Starlink

SpaceX is planning to launch another set of Starlink satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral. This is the “weekend launch” in what has basically been a twice weekly cadence lately. The launch window opens at 4:28PM and extends for four hours until 8:28PM. According to SpaceX, “If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, November 11 starting at 4:02 p.m. ET.”

After concluding its duty powering the payload towards orbit, the first stage booster, B1080, will land on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ which will be stationed on the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas. Since the booster is not returning directly to the Cape Canaveral region after liftoff, there will not be a sonic book over the Space Coast region. This will be the 12th flight of B1080.

Weather looks good, and it should be a beautiful day to go to space.

A SpaceX booster heading to space from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

At A Glance

  • Mission: Starlink 6-69
  • Date: NET November 10, 2024
  • Launch Window:  4:28PM – 8:28PM EST*
  • Weather: 75% GO
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Trajectory: Northeast
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Booster Landing: ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’
  • Payload: Starlink satellites
  • Destination: LEO

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

Payload

The mission’s payload is another group of Starlink satellites, which will join Group 6 of SpaceX/Starlink’s orbital constellation in low-Earth orbit. Starlink satellites account for more than 50% of all active satellites, with over 7,000 active units in orbit. Starlink is an Internet service serving over four million customers in over one hundred countries and territories globally.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 10% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 90% GO.

Primary concerns are winds and cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area.

Trajectory

Southeastwards, or left to right if you are looking towards the Atlantic Ocean.

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 6-69. 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

The best free 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.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

Read more

Closeup of a rainbow over Falcon moments after a scrub. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Late in the countdown on a picture-perfect Florida fall afternoon, SpaceX was forced to call a hold and a scrub due to an issue with Falcon 9’s helium system. On Falcon 9, helium is used to pressurize fuel tanks, steady propellant flows; and for cooling systems. If the helium system on the rocket is off-kilter, Falcon 9 will not go to space that day, and today it didn’t.

Both the rocket and the payload are in good condition, and SpaceX engineers and technicians will rectify the helium issue before the next launch attempt.

Due to SpaceX officially announced the scrub a few minutes later.

At 6:30 PM EST, SpaceX has not identified a new day and time for the next attempt for the Starlink launch. It will be Tuesday, November 5th, before they can try again due to the Falcon 9 CRS-31 Resupply Mission to the International Space Station being scheduled to launch tomorrow evening from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Naturally, that mission is a priority over the Starlink mission.

At 5:45 PM EST, the 45th Weather Squadron from Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force released their official weather forecast for Starlink 6-77 for a Tuesday launch attempt at only 40% GO, and they also note two days of poor weather conditions in the landing area for the returning Falcon 9 Booster.

Weather in the booster recovery issue would be questionable tomorrow, according to the 45th Weather Squadron.

A rainbow in the clouds over Falcon 9 today at Cape Canaveral. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Closeup of a rainbow over Falcon moments after a scrub.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Read more

ai generated
“confused clock”
(ai generated)

Late this afternoon, SpaceX is planning to launch Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral to add to its constantly expanding constellation of Starlink satellites.

This time a Group 6 launch, meaning it is a southeastward launch. It will be into very late afternoon skies on the first day of Standard time and sunsets an hour (by the clock) earlier than the day before. The launch window extends from 4:57 PM EST to 8:03 PM and is expected to be under pleasant skies and an onshore breeze.

At A Glance

  • Mission: Starlink 6-67
  • Date: NET November 3, 2024
  • Launch Window:  4:57 PM EST — 8:03 PM EST*
  • Weather: 90% GO
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Trajectory: Southeast
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Booster Landing: ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’
  • Payload: Starlink satellites
  • Destination: LEO

    * consult SpaceX website for the specific target for T-0.
A graphic representation of Starlink satellites in orbit from SatelliteMap.Space

Payload

The mission’s payload is another group of Starlink satellites, which will join Group 6 of SpaceX/Starlink’s orbital constellation in low-Earth orbit. Starlink is an Internet service serving over four million customers in over one hundred countries and territories globally.

To date, SpaceX has not released any renderings of its Starlink Mini v2, which is the bulk of the units that they have been launching over the last several months.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 10% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 90% GO. This is pretty close to a perfect forecast for the launch site, but the 45th is also listing a moderate concern in the Booster Landing Area. No further information is given.

Primary concerns are cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 West or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 or the beaches.

Jetty Park will be open. There is an entry fee.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be closing right as the window opens. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

Launch spectators on the beach at Jetty Park. Falcon 9 ascending is the orange dot in the top left quarter of the photo. (click to enlarge)
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

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.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream you listen to on your phone 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. If you are watching in person, expect ignition to happen a few seconds before you hear it on launch coverage on your device. The gap can vary so a real-time countdown clock is handy.

Next Space Flight is 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.

