Three consecutive shots in four days, SpaceX Tiger power in full swing. Following the launch of the Italian observation satellite CSG-2 on February 1 and the launch of the US National Investigation Agency's classified satellite NROL-87 on February 3, 49 of its own star chains were launched today on February 4, and now at a high-frequency pace of four or five rounds per month, it is rushing to the peak target of 52 orbital launches this year.
● Launch process
▲Starlink Group 4-7 launches a full image
The launch of Starlink Group 4-7 is very similar to the launch process of Starlink Group 4-6 on January 19, and like the previous deployment of Starlink missions, this time it is also an instantaneous launch.
It was originally planned to hit a double burst of 93 minutes apart on February 2, breaking the record for the shortest interval between two launches, but in order to focus on the deployment of classified missions of the US Investigation Bureau, it was then adjusted to back-to-back launches: NROL-87 was launched at 4:27 Beijing time on February 3, and Starlink Group 4-7 was launched at 2:13 on February 4, becoming SpaceX's fifth and sixth launches this year.
The interval between the two shots is less than 22 hours, second only to the shortest double consecutive starlink Group 4-4 and Türksat 5B set in December 2021, with an interval of only 15 hours and 17 minutes.
At 13:13:20 EST on February 3 (2:13:20 Beijing time on February 4, a difference of 13 hours), located at the 39A gold launch site of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Cabo, Florida, B1061.6 took off as the sixth arrow and flew southeast shortly after takeoff.
1 minute and 12 seconds after liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket passed through the maximum resistance point of the air (Max Q). At this time, it flies at an altitude of 12 km and a speed of 0.4 km/s. T+2 minutes and 32 seconds, the first stage rocket 9 Merlin engines shut down. Immediately after the separation of the first and second stages, the first stage rocket began to return to the atmosphere fully automatically. At 2 minutes and 44 seconds after liftoff, the second stage rocket ignited and advanced for the first time, followed by the release of the fairing.
After two re-ignition reversals in the re-entry phase and landing phase, T+8 minutes and 47 seconds, B1061.6 was successfully recovered for the sixth time, and landed vertically on the lack of solemnity (ASOG) offshore platform, at this time about 640 kilometers from the Florida 39A launch site in the waters near the Bahamas.
This successful settlement is the 32nd consecutive successful recovery of the rocket by SpaceX, the 106th recovery of the first stage rocket in total, the 80th recovery of the sea rocket, and the 7th recovery rocket of ASOG [lack of solemnity].
Launched for 15 minutes and 31 seconds, the stars and arrows separated, followed by the deployment of 49 version 1.5 satellites, the deployment of orbits: perigee altitude of 210 km, apogee altitude of 338 km, equatorial inclination of 53.2 °. Target orbit: 540 km x equatorial inclination 53.22°.
Each version 1.5 Starlink satellite is only the size of a desk and weighs 290 kilograms, which is slightly heavier than the previous version 1.0 260 kilograms. After unfolding the single-wing solar array, the inexpensive krypton ion thruster gradually climbed, and after being tested and checked by the SpaceX satellite operation and maintenance team, it continued to climb slowly to the final orbit of 540 kilometers, a process that took about several weeks.
● The first use of a six-hand fairing
About 40 minutes after liftoff, two version 2.5 fairings were controlled and splashed in the northeast waters of the Bahamas, 647 kilometers from the launch site, and were recovered by the Doug Doug multi-purpose ship. This is also the 97th and 98th fairing in total that SpaceX has recovered.
Both fairings have been reused many times, one has supported five Starlink missions, and this launch is the 6th use, thus setting a new record for the first use of a six-hand fairing. Previously, up to five hand fairings were used (the 28th Batch of 1.0 Starlink Missions was launched on May 27, 2021).
The other has supported 4 missions (used for Transporter-1, Transporter-2, and two Starlink missions), this time for the 5th use, namely the use of a five-handed fairing.
After the star-arrow separated, the second stage rocket was controlled to adjust its attitude, ignited and propulsion again, and flew towards the re-entry point at an orbital speed of about 7.5 km/s, exhausting the remaining propellant and eventually re-entering the atmosphere over the South Atlantic and burning.
● Stage 1 Rocket Record
The first-stage rocket, numbered B1061.6, has been launched five external commercial launches of Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23 and IXPE. From November 15, 2020 to the present, it has flown 6 times in 445 days.
The launch is both the sixth flight of the B1061.6 arrow and the 83rd reuse of spaceX's first stage rocket.
● StarLink operates 1515 units
As of February 4, 2022, Beijing time, SpaceX has launched a total of 2091 Starlink satellites, including the first two Tintin Tintin test satellites, 1 batch of 0.9 satellites (60 satellites), 28 batches of 1.0 satellites (1678 satellites, including 2 batches of polar orbit satellites 13), and 7 batches of 1.5 satellites (351 satellites). At present, there are 1920 in orbit, 1895 in space operation, 1515 in formal operation, 25 derailed and 171 re-entry.
