SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-59, Treats Space Coast To Rare “Jellyfish”

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-59, Treats Space Coast To Rare “Jellyfish”

May 18, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Falcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
Falcon 9 ascends: the first stage, payload fairings, and second stage were visible in the sky for launch spectators.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Booster B1062 Sets New Record For Reusability: 21 Flights

In perhaps the most vivid launch for spectators so far in 2024, SpaceX launched another twenty-three Starlink Mini V2 satellites to orbit after successfully launching the Starlink 6-59 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this evening.

Liftoff was at 08:32 PM EDT. Around 8.3 minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster used for the mission, tail number B1062, touched down safely on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. After landing, B1062 has now flown to space for a record-setting twenty-one times.

SpaceX Planning Starlink 6-55 Launch For Tonight

SpaceX Planning Starlink 6-55 Launch For Tonight

May 2, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink

Another 23 Starlink satellites are set to be sent to orbit aboard a Falcon 9 this evening from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 09:49 PM EDT and extends until 01:17 AM EDT Friday.

If tonight’s planned liftoff does not happen, according to SpaceX, “If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, May 3, starting at 9:03 p.m. ET.”

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-49, Booster B1062 Completes 20th Mission

SpaceX Launches Starlink 6-49, Booster B1062 Completes 20th Mission

April 13, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
For a time, Falcon 9’s plume illuminated the whole rocket body as it ascended to space, powered by nine Merlin engines.
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

Falcon 9 launching in 2022

SpaceX Planning To Launch Starlink 6-44 This Evening

March 14, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, KSC, Space News, SpaceX

Update: New Launch Window opens 3/14/24 7:04 PM EDT

A SpaceX Falcon 9 climbing to orbit in 2022.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX plans to launch the Starlink 6-44 mission tonight, Thursday, March 14, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

The payload will be another tranche of 23 Starlink satellites that will be ferried low-Earth orbit from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to the company, “liftoff is targeted for 7:04 PM EDT, with backup opportunities available until 11:29 PM EDT.

Starlink 6-43 Slated for Sunday

Starlink 6-43 Slated for Sunday

March 9, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX, Starlink
Booster B1077 prior to its last launch, North Grumman NG-20
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

SpaceX plans to launch the Starlink 6-43 mission Sunday, March 10 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

The payload will be another tranche of 23 Starlink satellites that will be ferried low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. According to the company on Saturday, March 10th, “liftoff is targeted for 7:05 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 11:03 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, March 11 starting at 6:40 p.m. ET.”

Satellite Launched to Connect Indonesia

February 20, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, Space News, SpaceX
Successful liftoff of a Falcon9 carrying the HTS-113Bt satellite from LC40. Image by Richard P Gallagher

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to deploy the HTS-113BT telecommunications satellite in a geosynchronous orbit this afternoon, marking a big advancement in Indonesia’s telecommunications infrastructure. The mission launched into a beautiful blue Florida sky right on time at 3:11 pm from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Next Launch to Examine Earth’s Climate: PACE Satellite Targets 1:33am Tuesday Liftoff

February 4, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Falcon 9, KSC, NASA, SpaceX
PACE POSTER
Image Credit: NASA

In an era where understanding Earth’s climate dynamics is more critical than ever, NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, will be a vital asset to furthering and tracking our knowledge of the Planet. Set to launch from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40, this mission embodies the culmination of years of meticulous planning and collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, aiming to extend our comprehension of the planet’s climate system and its intricate processes. Lift is set for 1:33am Tuesday morning with the first stage booster returning to LZ 1 at CCSFS.

NASA Announces Crew-9 Roster: Who Are They?

NASA Announces Crew-9 Roster: Who Are They?

February 1, 2024Posted inCrewed, Falcon 9, ISS, NASA, Space News, SpaceX, US Space Force
Crew 9 Portrait
Official NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 portrait: (L-R) Stephanie Wilson, Aleksandr Gorbunov, Nick Hague, and Zena Cardman.
NASA

NASA today announced the four astronauts that will travel aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station later this year: Zena Cardman will be the Mission Commander,  Nick Hague will be the Pilot, along with Stephanie Wilson and Russian Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov will travel to ISS no earlier than August 2024.

SpaceX Launches Northrup Grumman NG-20 From the Cape

January 31, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, NASA, Space News, SpaceX, US Space Force
SpaceX Falcon 9 Lifts off from Pad SLC-40 at Canaveral Space Force Station on January 30, 2024.
Photo: Chris Leymarie, Florida Media Now

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jan. 30, 2024 SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the Northrup Grumman NG-20 mission toward ISS this afternoon. The launch was at 12:07 PM EST from the company’s launch pad at SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Once it had completed its part of the mission, Booster 1077 completed its tenth flight when it safely touched down at Landing Zone 1, about 5.6 miles to the south of where it launched a little more than eight minutes earlier.

SpaceX Delays NG-20 Launch By One Day

January 27, 2024Posted inFalcon 9, NASA, Space News, SpaceX
Northrup Grumman Cygnus NG-20 inside its launch fairings. Photo: NASA
Northrup Grumman Cygnus NG-20 inside its launch fairings.
Photo: NASA

The launch of Northrup-Grumman’s Cygnus NG-20 has been delayed until Tuesday, January 30th at 12:07 PM EST.

William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of Build and Flight Reliability, said in a news conference on January 26th that, “it’s taken a lot of modifications on our part to get this hardware ready to go fly, and we want to make sure it goes right. We think it is good to delay a little bit and make sure we get all this activity right and we’re ready to get this cargo inserted into Cygnus and get ready to fly on Tuesday.”