Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Update, 12:06 PM EDT August 9: SpaceX waived off their attempt today due to weather in the landing zone. The company said they plan to launch tomorrow. The launch window opens at 08:50 AM EDT
SpaceX is planning to launch a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 Friday morning. The launch window opens 08:13 AM EDT, and closes at 11:17 AM EDT the same day. Weather is 90% GO at the beginning of the launch window and dips slightly to 80% GO later in the morning.
If needed, SpaceX has a backup window opening at 8:50 AM EDT.
At A Glance
- Mission: Starlink 8-3
- Date: NET August 8, 2024
- Launch Window: 08:13 AM EDT – 11:17 AM EDT
- Weather: 90% GO at the opening of the launch window
- Organization: SpaceX
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Trajectory: Northeastward
- Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Booster Landing: Offshore on ASDS Just Read The Instructions
- Payload: Communications satellite to geosynchronous orbit.
- Destination: Low-Earth Orbit
* consult SpaceX website for the specific target for exact T-0.
Trajectory
Northeastward
Payload
The payload for this mission is a familiar one: twenty-three Starlink satellites. Once deployed and operational, the satellites will join SpaceX’s Starlink constellation that provides Internet connectivity to over three million subscribers in over 100 countries globally.
Each Starlink satellite has a lifespan of approximately five years.
Weather
90% GO. The main concern is the Cumulus Cloud Rule. There is a notation of weather in the vicinity near ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ having a low to moderate risk:
Landing
After completing its part of the mission, the first stage booster will land offshore on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship ‘Just Read The Instructions.’
As such, there will be no sonic boom on the Space Coast.
Online Viewing
SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 10-9. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Launch an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play.
Live Viewing
Jetty Park, The Banana River Bridge on FL 528W, Cocoa Beach, and the southern Titusville parks are your best bets.