This is currently on display at Kennedy Space Center Visitors’ Center.
SpaceX Cargo Dragon
United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin Weigh In On LC-39A Starship EIS
Photo: NASA
Public Comment Period Ended June 24th
Interesting comments from other launch providers as well as the general public regarding the potential of Launch Complex 39A being used as a launch pad and landing zone for SpaceX’s Starship have been published online by the FAA: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Notably, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin have weighed in with their thoughts, and their statements on the EISZ echo many of the general public’s concerns.
Blue Origin
Blue Origin, who has manufacturing, launch and refurbishment facilities at Kennedy Space Center and also Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, weighed in strongly.
They propose capping Starship Heavy launch and landing activities to a certain number in a given time period, limiting launches to a certain time period on any given day, government-built infrastructure to de-conflict other launch facilities from Starship activities, mandatory penalties for SpaceX violating launch licenses or environmental agreements, and also for SpaceX to indemnify (compensate for harm or loss) from any Starship activities at LC-39A:
• Capping the rate of Ss-SH launch, landing, and other operations, including but not limited to test firings, transport operations, and fueling, to a number that has a minimal impact on the local environment, locally operating personnel, and the local community, in consideration of all risks and impacts, including but not limited to anomaly risks, air toxin and hazardous materials dispersion, road closures, and heat and noise generation.
• Government investment in additional launch infrastructure that would make more launchpads available to other entities in a manner that deconflicts Ss-SH operations from other launch providers at KSC and CCSFS to preserve the health and safety of their personnel and Assets.
• Government investment in additional infrastructure for KSC and CCSFS that would reduce the risk to other launch providers at KSC and CCSFS in order to preserve the health and safety of their personnel and Assets by diverting traffic from the Proposed Action area, including but not limited to improving the Roy D. Bridges Bridge to accommodate transport of large Assets.
• Limiting Ss-SH operations to particular, limited times to minimize and make predictable their impact on the local community, and allotting other launch providers the right-of-firstrefusal or schedule priority for certain conflicting launch or other operational opportunities.
• Mitigating the effects of Ss-SH that would require evacuation or other operational pauses at other launch providers’ launch sites through infrastructure improvements or other operational changes.
• Require SpaceX and/or the Government to indemnify third parties for any losses caused by or related to Ss-SH operations, including commercial disruption incurred due to the operation of Ss-SH.
• Institute independent mandatory penalties for SpaceX for conducting operations not included in an active EIS or other environmental restriction, violating a launch license, or any other laws, regulations, or other rules for operating.
Blue Origin also calls for the FAA to study effects of noise on workers at or near LC-39A, roadway capacity, infrastructure maintenance and other effects.
If interested, you can read Blue Origin’s comments in full:
United Launch Alliance
ULA, which launches the Atlas V and Vulcan rockets for commercial and federal government customers from Space Launch Complex 41, made the following statements:
EIS Must Address Evolving Starship Heavy Design
“SpaceX intends to launch a larger model at LC-39A than it is currently testing in Boca Chica. In April 2024, SpaceX revealed plans to, at minimum, quadruple payload capability to make up for shortfalls in predicted performance. Starship will eventually be 492 feet tall, “roughly 20% higher than the massive system aboard the Super Heavy rocket right now.”21 The Super Heavy booster is expected to hold up to 4100 metric tons of propellant, and Starship up to 2,600 metric tons.22 The maximum lift-off thrust is anticipated at 103 meganewtons.23 The resulting launch impacts would far exceed current impacts seen during current Boca Chica launches. Additional growth of the Starship launch vehicle may be planned if performance continues to fall below expectations.
Given these changes, the EIS must perform a comparative analysis between current usage impacts and the proposed operations, with a rocket proposed to be more than double the size of any currently licensed launch vehicle and with increased frequency of launches.”
ULA also notes that returning booster and Starship vehicles locates the risk associated with these activities locally, rather than at sea:
Landing a booster at LC-39A, rather than in the ocean, shifts the risks of a system failure onto the communities, businesses, and environment that surround KSC.
They state that the EIS should also include impacts on other launch service providers:
“The FAA’s EIS should evaluate SpaceX’s proposed operations at LC-39A in conjunction with SpaceX’s proposed operations at SLC-37. This should further include an assessment of national security space capabilities and the associated vulnerabilities presented by the consolidation of these operations at adjacent launch complexes within a six-mile area. This also potentially increases the threat to other national security space launch providers located in the same six-mile area. SpaceX seeks to frequently launch the largest rocket ever from two launch sites within a six-mile area. Just one Starship launch site is likely to disrupt other launch operations in the area and cause significant environmental impacts”
ULA also states that the EIS should consider potential harms to local businesses and properties.
LC-39A sits in a bustling center for space operations. That center is surrounded by communities, including Cape Canaveral and Titusville, and important ecosystems, including the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore.
The EIS must consider any disruptions to the health and safety of local communities and ecosystems, from both normal operations and any potential accidents. This includes impacts on traffic, economic and property harms to local businesses and individuals, and concerns about environmental justice. Impacts to public safety must also be addressed, including but not limited to nearby schools, hospitals and other key public support infrastructure and services.
