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Falcon Heavy on the launch pad at LC-39A early on June 25, 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

NASA is targeting a two-hour window Tuesday opening at 5:16 PM EDT, June 25, for the launch of the weather satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A. The payload for this mission is the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) GOES-U weather satellite, an advanced weather forecasting satellite.

The weather could be a significant concern for any launch attempt tomorrow or Wednesday as storms are expected to form in the Space Coast area. The 45th Weather Squadron is giving a pessimistic forecast of only a 30% chance of acceptable weather for launch, with a 70% chance of weather causing a launch delay.

B1087 (Center Core), B1086 and B1072 (RTLS Side Cores) are all brand new boosters set to debut on this launch. B1086 and B1072 will return and land at SpaceX’s landing zone at Cape Canaveral, and B1087 will have a short life — it will be expended as part of the mission plan. As such, sonic booms will be heard throughout the Space Coast region as the boosters herald their return to land.

Should the launch be delayed for weather-related or technical reasons, the backup window is Wednesday, June 26, at the same time as Tuesday.

At A Glance

Mission: GOES-U
Date: NET June 24, 2024
Launch Window: 05:16 PM EDT – 07:16 PM EDT*
Organization: NASA / SpaceX
Rocket: Falcon Heavy Launch
Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
Payload: GOES-U Weather satellite for NOAA

* consult NASA or SpaceX media for the specific target for T-0.

Weather

In their forecast update at 1 PM EDT today, the 45th Weather Squadron states that, “By tomorrow, the ridge axis will be just south of the Spaceport as a surface boundary digs into the Southeastern US, bringing high levels of moisture and light offshore low-level winds before the afternoon sea breeze develops. This set-up will increase afternoon shower and storm chances through most of this week. Both tomorrow and Wednesday, the east coast sea breeze will form and trigger showers/storms in the early to mid-afternoon, before the evening launch window opens.”

That does not sound good, and a delay due to the weather is entirely possible, Still, with a two-hour launch window to work with, mission managers are hopeful that a a period of calm weather will allow the launch to proceed.

Payload

According to NOAA, “GOES-U will provide critical atmospheric, hydrologic, oceanic, climatic, solar and space data for advanced detection and monitoring of environmental phenomena that threaten the security and well-being of everyone in the Western Hemisphere.”

NASA rendering of the GOES-U satellite.

They add, “GOES-U will be renamed GOES-19 after it reaches geostationary orbit. Following a successful on-orbit checkout of its instruments and systems, NOAA plans to put GOES-19 into operational service, replacing GOES-16 as GOES East. GOES-19 will work in tandem with GOES-18, NOAA’s GOES West satellite. Together, GOES East and GOES West watch over more than half the globe – from the west coast of Africa to New Zealand.”

GOES-U Fact Sheet

2024-01_2023_GOES-U_Mission_Overview_Fact_SheetDownload

More information is available GOES-U Mission Overview.

Trajectory

Eastward.

Launch Viewing In Person

Watching Online

SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream

NASA will have a livestream of the launch on their website: NASA GOES-U

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 and or NASA is the best source of information.

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.

Launch Viewing: In Person

Today’s launch is from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The Max Brewer Bridge and northern park on Washington Avenue (US1) in Titusville are your best bets.

Restaurants With Good Launch Views

Given the early hours of the launch window (7:30AM – 11:30AM EDT) these restaurants may not be open for launch viewing. Later in the day, all three may well be, so if you are interested, be sure to call ahead to make sure they’ll be ready to serve you.

  • 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
Falcon Heavy, as seen from behind LC-39A early Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Indirect Views

There are several excellent viewing spots for launches that offer indirect views — meaning you won’t see the rocket until it clears obstructions such as trees, buildings, even a storm berm in one case.

Further away, but really nice views.

Jetty Park, Port Canaveral

Fee required, much be purchased in advance: Port Canaveral Store

It’s very possible to see a cruise ship coming or going.

The pier especially has great views.

Cocoa Beach

Parking fees (probably). Pay with your smartphone on the parking app. There are signs everywhere telling you how.

Playalinda Beach

Playalinda Beach out on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore may be open to spectators, that is, if KSC Security and the National Park Service allow viewers for the launch. This varies launch to launch.

That’s by no means a certainty, however, and it would be very 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 will have to 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-existant at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch, because you might get signal or you might not.
  • You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. They will have stanchions blocking them. You’ll have to park and you’ll have to go to the beach.
  • Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and that means 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 not be able to go all the way 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.

Also, as part of both Kennedy Space Center and the US Park system, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is under federal jurisdiction and that means if you happen to get a ticket out there, you’ll be heading to federal court. Best thing to do is strictly obey traffic laws. Don’t speed!

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Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

The Space Coast could see up to three launches this week: two Starlink launches from SpaceX, and if mission managers accept the current state of Boeing’s Starliner, at long last, the first crewed launch of the vehicle. Here’s a look at the schedule as it currently stands on Monday, May 20, 2024:

Wednesday, May 22: Starlink 6-62

  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9, Block 5
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 10:33 PM – 02:33 AM EDT
  • Payload: 23 Starlink Satellites
  • Booster Return To Launch Site: No

There has been a steady stream of Starlink Group 6 launches over the past several months, and this is another one of them. While the mission may be similar to many other recent launches, every rocket launch is slightly different and worth viewing, so despite the apparent lather-rinse-repeat nature of a Starlink launch by SpaceX, it will be worth viewing.

