Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Falcon 9 on the launch mount at SLC-40 this afternoon in Cape Canaveral
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX plans to launch the Galileo L13 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 this evening at 6:50 PM EDT. The launch is on behalf of the European Commission. The payload was originally planned for launch on Soyuz-ST and then Ariane 6, but both were unavailable — the Soyuz option is kaput because of sanctions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Ariane 6 has launched only once, on July 9, 2024.

Should weather or technical reasons delay this evening’s launch, SpaceX has a backup launch window tomorrow, September 18, at 06:46 PM EDT

Booster B1067 will be making its twenty-second flight tonight. According to SpaceX, B1067 has “previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, O3B mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Marah Putih 2, and 12 Starlink missions.” Following ascent and stage separation, B1067 will touch down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ which is stationed on the Atlantic Ocean.

At A Glance:

  • Date: NET September 17, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX / European Commission
  • Mission: Galileo L13 (FOC FM26 & FM32)
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 06:50 PM – 07:59 PM EDT
  • Payload: Two Galileo navigation satellites

Weather

As we reach the end of wet season here in Florida, rains are a persistent threat and today is no different. The 45th Weather Squadron is giving a 40% of acceptable conditions during the launch window. They list lightning activity (Surface Electric Fields and Anvil Clouds) as well as Cumulus clouds in the ascent corridor as local concerns, and there are also moderate concerns in the booster landing area — likely lumpy seas and/or storm activity there as well.

Via the 45th Weather Squadron / Retrieved 1PM 17 September 2024

Trajectory

Northeastwards, at around 56 degrees.

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: Galileo L13. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen 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.

SpaceX Falcon 9 / Galileo L13 at the launch mount at Space Launch Complex 40 on September 17th.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

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 Flight 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. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

Since the launch is during the early evening, a lot of options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.

Playalinda Beach is several miles north of the launch pad, but ignition and of course the flight of the rocket are visible from that location. If you go, go early in case the crowds are heavy.

Other options include The Space Bar, a rooftop bar at the Courtyard By Marriott in Titusville. It offers great views of the launches and a full bar and menu. Other options include New York, New York on the Indian River in Titusville, but if you want to grab a bite, go early, because their kitchen usually closes for the day around 6:30 PM.

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A Starlink launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX plans to launch Falcon 9 tomorrow from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, carrying another group of Starlink satellites. According to SpaceX, “Liftoff is targeted for 8:35 a.m. ET, with additional opportunities available until 12:31 p.m. ET.”

The launch was initially scheduled for September 4th, but it was called off with about two minutes left in the countdown due to weather offshore, where the booster was slated to land.

Booster B1077 will be making its fifteenth flight on this mission. It has been in service since October 5, 2022, when it launched the Crew-5 mission, and last flew on July 28, when it flew Starlink 10-4. Landing will be offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions.’ There will be no sonic boom in the Space Coast region.

At A Glance

  • Mission: Starlink 8-11
  • Date: NET September 5, 2024
  • Launch Window:  08:35 AM – 12:31 PM EDT*
  • Weather: 70% GO
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Trajectory: Northeast
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Booster Landing: ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’
  • Payload: Group 8 Starlink satellites
  • Destination: LEO

    * consult SpaceX website for the specific target for T-0.

Payload

The payload for the mission is another group of Starlink satellites, which will join Group 8 of SpaceX/Starlink’s orbital constellation in low-Earth orbit. Starlink is an Internet service serving approximately 3.2 million customers in over 100 countries and territories globally.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron has called for a 30% Probability of Violation both Wednesday and Thursday, with the usual summer concerns: Cumulus Clouds and Anvil Clouds in the vicinity of the flight path of Falcon 9.

The forecast notes below that it has been rather wet and rainy the past few days on the Space Coast. That may be a cause for concern both Wednesday and Thursday as the conditions causing the rains will persist.

Trajectory

Tomorrow’s launch will take a familiar path: northeastwards. All Starlink Group 8 satellites have used the same trajectory, as have many other Starlink groups as SpaceX continues to add to the Starlink constellation.

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 8-11. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen 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 Flight 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. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

Since the launch is during the daytime, a lot of options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets.

Cocoa Beach or the Cocoa Beach Pier area is also very good, but ignition won’t be visible and it will take several seconds for the rocket to clear obstructions between the launch pad and viewers.

At this time, it does not appear that Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center is selling add-on tickets for the launch, but if the launch time is pushed backwards from the opening of the launch window at 08:59 AM EDT, visitors may be able to watch from the bleachers at the Banana Creek Viewing Site, located outside the Apollo/Saturn V Center at KSC. If you are interested in this option, it’s highly recommended that you call KSCVC to ensure that they will be offering launch viewing with a standard entry ticket.

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SpaceX Starlink 8-10’s ascent as seen from Veteran’s Memorial Park in Titusville.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX got right back to business early Saturday morning as it launched the Starlink 8-10 mission aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Liftoff was at 03:43 AM EDT, with Booster B1085 completing its first mission successfully 8:22 minutes later when it touched down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions.’ At 5:06 AM, SpaceX confirmed satellite deployment and the conclusion of another successful launch for the company.

This was the 61st mission launch from the Eastern Range overall so far in 2024.

Payload

According to SpaceX, tonight’s payload was “21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit.”

Starlink now has approximately 6300 active satellites in its expanding constellation, which serves over three million customers in over 100 countries and territories globally.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

This one is tricky: Polaris Dawn is vertical at LC-39A and is awaiting good weather prior to its start. SpaceX nor the Polaris Dawn program have announced the date for the next launch attempt, but one may be forthcoming at any time.

