siempre.
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
Can somebody confirm that Starlink will pass by tonight at 23h?
Hasta la victoria siempre.
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
ThxDIBO wrote: ↑25 Apr 2020, 18:15 have a look here: https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/ ... l=starlink
Hasta la victoria siempre.
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
info on the internet regarding the exact timing, seems to be conflicting...DIBO wrote: ↑25 Apr 2020, 18:15 have a look here: https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/ ... l=starlink
Re: Launch of Starlink-6 planned this 22APR evening.
New chance: tonight between 23:25 and 23:35 (UTC +2) above the Benelux