These are just a few highlights from the ULA document. If interested, you can read their entire statement below, or download it and read using Acrobat Reader or another PDF compliant viewer.
SpaceX, Falcon Heavy, NOAA GOES-U, June 25, 2024
NASA and SpaceX launched the GOES-U weather satellite for NOAA today from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 05:26 PM EDT, ten minutes after the launch window opened, with thunderstorms looming in the distance. With mission managers satisfied that the storms would not affect either the launch of landings of Falcon Heavy, the launch proceeded as planned.
SpaceX, NASA launch GOES-U for NOAA
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
NASA and SpaceX launched the GOES-U weather satellite for NOAA today from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 05:26 PM EDT, ten minutes after the launch window opened, with thunderstorms looming in the distance. With mission managers satisfied that the storms would not affect either the launch of landings of Falcon Heavy, the launch proceeded as planned.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the two side booster used for the mission returned and safely landed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, while the center core booster was expended and not recovered.
The satellite was safely delivered into its initial orbit and, after separating from Falcon Heavy’s second stage, it will continue under its own power to its final location in geosynchronous orbit, where it will undergo a commissioning process prior to its entering service for NOAA. SpaceX announced a successful deployment just before 10 PM EDT, marking a successful mission that had begun roughly 4.5 hours earlier.
Photo: Chris Leymarie / Florida Media Now
Launch Replay
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.”
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.”
Next Scheduled Launch
SpaceX plans to launch Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 on Thursday, June 27th.
- Date: NET June 27, 2024
- Organization: SpaceX
- Mission: Starlink 10-3
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Launch Window: 07:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT
- Payload: 22 communications 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.
NASA and SpaceX Planning GOES-U Launch Aboard Falcon Heavy Tuesday
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.”
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
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.
- Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville
- Kennedy Point Park in Titusville
- Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville
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
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.
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!
Boeing Starliner, Crewed Flight Test, May 2024
I was not able to be present at Cape Canaveral for the actual launch of Starliner due to prior commitments and the two previous scrubs of the flight moving the schedule into the middle of another long-planned trip. Disappointing, but things happen. I was, however, able to capture a lot of the prelaunch activities:
Reminder: Starship / LC-39A Public Information Sessions Happening This Week
Photo: Richard Gallagher / Florida Media Now
During those meetings, people can learn more about the proposed activity in an open house information station format, where the FAA will provide information describing the purpose of the scoping meetings, project schedule, opportunities for public involvement, Proposed Action and alternatives summary, and environmental resource area summary. The meetings will not be hearings, instead, they are designed to provide information.
That said, written and oral comments will be accepted, so it is your chance to make your voice heard, yay or nay. Talk of Titusville encourages you to take the time to attend, learn, and if you are so inclined, to leave your comments.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Official Document from FAA
Here is the official document for the Proposed Action. Interested parties should take the time to read it. You can either download it from here, or if you prefer, from the FAA directly at www.faa.gov/media/80626. Reading the information beforehand may give you better insight to ask more informed questions if you attend one of the informational meetings.
Meeting Information
The meetings will be informational, and not public hearings. The public hearings will come later in the process.
That’s important to keep in mind — if you want to make your voice heard, the best way to do so is in writing at the address mentioned below. You can submit written comments at the informational sessions, and a court reporter will also be present to transcribe your comments, as well.
June 12, 2024, 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm (Eastern)
IN-PERSON
Radisson Cape Canaveral, Jamaica Room
8701 Astronaut Blvd
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
June 13, 2024, 6pm-8pm (Eastern)
IN-PERSON
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Space Commerce Way
Merritt Island, FL 32953
June 17, 2024, 6pm-8pm (Eastern)
VIRTUAL / ONLINE
URL and call-in information will be provided prior to the meeting at https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship_ksc
Opportunity For Written Comments
Submitting Written Comments:
According to today’s press release, “The FAA invites interested agencies, organizations, Native American Tribes, and members of the public to submit comments to inform the FAA on the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS (e.g., range of actions, alternatives, environmental impacts). The public scoping period starts with the publication of the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register. To ensure sufficient time to consider issues identified during the public scoping period, comments should be submitted by one of the methods listed below no later than June 24, 2024. All comments will receive the same attention and consideration in the preparation of the EIS.”
“Comments, statements, or questions concerning scoping issues must be identified with the Docket Number FAA-2024-1395 and may be provided to the FAA as follows:
- Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Retrieve the docket by conducting a search for “FAA-2024-1395” and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Please note that the FAA will post all comments on the Internet without changes, including any personal information provided.
- By U.S. mail to Ms. Eva Long, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, c/o Leidos, 2877 Guardian Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.”
Starliner Scrubs. Again.
NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance Forego Launch Opportunity on June 2nd As Well
The debut of Boeing’s Starliner with crew aboard will have to endure at least one more delay as teams work to assess the latest issue that prevented a launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early this afternoon.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will presumable remain at Kennedy Space Center and still in quarantine awaiting the next launch attempt, which could come NET June 5th at 10:52 AM EDT.