Photo: Ed Cordero / Florida Media Now

Thursday, May 23: Starlink 6-63

  • Organization: SpaceX
  • Rocket: Falcon 9, Block 5
  • Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
  • Launch Window: 06:45 PM – 10:45 PM EDT
  • Payload: 23 Starlink Satellites
  • Booster Return To Launch Site: No

This launch may be interesting, especially if it launches at the beginning of the window or if it is pushed back into the twilight hours of early evening.

If it launches close to the beginning of the planned launch window in the golden light of late afternoon, it will be a gorgeous sight to see, with the rocket illuminated by the yellowish light of the last part of daytime. Playalinda Beach should be open to viewers during that time. Remember that Playalinda has a hard closing time of 8 PM, so if the launch is delayed past then, you will have to leave and find another spot to watch.

If the T-0 for launch is pushed to around 8:30 PM EDT and if skies are clear enough to see the rocket at MECO/Staging, we could see a repeat of the jellyfish phenomenon that wowed launch spectators late last week.

No launch provider plans liftoff based on spectators, however, so if either of those things happens, it will be because SpaceX mission managers have decided that Falcon 9 is ready for flight. That’s as it should be, as spaceflight is not an entertainment business.

Photo: NASA, via livestream

Saturday, May 25: Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test

  • Organization: United Launch Alliance, Boeing, NASA
  • Rocket: ULA Atlas V
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 41, Kennedy Space Center
  • Launch Window: 3:09 PM EDT. Instantaneous window
  • Payload: Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams
  • Booster Return To Launch Site: No

This is the most tenuous launch planned for the week. This mission has been delayed several times after the first launch attempt was scrubbed on May 6, 2024 due to a faulty valve on the second stage of Atlas V. The rocket was taken off its launch pad and moved back to ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility at SLC-41 where repairs were effected.

A Helium leak was discovered in the Starliner service module during that repair period, and at the time of this writing, mission managers are evaluating the leak (it is within tolerances) to decide if it is acceptable for flight. Sometime during the week, the results of the analysis will be announced by NASA and Boeing, and the launch schedule for Starliner will become clearer.

If the launch proceeds as scheduled, northern viewpoints in Titusville will be best for spectators if they are not on-site at Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center. Playalinda will be closed to spectators as this is a northeastward launch with crew.

Schedule Shifts Possible

Several factors affect launch dates and times: weather, technical readiness and range availability.

There is an old saying in the spaceflight industry: “Hundreds of thousands of things have to go right for their to be a launch, but only one has to go wrong for there to be a scrub.” That and “It’s better to be on the ground fixing a problem rather than wishing you were on the ground fixing a problem.”

In other words, no one launches unless they are certain they are ready. That means scrubs and schedule shifts are very possible, and anyone planning to watch a launch, either in person or online, should be prepared for launch times and shifts. It’s the nature of the business.

You can keep up with the general launch schedule here at Talk of Titusville, as we pass along schedule changes as soon as we know them. On launch day, the launch company’s website is the official source of information and there are several YouTube and X.com streams available that will give you the latest information.

Keep up with launch news and other space events that affect the local area by subscribing to alerts when we publish a new article by entering your email at the link at the bottom of this page, or by visiting Space Talk here on the website. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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Representative SpaceX Booster Rising.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

SpaceX is planning to launch the first of three Falcon 9 missions over the next five days today. There’s another launch scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, April 18, and a final one set for Monday, April 22nd. All three will be ferrying a tranche of Starlink Group 6 satellites to orbit. Today’s launch is from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron has forecasted a 10% Probability of Violation, meaning there is a 90% chance of acceptable weather during the launch window. Their primary concern is the Thick Clouds rule.

Trajectory

Southeast, as has been customary for Group 6 Starlink payloads.

Landing

Landing is planned to be on the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) ‘Just Read The Instructions’ (JRTI) which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas.

After the landing, JRTI will return to Port Canaveral with the booster. It will then be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility on Roberts Road inside Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.

Booster: B1077

Booster B1077 will be making its 12th flight. Previously, B1077 was used for Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and five Starlink missions.

SpaceX Booster B1077
FlightMissionDate
1Crew-510/15/2023
2GPS III SV0601/18/2023
3 Inmarsat-6 F202/18/2023
4Starlink Group 5-1003/29/2023
5Dragon CRS-2 SpX-2806/05/2023
6Galaxy 3708/03/2023
7Starlink Group 6-1309/01/2023
8Starlink Group 6-2510/30/2023
9Starlink Group 6-3312/07/2023
10Northrup Grumman NG-2001/30/2024
11Starlink Group 6-4303/10/2024
Booster 1077 flight record as of April 16, 2024

Online Viewing

A live webcast of this mission will begin on SpaceX’s X account feed about five minutes prior to liftoff. 
Watch live on X.

