May 2024

Falcon 9’s flight path as it roared into space this evening from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This was the view from Cocoa Beach.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

SpaceX placed another 23 Starlink satellites in orbit this evening after the company launched a Falcon 9 from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 10:37 PM EDT.

Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster used tonight—B1067—completed its nineteenth mission successfully when it touched down safely on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) ‘‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean”’ to capture the booster after it flew downrange towards its intended orbit.

Spectators taking in the launch from near Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

Booster: B1067

B0167 successfully completed its nineteenth mission tonight and landed safely aboard ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ which was stationed near the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean. The droneship will now return to Port Canaveral, where B1067 will be offloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center, where it will begin the refurbishment process prior to its next flight.

Booster 1067As of May 2, 2024
Flight NumberMissionDate
1CRS-22June 21, 2021
2NASA Crew-3November 11, 2021
3Türksat 5BDecember 19, 2021
4NASA Crew-4April 27, 2022
5CRS-25July 14, 2022
6Starlink 4-34September 19, 2022
7Hotbird 13GNovember 3, 2022
8O3b mPOWER 1 & 2December 16, 2022
9Starlink 5-2January 26, 2023
10Starlink 5-5March 24, 2023
11Starlink 5-9May 14, 2023
12Satria-1June 18, 2023
13Starlink 6-10August 17, 2023
14Starlink 6-22October 13, 2023
15Starlink 6-29November 22, 2023
16Starlink 6-35January 7, 2024
17HTS 113BTFebruary 20, 2024
18Starlink 6-45March 31, 2024
19Starlink 6-55May 2, 2024
Booster B1067’s record as of May 2, 2024
About 15-20 seconds before the Main Engine Cutoff, the plume Falcon 9’s Merlin engines illuminated the rocket’s body.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

Next Launch

SpaceX plans to launch more Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center on Monday, May 6th. This is several hours prior to the planned launch of the Starliner Crewed Flight Test mission, which is scheduled for 10:34 PM EDT.

  • Date: NET May 6, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 6-56
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: LC-39A
  • Launch Window: 11:34 AM – 03:34 PM EDT
  • Payload: 23 communications satellites

Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.

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There are actually two facilities that are collectively known as “The Cape” by locals: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and the US Space Force’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. While they share many services and activities, there are gates at the border between the two, and they are managed by separate government entities.

The most detailed map I’ve found online is the one below: a 2015 Facilities Map that details where everything is on the two facilities. Some changes have been made since the release of this map, but it is quite accurate, even in 2024.

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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 for some reason 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.”

Around eight and half minutes after liftoff, the first stage is planned to touch down on one of SpaceX’s three automated barges, this time ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ which will be postitioned downrange to await the returning booster.

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