Crew 9 lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 on September 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX successfully launched the Crew 9 mission today from Space Launch Complex 40 in the first crewed launch from that storied pad. Liftoff was at 01:17 PM EDT under broken skies and a building threat of storms.
Crew 9 lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 on September 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
A little more than eight minutes later, spectators were treated to a second awesome view as Booster B1085 completed its second mission successfully when it touched down a Landing Zone 1, roughly six miles from where it launched. A sonic boom echoed across the Space Coast.
Booster B1085 beginning its landing sequence,
After achieving orbit, Crew Dragon separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and astronauts Aleksandr Gorbunov and “Nick” Hague began performing checkouts of propulsion, life support, and thermal control systems. Later, Dragon will perform “phasing burns” where the spacecraft performs dorbit raising maneuvers to catch up with the International Space Station.
If all proceeds as planned, Hague and Gorbunov will arrive at ISS on Sunday, Sept. 29, with docking planned for 5:30 PM EDT.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
After a lull in a steady stream of Starlink launches, SpaceX will return to building out its orbital ISP NET Wednesday from Cape Canaveral. The launch window opens at 4:50 AM EDT and extends to 8:50 AM the same day.
Date: NET October 2, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink 10-10
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague greeted reporters and @NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. They launch NET Thursday 2:06 PM EDT. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
NASA has announced that the SpaceX Crew 9 mission would not launch until Saturday due to potential effects from tropical storm Helene.
NASA and SpaceX teams have adjusted the next launch opportunity for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to no earlier than 1:17 p.m. EDT, Saturday, Sept. 28, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida due to expected tropical storm conditions in the area. The change allows teams to complete a rehearsal of launch day activities Tuesday night with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket, which rolled to Space Launch Complex-40 earlier in the day. Following rehearsal activities, the integrated system will move back to the hangar ahead of any potential storm activity.
Although Tropical Storm Helene is moving through the Gulf of Mexico and expected to impact the Florida panhandle, the storm system is large enough that high winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island regions on Florida’s east coast.
NASA’s reasoning is sound, according to the official forecast for Helene today, on September 24th:
Current Forecasts
The Tuesday September 24th PM forecast for Helene. Source: TROPICAL STORM HELENE, Retrieved 09/24/2024. Note: refer to official sources (NOAA, NHC, etc. for the current forecast!
The Space Coast is currently under a Tropical Storm watch, and effects from Helene are expected before and during the Thursday launch window. That’s not good for pre-launch preparations and not very likely to result in a clean range weather-wise Thursday afternoon.
NASA has identified Saturday at 1:17 p.m. EDT in an instantaneous window as the next possible launch date for Crew 9. The current National Weather Service forecast for Cape Canaveral calls for “a chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.”
The 45th Weather Squadron will issue its official Probability of Violation forecast later this week if the September 28th attempt remains on schedule.
Stay tuned.
SpaceX’s Crew 9 logo. NASA uses a different one. Graphic: SpaceX
Crew 9 Astronauts Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and Nick Hague greeted reporters and NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The NASA/SpaceX Crew 9 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center.
Crew 9 Final Preparations Set To Begin.
After landing on a chartered Gulfstream G-550 flight from Houston, the crew will begin final preparations for their upcoming flight aboard a Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon to the International Space Station, slated to launch no earlier than Thursday, September 26th, at 02:05 PM EDT.
They were greeted by Kelvin Manning, deputy director, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Dana Hutcherson, deputy program manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program as well as a large contingent of reporters.
After answering questions from the press, Hague and Gorbunov left to enter quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at KSC. They will also complete a dry dress rehearsal of the mission, will align their resting and waking periods to match mission requirements and will also practive other launch and free-flight procedures that will be needed during the early part of their mission.
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and NASA Astronaut Nick Hague greeted reporters and @NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC. They launch NET Thursday 2:06 PM EDT. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Dana Hutcherson gave more information on pre-launch preparations, “Our teams will also gather on Monday for the flight readiness review ahead of the launch. This launch will mark the first time a human spaceflight mission will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40, and our NASA and SpaceX teams have been working hand in hand with our Space Force mission partners. This is a huge increase in capability for us. With two pads now rated for human spaceflight, we now have operational flexibility with SpaceX to deconflict launches at both 39 A and SLC 40.”
An uncrewed Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40. The site has seen over 250 launches through the years, but never a crewed flight. That will change as soon as this week. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Integration Of Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams Into Crew 9
Due to issues with the Boeing Crewed Flight test and the subsequent shift of CFT astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Expedition 72 and Crew 9, the two astronauts who flew to ISS aboard Starliner will be returning to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon — a spacecraft neither of the two have previous flight experience with.
This reporter asked Crew 9 Commander Nick Hague when the integration of the two members would start:
Nick Hague comments on integrating the two Crew 9 astronauts already on Crew 9 Video via NASA liverstream. Members of the press waiting for Crew-9s arrival. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvilleThe crew and support personnel arriving at KSC’s SLF on September 22, 2024 aboard a Gulfstream G-550 charter flight. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Falcon 9 rising off of the launch mount at Space Launch Complex 40 on September 17, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX launched Falcon 9 early this evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Falcon 9 rising off of Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on September 17, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Liftoff was at 06:51 PM EDT as the sun was starting to set to the west. Eight and a half minutes later, Booster B1067 touched down on ‘Just Read The Instructions’, completing its twenty-second mission. Falcon 9’s second stage continued ascending to its initial orbit, where it will deploy the payloads so that they may travel to their final orbital destination in Medium Earth Orbit and begin their commissioning process before entering service.
Some say that it’s better to be lucky than good, but in the case of SpaceX, they have been both in 2024: several times with stormy skies surrounding the launch pad and possibly closing in, the company has been able to successfully send a payload to space — and that includes crewed missions, customer payloads and of course their own Starlink satellites.
A rainstorm with downpours and distant lightning was just west of Space Launch Complex 40 only minutes before liftoff. The VAB is visible on the horizon to the right. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Tonight was no exception to a summer of just-in-time launches: a thunderstorm with an anvil cloud was lurking to the west of Space Launch Complex 40, and slowly moving towards Falcon 9. Had the storm moved a little faster, chances are the mission would have been scrubbed due to lightning rules, anvil cloud rules or cumulus cloud rules. ESA and SpaceX’s luck held out, however, and Falcon 9 launched on schedule and with no issues.
Payload
Artist’s Rendering of a Galileo satellite Graphic: ESA
Galileo satellites are the European Union’s version of GPS and GLONASS, providing high-precision ground positioning.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
SpaceX and NASA will launch Crew 9 aboard Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon from Space Launch Complex 40 no earlier than September 25, 2024. NASA Astronaut Nick Hague will be the commander, with Russian Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov as the mission pilot on a launch targeting the International Space Station.
Date: NET September 25, 2024
Organization: SpaceX / NASA / Roscosmos
Mission: Crew 9
Rocket: Falcon 9 / Crew Dragon
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 02:28 PM EDT
Payload: Two crew members
Falcon 9 rising on September 17, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX launched Falcon 9 early this evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Liftoff was at 06:51 PM EDT as the sun was starting to set to the west. Eight and a half minutes later, Booster B1067 touched down on ‘Just Read The Instructions’, completing its twenty-second mission.
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
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.
SpaceX launched the Starlink 8-11 mission into hazy skies with storms looming in the distance late in the morning on September 5, 2024, aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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’
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.
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.
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.
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