Otherwise, if Polaris Dawn does not launch by mid-week next week, SpaceX has the Starlink 8-11 mission penciled in for Wednesday, September 4th with a launch window between 08:59 AM and 12:59 AM EDT.

Starlink 8-10, close to Main Engine Cutoff on August 31, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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Booster B1062 comes to a firey end after its 23rd flight
Photo: via SpaceX livestream

Fresh off of the delay of the Polaris Dawn’s 3:38 AM launch Wednesday morning, thanks to unfavorable weather in the abort zones, SpaceX made the decision to continue with the launch of Starlink mission 8-6, slated for launch at 3:48 AM. While the launch and deployment of the Starlink satellite payload went off without a hitch, it would not prove to be a great morning for SpaceX.

Booster Lost Due To Failed Landing

Despite the overall success of the primary mission, the record-breaking flight of Booster B1062 was marred when it failed to land safely on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean.

Liftoff was at 03:48 AM EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. While the primary mission objective—to deploy the Starlink satellites—was accomplished, the attempt to recover the booster did not go as planned. As the booster descended towards the droneship, a green flash was visible near the Merlin engines, followed by the booster toppling over and catching fire.

SpaceX confirmed the incident in an update posted on X.com shortly afterward.

Landing Streak Comes To A Disappointing End

The loss of the storied booster disappointed both SpaceX and the company’s growing ranks of followers. The reusability of the Falcon 9 first-stage boosters is a cornerstone of the company’s business model. Wednesday’s failure ends a streak of 267 consecutive successful booster landings. The last time SpaceX experienced a similar failure was on February 16, 2021, during the Starlink 19 v1.0 mission. On that occasion, the booster B1059 failed to land on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You.”

Following the incident, SpaceX decided to stand down from what would have been the day’s third launch attempt, another Starlink mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to evaluate the data from B1059. A new launch date for that mission has not yet been announced.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

With the failed landing of B1062, SpaceX has already delayed one launch from Vandenberg AFB in California while it evaluates what led to the failure and what remediations would be necessary. That makes the timeline of launches from Florida tenuous as well. While there has been no official announcement of launch dates for Polaris and the Starlink mission being set, it may take SpaceX several days to complete their analyses before their next launch.

That being said, Polaris Dawn is currently on the launch pad, awaiting weather improvements. That could come as early as Friday morning but do pay close attention to official announcements from SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn program regarding their next launch attempt.

  • Date: NET August 30, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Polaris Dawn
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
  • Launch Window: 03:38 AM – 07:09 AM EDT
  • Payload: Crew Dragon with four astronauts

Note: This article was written by Mark Stone of Florida Media Now and was originally published at that website.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at 09:20 AM EDT on August 20, 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX launched another tranche of Starlink satellites to orbit this morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.

Liftoff was at 09:20 AM EDT, with Booster B1085 completing its first mission successfully 8:14 minutes later when it touched down offshore on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’

B0185, whose maiden flight was originally slated for Crew 9, was moved up in SpaceX’s rotation to prove in the booster due to some water intrusion while it was being shipped from the company’s McGregor, Texas facilities. The flight was nominal, and the booster will not be returned to Port Canaveral and ultimately SpaceX’s ‘Hangar X’ facility where it will be inspected and refurbished with an eye towards using it for the Crew 9 flight late next month.

The second stage continued to orbit nominally, with SpaceX reporting several successful second stage burns that optimized the orbit for payload deployment.

Payload

23 Starlink satellites. They will join Group 10 of SpaceX’s burgeoning Starlink’s constellation of Internet communication satellites. That service is used by over 3.1 million users in over 100 countries and territories worldwide.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX will launch another group of Starlink satellites early in the morning on Friday from Space Launch Complex 40.

  • Date: NET August 23, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 8-6
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 03:46 – 07:46 AM EDT
  • Payload: Starlink telecommunication satellites
Falcon 9 left two “smoke rings” as it ascended this morning. This one was the first.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Falcon 9 left a pair of “smoke rings” as it cruised through the clouds over Cape Canaveral this morning.
Photo: Charles Boyer, Talk of Titusville
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Falcon 9 lifts off of Space Launch Complex 40 on August 15, 2024 carrying the Worldview 3 and Worldview 4 Earth-imaging satellites for Maxar.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

On a humid, hazy and thoroughly typical August morning in central Florida, SpaceX launched the WorldView 3 and WorldView 4 Earth-imaging satellites owned and operated by Maxar Corporation.

Liftoff was at the opening of the launch window at 09:00 AM EDT, with Booster B1076 completing its 16th mission successfully 7:48 minutes later when it touched down at Landing Zone 1, about six miles from where it had launched only minutes before. Moments later, a pair of sonic booms sounded the booster’s return.

Booster B1076 settling in to land after launching WorldView 3 and WorldView 4 from SLC-40.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

The second stage continued to orbit nominally, with SpaceX reporting several successful second stage burns that optimized the orbit for payload deployment.

Payload

Two Maxar WorldView Earth-observation satellites.

Graphic via Maxar

Launch Replay

Next Launch

It will be a quiet weekend at the Cape as no launches are scheduled until next Tuesday, August 20th when SpaceX will launch another tranche of Starlink satellites aboard Falcon 9. The launch will be from Space Launch Complex 40 and the window opens at 05:20 AM EDT.

  • Date: NET August 20, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink 10-5
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 05:20 – 09:20 AM EDT
  • Payload: Starlink telecommunication satellites
Falcon 9 just before Max-Q (the point of the atmosphere’s highest resistance) today over Florida.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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