Launch Preview: SpaceX Planning Saturday Morning Doubleheader

A pair of Falcon 9 launches: from SLC-40 at left, LC-39A at right.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX is planning to launch two Falcon 9 rockets carrying Starlink satellites from Florida tomorrow.

MissionLaunchpadLaunch Window
Starlink 8-3SLC-40, CCSFS08:50 – 10:48 AM EDT
Starlink 10-7LC-39A, KSC09:03 – 11:21 AM EDT

Weather looks good, with the 45th Weather Squadron rating chances of acceptable conditions at 90% GO at the beginning of both launch windows.

Additionally, the 45th has dropped off Booster Recovery Weather off its list of additional risks. Booster recovery weather prevented SpaceX from launching Starlink 8-3 on Friday, probably due to the lingering effects of tropical system Debby. The storm has pulled out of the area and is quickly accelerating towards New England, and hopefully that will allow some calming of sea states for both SpaceX droneships out to see east of South Carolina.

Weather

Via Windy.com

Starlink 8-3

Starlink 10-7

Trajectory

Trajectories are quite similar and for simplicity’s sake we will present them as a single path. Both missions will travel northeastward.

Landing

After completing its part of the mission, the first stage booster used for Starlink 8-3 will land offshore on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship ‘Just Read The Instructions.’

After completing its part of the mission, the first stage booster used for Starlink 10-7 will land offshore on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’

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 8-3. For Starlink 10-7 click here. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launches starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch timesSpaceX.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 Titusville parks are your best bets. Playalinda Beach opens at 6 AM, and crowds can be expected there.


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