Online Viewing

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-67. 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.

Read more

Falcon 9 ascending off of the launch pad on October 30, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer

SpaceX sent another group of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit early this evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 5:10 PM EDT under stiff breezes and crystal blue skies.

SpaceX Starlink 10-13 ascending towards orbit on October 30, 2024.
SpaceX Starlink 10-13 ascending towards orbit on October 30, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer

Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1078 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its nineteenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit. About the same time that the booster landed, the initial orbit for the payload was achieved, with a short orbit rounding burn just before payload deployment.

At 6:16 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload of Starlink satellites.

Launch Replay

By The Numbers

  • Starlink 10-8 is the 104th SpaceX launch this year.
  • SpaceX has launched 67 times from the Eastern Range
  • It was the 981st launch from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX Starlink 10-13 ascending to orbit on October 30, 2024

Next Launch

SpaceX is scheduled to launch another set of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 late on Sunday evening from Space Launch Complex 40.

  • Date: NET November 3, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX / NASA
  • Mission: Starlink 6-77
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral
  • Launch Window: 4:57 PM EST
  • Payload: Starlink satellites

Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off on October 30, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer
Read more

Lather, rinse, repeat: SpaceX plans to launch Falcon 9 tomorrow from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, carrying another group of Starlink satellites. The launch window extends from 5:10 PM EDT to 9:08 PM the same day.

Falcon 9 ascending
Falcon 9 ascending

The booster used for this mission will land on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ off of the coast of the Carolinas, and as such, there will be no sonic boom over the Space Coast region.

At A Glance

  • Mission: Starlink 10-13
  • Date: NET October 30 2024
  • Launch Window:  5:10 PM EDT — 9:08 PM EDT*
  • Weather: 75% GO
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Trajectory: Northeast
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Booster Landing: ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’
  • Payload: Starlink satellites
  • Destination: LEO

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

Payload

The mission’s payload is another group of Starlink satellites, which will join Group 10 of SpaceX/Starlink’s orbital constellation in low-Earth orbit. Starlink satellites account for more than 50% of all active satellites, with over 7,000 active units in orbit. Starlink is an Internet service serving over four million customers in over one hundred countries and territories globally.

It has been reported that SpaceX ultimately seeks to have 29,988 satellites orbiting between 211 and 381 miles above Earth.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 25% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 75% GO.

Primary concerns are winds and cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area.

Trajectory

Tomorrow’s launch is northeastwards. Spectators facing in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida will see Falcon 9 traveling right to left.

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 10-13. 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

The best free 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.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

The view from The Space Bar in Titusville.
Entry is free, drinks and food are priced at the mid-range level.

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.

Read more

SpaceX and Falcon 9 launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit late this afternoon. Liftoff was at 5:47 PM EDT under crystal clear skies and a slight breeze.

A multiple exposure composite of Falcon 9 rising this evening to start the Starlink 10-8 mission. This was the view from The Space Bar in Titusville.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1069 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’ to complete its nineteenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit.

At 6:53 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload.

By The Numbers

  • Starlink 10-8 is the 102nd SpaceX launch this year and the 414th for the company all time.
  • Tonight launch was the 50th from SLC-40 this year.
  • It was the 980th launch from Cape Canaveral.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX is scheduled to launch another set of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 early on Monday evening from Space Launch Complex 40.

  • Date: NET October 21, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Mission: Starlink Group 10-13
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 5:10 PM – 9:10 PM EDT
  • Payload: Starlink satellites

Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.

Launch spectators enjoyed some food and drinks at The Space Bar before the Starlink 10-8 launch on October 26,
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
A closer view of Falcon 9 launching this afternoon from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville.

Read more

Crowds gathered on Cocoa Beach to watch a Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral earlier in 2024.
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. The launch window extends from 6:52 PM EDT to 10:14 PM the same day. The launch will be SpaceX’s 99th in 2024.

Note: article has been updated to reflect a day/time change in the launch schedule.

At A Glance

  • Mission: Starlink 6-61
  • Date: NET October 22 2024
  • Launch Window:  6:52 PM EDT — 10:14 PM EDT*
  • Weather: 85% GO
  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Trajectory: Southeast
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Booster Landing: ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’
  • Payload: Starlink satellites
  • Destination: LEO

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

Payload

The mission’s payload is another group of Starlink satellites, which will join Group 6 of SpaceX/Starlink’s orbital constellation in low-Earth orbit. Starlink is an Internet service serving over four million customers in over one hundred countries and territories globally.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 15% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 85% GO.

Primary concerns are winds and cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area, with additional concerns listed for the booster landing area at sea.

Trajectory

Tomorrow’s launch is southeastwards. Spectators facing in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida will see Falcon 9 traveling left to right.

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 6-61. 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

The best free 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.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be closing right as the window opens. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

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.

Read more