At present, 1515 Starlink satellites are officially operating, accounting for 30% of the total number of satellites in orbit in the world. It is definitely a dominant force. The specific launch statistics of Starlink satellites are listed below▼
●Starlink Group 4-7
The launch mission, code-named Starlink Group 4-7, represents the fourth orbital layer of the first phase of the first phase of the Starlink Constellation in Batch 7 deployment. (It should be noted that the Starlink Group 4-2 mission has not been deployed for some reason, so this mission is also the 6th launch of the fourth orbital layer of Starlink)
According to the star-chain constellation design, the fourth orbital layer consists of 72 orbital planes, each of which includes 22 satellites, a total of 1584 satellites, with an operating altitude of 540 km and an equatorial inclination of 53.2°. A total of 351 have been launched.
The first, second, third, and fourth orbital layers, as well as the deployment of the entire constellation▼
○ The first orbital layer of the starlink constellation was completed for the first time: the deployment of the 28th batch of version 1.0 starlink on May 27, 2021, when the number of satellites in orbit reached 1638. This means that after a few weeks, the first orbital layer of the starlink constellation will reach more than 1600, exceeding the scheduled deployment of 1584. SpaceX launch completes the first orbital layer of the constellation Starlink
○ The first deployment of the third orbital layer of the starchain (Group 3-1): On January 24, 2021, 10 polar orbiting star chains were launched in the ride-sharing mode. SpaceX has set a new record of the world's launches, accounting for 5% of the total number of satellites currently in orbit!
○ The second batch of deployment of the third orbital layer of the starchain (Group 3-2): On June 30, 2021, the co-ride mode launched three polar orbital star chains, which is also the second batch of deployed starchains of the third orbital layer (Group 3-2), which is scheduled to enter the 97.5° polar orbit, covering the Arctic, Alaska and other places. SpaceX's second carpool launch was carried out with multiple F-15s
○ The first batch of starlink second orbital layer (Group 2-1): September 14, 2021 specially launched 51 starlink satellites with an inclination angle of 70°, which is also the first batch of 1.5 satellites, all equipped with laser links. SpaceX began deploying the second orbital layer of StarChain, what signals were released? Why West Coast Launch?
○ The first deployment of the fourth orbital layer of the Starlink (Group 4-1): On November 13, 2021, 53 Satellites with an inclination of 53.2° were launched. What does it mean that the fourth orbital layer of StarLink begins to be deployed?
○ The second batch of missions to deploy the fourth orbital layer of StarLink (Group 4-2) has not been deployed for some reason.
○ The third batch of deployment of the fourth orbital layer of the Starlink (Group 4-3): On December 3, 2021, 48 Satellites with an inclination of 53.2° were launched.
○ The fourth batch of deployment of the fourth orbital layer of the Starlink (Group 4-4): On December 18, 2021, 52 Satellites with an inclination of 53.2° were launched.
○ The fifth batch of deployment of the fourth orbital layer of the Starlink (Group 4-5): January 7, 2022 specially launched 49 Satellites with an inclination of 53.2° Starlink.
○ The sixth batch of deployment of the fourth orbital layer of the Starlink (Group 4-6): January 19, 2022 specially launched 49 Satellites with an inclination of 53.2° Starlink.
○ The seventh batch of deployment of the fourth orbital layer of the Starlink (Group 4-7): February 4, 2022 specially launched 49 Satellites with an inclination of 53.2° Starlink.
● StarLink Update
On February 2, 2022, SpaceX launched a new "Starlink Advanced Service" to provide a set of high-performance antenna assembly package services for commercial users and super users. According to SpaceX's official details page, this StarLink service premium package mainly includes: the earliest plan to start delivery in the second quarter of Q2 2022; specifically to provide more rugged and better performance user terminals, including larger size rectangular antennas and upgraded routers; promised to provide 7X24 all-weather priority services, can enjoy broadband access services: network speed of 150 to 500 megabytes, delay of 20 to 40 milliseconds; premium package price: terminals per set of price of $2500, The reservation deposit is $500, the monthly tariff is $500, and the premium package is aimed at small business users (small offices, stores, etc.) and super users. Comparing the service standards corresponding to the price, this means that the premium package user group needs to pay 5 times the high price, but only gets the minimum guarantee (150 megabytes vs.100 megabytes) of 33% faster than the average user's worst internet speed. Of course, measured by optimism, premium package users can get the best experience with 5 times the price, which is 2.5 times faster than the maximum internet speed of the average user. Although for ordinary users or most people, the so-called premium package service is not cost-effective, or even very low cost performance, but the reality is reality, there will be a large number of small business users, super users to pay for it, simply to enjoy the user experience beyond the general level.
● SpX launcher refresh data