Photo: Ed Cordero / Florida Media Now
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 tonight from Pad SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and sent another twenty-three Starlink satellites to orbit. Liftoff occurred at 09:22 PM EDT on a crisp, clear spring evening on the Space Coast.
Note: Originally published by Charles Boyer at Talk of Titusville
A Perfect Night For Spectators
Crowds were heavier than average along the usual spectator spots, and no one left disappointed — long after staging and for almost seven minutes the second stage could be seen rising and building orbital speed.
As one man said to someone beside me, “Enjoy this. [It] won’t be long until the air is thick and hot as soup.” He’s right. If anything, Friday’s weather was one of the last of Florida’s spring weather: cool but not cold, with pinpoint stars and a crescent moon lighting the sky. It won’t be long before humidity rises and the nightly coastal front storms will concern mission managers and launch spectators alike.
As seen from the Banana River Bridge on FL 528W in Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Booster Touches Down Safely Near Bahamas
About eight and a half minutes after liftoff, Booster B1062 touched down safely on SpaceX’s A Shortfall of Gravitas automated droneship, located offshore in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas. Thus, it completed its 20th mission safely.
After returning to Port Canaveral several days from now, B1062 will be returned to SpaceX’s facilities at Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be inspected, refurbished, and presumably prepared for its next flight. It will be for the 21st time if it reaches the launch pad.
Payload
Tonight’s mission delivered 23 Starlink satellites to join other Group 6 satellites.
Next Launch
- Date: NET April 17, 2024
- Organization: SpaceX
- Mission: Starlink 6-51
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Launch Site: SLC -40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Launch Time: 05:24 PM – 09:55 PM EDT (Tentative and subject to change)
- Payload: 23 Starink Satellites
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed at any time due to weather, technical reasons or range conditions.
