Lather, rinse, repeat: SpaceX plans to launch another Starlink Group 6 mission early this evening from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The launch window opens at 6:45 PM EDT and extends until10:45 PM EDT the same day.

Update: SpaceX now has “Liftoff targeted for 10:13 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, May 24, starting at 6:26 p.m. ET.”

The booster used for the mission will land downrange on the droneship ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, which is stationed northeast of The Bahamas, so there won’t be any sonic boom on the Space Coast tonight.

Payload

23 Starlink satellites, to be used in SpaceX’s orbital-based Internet service. They are manufactured at SpaceX’s Starlink manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington, are estimated to weigh 750-800 kg apiece and are about 3.0 meters (9.84 feet) long and 1.3 meters (3.94 feet) wide at liftoff. When a Starlink Mini V2 extends its solar panels, it is an estimated 98.5 feet in diameter.

Each Starlink satellite is equipped with a Argon-fueled Hall-effect thruster (HET) for maneuverability. Once the satellite’s useful lifetime concludes, SpaceX commands it to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, where it burns up safely and leaves no space junk behind.

According to SpaceX each HET has the following specifications:

• 70 mN thrust
• 2500 s specific impulse – 50% total efficiency
• 4.2 kW power –
• 2.1 kg mass
• Center mounted cathode

There are now around 6.000 Starlink satellites in orbit, with as many as 30,000 planned when SpaceX completes the Starlink network.

SpaceX recently announced that it has three million subscribers worldwide in nearly one hundred countries. This follows its announcement of 2.7 million subscribers in April, clearly showing that the service is growing rapidly.

Weather

 Just like last night’s forecast for Starlink 6-62, weather is about as good as it gets this time of year on the Space Coast: the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force has forecast only a 5% chance of a weather-related range violation (POV), meaning that they expect a 95% chance for acceptable weather through the launch window. In the event of a scrub or launch delay, tomorrow, conditions are slightly less favorable, with a 90% percent chance of favorable conditions and a 10% Probability of Violation.

Sky Cover

The National Weather Center forecasts that roughly 5-15% of the sky will be covered by clouds during the launch window. These estimates are often somewhat pessimistic, can be hit-or-miss and in any case are highly local, but are interesting if you are planning to view the launch in person.

The bottom line is that this evening’s launch should not have many clouds interrupting a spectator’s view of the rocket as it flies to space.

Trajectory

The Bimini Highway. Falcon 9 will take a southeasterly direction tonight towards The Bahamas, as has been customary for all Group 6 Starlink missions. Spectators looking in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean will see the rocket flying left to right.

Given that the flight is immediately offshore with no return to launch site, there will be no sonic boom from the launch on the Space Coast.

Booster

According to SpaceX’s Starlink 6-63 Mission page, “This is the 13th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and six Starlink missions.”

That’s Booster B1077. This booster flew 36 days ago when it lofted the Starlink Group 6-51 mission.

SpaceX Booster B1077
Flight	Mission	Date
1	Crew-5	10/15/2023
2	GPS III SV06	01/18/2023
3	Inmarsat-6 F2	02/18/2023
4	Starlink Group 5-10	03/29/2023
5	Dragon CRS-2 SpX-28	06/05/2023
6	Galaxy 37	08/03/2023
7	Starlink Group 6-13	09/01/2023
8	Starlink Group 6-25	10/30/2023
9	Starlink Group 6-33	12/07/2023
10	Northrup Grumman NG-20	01/30/2024
11	Starlink Group 6-43	03/10/2024
12	Starlink Group 6-51	04/17/2024

Countdown Timeline

There are key events in the countdown that you may hear called out in launch coverage.

Remember that once Propellant Loading (T-minus thirty-eight minutes) starts, Falcon 9 is committed to the launch attempt. Because of the nature of the cryogenic fuels used to power the rockets, any hold precludes a later launch attempt the same day. While it only rarely happens, there have been occasions where that has happened, and a launch scrub is called for the day’s attempt.

SpaceX provides the following countdown milestones on their mission information page:

Hours:Minutes:Seconds	Event
00:38:00	SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
00:35:00	RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
00:35:00	1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
00:16:00	2nd stage LOX loading begins
00:07:00	Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
00:01:00	Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
00:01:00	Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
00:00:45	SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
00:00:03	Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00	Falcon 9 liftoff

Timeline of Falcon 9 Flight

SpaceX has published a timeline of expected events during the mission:

Hours:Minutes:Seconds	Event
00:00:00	Liftoff
00:01:11	Max-Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26	1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30	1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:36	2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:56	Fairing deployment
00:06:09	1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:33	1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:59	1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:22	1st stage landing
00:08:41	2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:08	2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:10	2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:05:17	Starlink satellites deploy

All events up to the end of the 1st stage entry burn should be visible for launch spectators watching the launch in person, so long as clouds are not blocking the viewer’s line of sight. Fairing separation is generally only visible during daytime launches and then only using advanced optics like high-powered binoculars or a super-telephoto lens (500mm+).

Watching Online

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 6-63 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.

Space Launch Schedule, 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.

Launch Viewing: In Person

This evening’s planned launch is from LC-39A at Cape Canaveral, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are the northern Titusville riverfront parks, one of the local businesses or Playalinda Beach: 

• Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W in Cape Canaveral
• Kennedy Point Park in Titusville
• Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville

Restaurants With Good Launch Views

The following restaurants will be open for the beginning of the launch window.

• The Space Bar ($$$) – atop the Courtyard Marriott near Kennedy Parkway
• New York New York ($$) – on the Indian River with an outdoor seating area. Is family-friendly.
• Shiloh’s ($$$) — located on the Indian River with an outdoor deck overlooking KSC/CCSFS

Playalinda Beach

Playalinda Beach out on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore will be open to spectators, that is, if KSC Security and the National Park Service allow viewers for the launch. This varies from launch to launch, but as a general rule, they have allowed spectators to watch Starlink launches from the beach. You could be as close as 4.25 miles from the launch pad at liftoff.

Generally speaking, spectators have been allowed at Playalinda if the mission is not a national-security mission (for example, a National Reconnaissance Office payload) or a NASA mission. That’s not a certainty, however, and it would be wise to call ahead before making the trip out.

Cape Canaveral National Seashore Phone: 386 428-3384 x0

If you are going to Playalinda, and if it is open, remember:

• Get there at least two hours early, or better, earlier than that. Lines are long at the entry gate and they will only allow as many spectator vehicles as there are parking space available.
  
• If the launch L-0 time is moved to after 8PM, you must leave Playalinda, as the National Park Service is very strict about closing hours.
  
• Cape Canaveral National Seashore has a fee to get in and cash is not accepted. Debit and credit cards are okay, or if you have one of the National Park Service’s passes for the Seashore or the National Parks, that will work as well.
  
• Cellphone service is spotty at best and often non-existent at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch; you might get a signal, or you might not.
  
• You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. Stanchions will block them. You’ll have to park and go to the beach.
  
• Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, so you’ll need to bring drinks and food if you want any while you’re there.
  
• Rangers will keep you back a certain distance from the launch area. If the beach is open, you’ll still be unable to go down to the fence that demarcates the normal security zone. There’s a line that spectators can’t go past somewhat north of the fence. That’s for safety and security.

Other Viewing Locations

Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible, but after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket.

Be prepared for potential changes or pushbacks in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.

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