SpaceX’s official web page has links to live coverage as well as up-to-date planned launch times. Starlink 6-51 Mission Page.

Spaceflight Now will begin its live launch feed one hour prior to liftoff.
SFN on Youtube.

Launch Viewing: In Person

Today’s launch is from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are at either the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, or the northern parks on US-1 in Titusville.

Video of a Playalinda launch.

If the launch is prior to 8PM EDT, 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 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, if it is not a national-security mission (for example, a National Reconnaissance Office payload) or a NASA mission, spectators have been allowed at Playalinda. That’s by no means a certainty, however, and it would be very 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 will have to 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-existant at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch, because you might get signal or you might not.
  • You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. They will have stanchions blocking them. You’ll have to park and you’ll have to go to the beach.
  • Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and that means 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 not be able to go all the way 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.

Also, as part of both Kennedy Space Center and the US Park system, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is under federal jurisdiction and that means if you happen to get a ticket out there, you’ll be heading to federal court. Best thing to do is strictly obey traffic laws. Don’t speed!

If you’re not planning to go to Playalinda, the best direct views of liftoff are at either at the northern Titusville parks off of US1 / Washington Avenue. the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, or the northern parks on US-1 in Titusville.

The ascending rocket will also be visible on Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier after liftoff when Falcon 9 clears any obstructions.

The ascending rocket will also be visible on the beaches after liftoff when Falcon 9 clears any obstructions.

Weather is forecast to be in the 70º’s around launch time.

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Spectators in the surf at Playalinda Beach watching a SpaceX Falcon 9 lift off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

Opening Day in Major League Baseball was just a couple of days ago, so it’s fitting in a way that the Space Coast will get its own kind of double-header tomorrow: SpaceX is planning to launch Eutelsat 36D from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center between 5:52 PM and 8:00 PM EDT, and then between 9:00 PM and 10:31 PM EDT, another batch of Internet connectivty satellites with the Starlink 6-46 mission from their pad at SLC-40 at Cape Cananveral Space Force Station.

Both missions will be aboard the company’s Falcon 9 rockets, and both will land offshore on Automated Spaceport Drone Ships (ASDS) — ‘Just Read The Instructions’ for Eutelsat, and ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ for the Starlink Mission. Two other SpaceX boats — ‘Bob’ and ‘Doug’ are also out to sea, and they will be retrieving the fairings for each mission after they are jettisoned by the ascending rockets.

All of those vessels will then return to Port Canaveral after several days, where their cargo will be offloaded and returned to SpaceX’s facility Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and potential reuse.

Boosters

The boosters SpaceX is planning to use for these missions have not been disclosed by the company yet.

Trajectory

Eutelsat will take a nearly due East trajectory from Kennedy Space Center, flying towards an equatorial orbit.

Starlink 6-45 will take the well-trodden path as other Group 6 Starlink missions: southeastward.

Weather

According to the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force, “Weather conditions will be very favorable for Saturday evening’s launch attempt.”

Eutelsat 36

Starlink 6-45

The 45th’s forecast for Starlink 6-45 is all but identical to their Eutelsat POV prognistication:

In-Person Viewing

Eutelsat

The Eutelsat mission may offer an intriguing possibility: it’s planned for late afternoon, NET 5:52 PM EDT, with the window going to 8:00 PM. That means there’s a possibility that 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.

Generally speaking, if it is not a national-security mission (for example, a National Reconnaissance Office payload) or a NASA mission, spectators have been allowed at Playalinda. That’s by no means a certainty, however, and it would be very wise to call ahead before making the trip out.

Cape Canaveral National Seashore Phone: 386 428-3384 x0

If Playalinda 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.
  • 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-existant at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch, because you might get signal or you might not.
  • You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. They will have stanchions blocking them. You’ll have to park and you’ll have to go to the beach.
  • Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and that means 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 not be able to go all the way 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.

Also, as part of both Kennedy Space Center and the US Park system, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is under federal jurisdiction and that means if you happen to get a ticket out there, you’ll be heading to federal court. Best thing to do is strictly obey traffic laws. Don’t speed!

If you’re not planning to go to Playalinda, the best direct views of liftoff are at either at the northern Titusville parks off of US1 / Washington Avenue. the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, or the northern parks on US-1 in Titusville.

The ascending rocket will also be visible on Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier after liftoff when Falcon 9 clears any obstructions.

Starlink 6-45

The Starlink launch is from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are: Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W near Port Canaveral, or the  southern parks on US-1 / S. Washington Avenue in Titusville. Kennedy Point Park and,Rotary Riverview Park (among others) are your best bets.

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.

Online Viewing

SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream

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Falcon 9 rishing from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in 2023.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Fans looking to the see the first launch of 2024 from the Space Coast won’t have to wait very long, as Wednesday, January 3rd, SpaceX plans to launch Ovzon-3, a mobile communication satellite for Stockholm based Ovzon. Five days after that, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan is slated to make its debut, followed by the crewed Axoim-3 mission from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX also has more Starlink satellite launches planned, but no dates have yet been announced.

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