Almost Got There
At T-minus three minutes and fifty-six seconds, a hold was called, the launch countdown halted, and the launch attempt was scrubbed for the day.
The reason?
“NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) scrubbed today’s launch opportunity due to the computer ground launch sequencer not loading into the correct operational configuration after proceeding into terminal count.”
NASA
In short, a computer systems failure.
Specifically, the failure was in the system that, “Controls things like retracting umbilical [connections from the pad to Atlas V] and the Pyro pin that release the bolts at the base of the rocket, so that when ignition happens the rocket is free to fly away and do its job,” said United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno in a press briefing held after the scrub.
Photo: from NASA Livestream
Additionally, Bruno added, “For that system we do require all three systems to be running triple redundancy and to assure that [inside] each of those three big racks those three big computers do a health check and they monitor to see that those cards came up. When they were commanded to come up and be begin doing their job two came up normally the third one came up but it was slow to come up, and that tripped a red line that created an automatic hold.”
With that, the scrub, because the mission profile is one based on an instantaneous launch, means Atlas V must depart at a specific moment to catch up to the International Space Station in the most efficient manner. This is normal for ISS-bound crewed flights, dating back to the days of the Space Shuttle.
Teams Forego June 2nd Launch Window
Later in the evening, NASA issued this update:
“NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) are forgoing a Crew Flight Test launch attempt Sunday, June 2, to give the team additional time to assess a ground support equipment issue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida.”
NASA
So, there is no fast turnaround, no launch tomorrow, and Starliner is still on the ground awaiting its first crewed mission.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Starliner Is Not To Blame
It would be fashionable to blame Boeing and Starliner for this latest delay, but in reality, it’s their partner, United Launch Alliance, that has not delivered in both launch attempts. On May 8th, a valve issue on Atlas V scrubbed the mission, and today, another ULA hardware problem has kept Starliner on the ground. In both cases, Starliner was ready for flight, but unfortunately, its ride to space was not. Whether ULA is third-time lucky remains to be seen.
There are two more potential launch dates, June 5 and June 6 available for Starliner before Atlas V will need to have maintenance on its battery systems, a process said to take at least ten days. Not too long after that ISS scheduling comes back into play, with Crew 9 scheduled to to head to ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Crew Dragon in August.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Wildfire in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, May 25, 2024
A lightning strike from a severe thunderstorm started a conflagration in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge this afternoon. It is north of Kennedy Space Center, and is currently no threat to property or human endeavor — in other words, the facilities at Kennedy Space Center.
Lightning Touches Off Wildfire In Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Space Center Is Safe (Updated)
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
A lightning strike from a severe thunderstorm started a conflagration in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge this afternoon. It is north of Kennedy Space Center, and is currently no threat to property or human endeavor — in other words, the facilities at Kennedy Space Center.
1PM EDT Update: Beach Road to Cape Canaveral National Seashore and Playalinda Beach has reopened to traffic. Only lingering wildfire smoke is in the area of the road, and any smoldering fire remaining active appears to be located well south of the road.
Previous Updates
Merritt Island National Wildlife Released this statement on social media at 10:25 AM Sunday: “Update on the current wildfire in the Peacocks Pocket marsh. Fire crews will be flying over the area this morning to better assess the size and scope of the fire. A plan of action will be formed after this flight and will depend greatly on the expected weather conditions. This area last burned a little over 3 years ago which is the natural cycle for refuge.”
MINWR official statement at around 11PM EDT May 25: “A lightning caused fire is currently burning in the Peacocks Pocket impoundment. The fire is estimated to be 150-200 acres. Fish & Wildlife firefighters are onsite and will monitor the blaze throughout the night. Expect all access roads to Peacocks Pocket to be closed tomorrow until fire crews determine they are safe, including: West Gator Creek, Gator Creek East Gator Creek, and Catfish Creek roads.”
11PM MAY 25: KSC Police are currently turning unbadged cars away Gate 4TT, at the end of Max Brewer Bridge. They have also cleared the Refuge of spectators. (see above: the road has reopened to traffic headed towards CCNS/Playlinda Beach and Gate 4 for KSC)
Graphic: original map is from the 2021 KSC Facilities Map, NASA
12 PM EDT, Sunday: Beach Road Open, Fire Seems To Be Dwindling
From a distance and to the uneducated naked eye, the wildfire is now starting to burn itself out, especially on its northern edges. Still far away from operational KSC facilities and buildings, no flames could be seen from Beach Road or US-1 in Titusville, which is very different than twelve hours earlier.
That does not mean that the fire is no longer any danger — a change in weather conditions or wind direction and speeds could fan the flames. Stay tuned to local authorities for official status updates. We will pass them along as soon as we receive them.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
11 PM EDT, Saturday: KSC Closes Beach Road
Around 11 PM EDT, KSC Police were emptying MINWR and were stopping people at the end of Max Brewer Bridge. KSC Police asked me to leave, and that’s exactly what I immediately did: I skedaddled.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
7 PM EDT, Saturday: Fire Is Spreading
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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