SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 12-15 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 20/21 May 2025 (03:19 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 12-15 launch.

Launch 21 May 2025, at 03:19:10 UTC (20 May 11:19 pm EDT), from CCSFS SLC-40, on booster 1095-1.  The first stage will land aboard Just Read the Instructions.

Payload 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, including 13 with Direct-to-Cell capabilities, to a 43.00 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 284 x 292 km.

Please use the Starlink Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starlink.

Check the Starlink Index Thread for links to more Starlink information.

[zubenelgenubi]

My bolds:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 3:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on May 4 at 4:48-8:48 a.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on May 5 at 8:48 p.m. - 12:48 a.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on May 9 at 2:54-6:54 a.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Axiom-4 spaceflight participant mission to the International Space Station from pad 39A on May 29 at 1:03 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the next GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force from pad 40 on late May.

Florida Starlink launches continue though May with little competition for either LC-39A or SLC-40; the launch pace will be primarily determined by pad and ASDS turnarounds and the Space Coast weather during the launch windows.  (IDK enough about LC-39A Starship demolition/reconstruction to offer an opinion.)

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 7:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on May 10 at 2:28-6:28 a.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on May 11 at 12:24-4:24 a.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on May 14 at 11:43 a.m. - 3:43 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Axiom-4 spaceflight participant mission to the International Space Station from pad 39A on May 29 at 1:03 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the next GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force from pad 40 on late May. A Falcon 9 will launch the Sirius XM-10 broadcasting satellite on June 6. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Meteosat MTG-S1 weather satellite for Europe on July.

The pattern appears to be two Starlink launches from SLC-40 for every one Starlink launch from LC-39A--but this could change.  In the meantime, I think that this launch will proceed from SLC-40.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Starlink Group 12-15 is now listed on CADENA OIS:

Primary Launch Day 20 May 0340Z-0446Z Backup Launch Day (1) 21 May 0313Z-0419Z Backup Launch Day (2) 22 May 0245Z-0351Z Backup Launch Day (3) 23 May 0218Z-0324Z Backup Launch Day (4) 24 May 0150Z-0256Z Backup Launch Day (5) 25 May 0122Z-0228Z Backup Launch Day (6) 26 May 0055Z-0201Z

[zubenelgenubi]

Primary Launch Day 20 May 0340Z-0446Z

66-minute window.

[raptorx2]

Primary Launch Day 20 May 0340Z-0446Z

66-minute window.

Appears to be heading to Plane 5 with Plane 4 as the window backup.
Plane 1 - Group 12-1
Plane 2 - Group 12-5
Plane 3 - Group 12-11
Plane 4 -
Plane 5 -  Group 12-15 (May 20)
Plane 6 - Group 12-16
Plane 7 - Group 12-4
Plane 8 - Group 12-12
Plane 9 - Group 12-2
Plane 10 - Group 12-3
Plane 11 -
Plane 12 - Group 12-8
Plane 13 -
Plane 14 - Group 12-6
Plane 15 - Group 12-13
Plane 16 - Group 12-20
Plane 17 -Group 12-25
Plane 18 - Grouop 12-23
Plane 19 -Group 12-10 
Plane 20 - Group 12-7
Plane  21 - Group 12-21
Plane  22 -Group 12-9
Plane 23 - Group 12-18
Plane 24 - Group 12-14

[zubenelgenubi]

Primary Launch Day 20 May 0340Z-0446Z

66-minute window.

My bold:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 14 (after Starlink 6-67):

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on May 19 at 11:40 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the next GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force from pad 40 on late May TBA. A Falcon 9 will launch the Sirius XM-10 broadcasting satellite from pad 40 on June 6. A Falcon 9 will launch the Axiom-4 spaceflight participant mission to the International Space Station from pad 39A onJune 8 at 9:11 a.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the Meteosat MTG-S1 weather satellite for Europe on July TBA.

35-minute window.

[Martin_G]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp:

SPACEX STARLINK 12-15, CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FL
PRIMARY:   05/20/25   0340Z-0446Z
BACKUP:      05/21/25   0313Z-0419Z

[zubenelgenubi]

Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty times for non-crewed launches, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon or Cygnus than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1072.2    Jun 25, 2024   ?

1076.22  Feb 21
1067.28  Apr 14  Starlink 6-83
1092.4    Apr 21  GPS III-8?
1090.4    Apr 22  Starlink 6-67
1069.24  Apr 25
1077.21  Apr 28
1094.2    Apr 29   Axiom-4?
1080.19  May 2
1078.21  May 4
1085.8    May 7
1083.12  May 10  (maybe)

Edit May 19: It's new first stage B1095.1!

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Starlink G12-15 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G12-15 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-05-20 03:40:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-05-20 04:45:24.440 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-05-20 03:40:00 UTC to 2025-05-20 04:15:00 UTC.

And, https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g12-15&FORMAT=tle
Pre-Launch Derived Orbit (stack): 284 km x 292 km x  43.00 deg

[zubenelgenubi]

Just Read the Instructions is nearing the first stage recovery zone northeast of the Bahamas-- departed Port Canaveral on the 17th.
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:6888044/zoom:10

(A Shortfall of Gravitas is currently docked in Port Canaveral.)

[zubenelgenubi]

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Current as of 2025 May 19 04:01:14 UTC (Day 139)

Starlink G12-15 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G12-15 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-05-20 03:58:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-05-20 05:03:44.440 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-05-20 03:58:20 UTC to 2025-05-20 04:00:49 UTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-12-15

SpaceX is targeting Monday, May 19 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 11:58 p.m. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Tuesday, May 20 starting at 11:18 p.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This is the first flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

= 20 May 03:58 UTC
B1095-1


Did anyone spot B1095 moving to SLC-40?

Edit/add: Yes.
SFN Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral, May 19, Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX will debut Falcon 9 booster 1095 on this mission. It was spotted rolling past the Kennedy Space Center Press Site Saturday afternoon on its way to SLC-40.

45th Weather Squadron L-1 forecast:
https://45thweathersquadron.nebula.spaceforce.mil/pages/launchForecastSupport.html
5% probability of violation

[zubenelgenubi]

NSF livestream

[zubenelgenubi]

NSF livestream screencaps.

Webcast begins circa T-60 minutes

B1095 carted to SLC-40 two days ago via NSF camera feed.

Exterior frost seen.

Out of sequence: Countdown timeline

[zubenelgenubi]

T-20:20 vent

[zubenelgenubi]

Can someone post the relevant tweets for me tonight?  Thanks in advance.

[zubenelgenubi]

SpaceX livestream via Space Affairs

Final minutes of countdown

[Comga]

Abort!
Edit: at about T-2:28

[Tomness]

On it

Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1924674456506728477

[zubenelgenubi]

Abort at T-02:28.  SpaceX webcast ends.

No reason yet stated.

Countdown recycled to T-15:00.  The earliest next available launch time is tomorrow.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-12-15

If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Tuesday, May 20 starting at 11:18 p.m. ET.