Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
SpaceX plans to add more satellites to their Starlink constellation in the wee hours Wednesday morning with the Starlink 8-9 mission set to depart Space Launch Complex 40. Liftoff is currently targeted for 02:57 AM EDT with a launch window extending to 06:01:00 AM EDT the same day. If weather or technical reasons cause a scrub, an additional opportunities are also available on Sunday, July 7 starting at 12:28 AM EDT.
The booster used for the mission is Booster B1073, the same one that experienced an abort-at-ignition on its last launch attempt. After completing its boost cycle, B1073 on the company’s automated landing barge ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ which is stationed at sea in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of the Carolinas. Since the booster will not be returning to the launch site, there will be no sonic booms on the Space Coast.
Payload
According to SpaceX, tonight’s payload is “20 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.”
At A Glance
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron forecasts an 80% chance of acceptable launch conditions. They do mention cumulus clouds as possibly playing the role of spoiler, however, with a long launch window, SpaceX can delay if fueling has not started and wait for improved conditions.
Trajectory
The planned trajectory for the launch is northeastwards, or right-to-left if you are a spectator in Florida looking towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Booster
SpaceX says that the booster, which is planned for use tonight, “[Will be] the 16th flight for the first-stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1, and 10 Starlink missions.”
That’s Booster B1073, the same one that experienced an abort-at-ignition on its last launch attempt. It has been re-inspected and any repairs needed have been completed, so it’s back to work for the well-experienced first stage.
| Booster B1073 | May 12, 2024 | |
| Flight | Mission | Date |
| 1 | Starlink 4-15 | May 14, 2022 |
| 2 | SES-22 | June 29, 2022 |
| 3 | Starlink 4-26 | August 10, 2022 |
| 4 | Starlink 4-35 | September 24, 2022 |
| 5 | HAKUTO-R | December 11, 2022 |
| 6 | Amazonus Nexus | February 7, 2023 |
| 7 | CRS-27 | March 15, 2023 |
| 8 | Starlink 6-2 | April 19, 2023 |
| 9 | Starlink 5-11 | June 12, 2023 |
| 10 | Starlink 6-12 | September 4, 2023 |
| 11 | Starlink 6-27 | November 8, 2023 |
| 12 | Starlink 6-37 | January 15, 2024 |
| 13 | Starlink 6-41 | March 4, 2024 |
| 14 | Bandwagon-1 | April 7, 2024 |
| 15 | Starlink 6-58 | May 12, 2024 |
This article was written for TalkofTitusville by FMN’s Charles Boyer.
