Space Coast

Crew 9 Astronauts Aleksandr Vladimirovich Gorbunov and Nick Hague greeted reporters and NASA personnel yesterday at the old Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC.
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.
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 Titusville
The crew and support personnel arriving at KSC's SLF on September 22, 2024
The 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

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Falcon 9 rising off of the launch mount at Space Launch Complex 40 on September 17, 2024
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
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.

Lucky And Good

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.
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
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
Falcon 9 rising on September 17, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
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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

Trajectory

Northeastwards, at around 56 degrees.

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: 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.

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Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral's SLC-40 on September 12, 2024
Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-40 on September 12, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

SpaceX launched five satellites for AST Mobile aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral this morning.

Falcon 9 piercing the clouds above the launch pad on September 12, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Liftoff was at 04:55 AM EDT, and roughly eight minutes later, Booster B1078 successfully landed at Landing Zone 1, five and a half miles away from the launch pad.

After stage separation, Falcon 9 began its return to land at Cape Canaveral.
Photo: Richard Gallagher / Florida Media Now

At about the same time, the second stage achieved its initial orbit.

Payload

According to AST Mobile, the owner of the BlueBird satellites, “These first five satellites are built on the success of our in-orbit BlueWalker 3 satellite and will provide U.S. nationwide non-continuous service with over 5,600 cells in premium low-band spectrum, with a planned 10-fold increase in processing bandwidth.

“Each BlueBird satellite has a communications array measuring 693 square feet to establish connectivity directly with cell phones via 3GPP-standard frequencies, and in partnership with leading cellular service providers around the world.”

Launch Replay

Next Launch

SpaceX will launch two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system no early than Sunday, September 15th. 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.

  • Date: NET September 15, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX / ESA
  • Mission: Galileo L13 (FOC FM26 & FM32)
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 06:57 – 07:59 PM EDT
  • Payload: Two Galileo navigation satellites
Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral's SLC-40 on September 12, 2024
Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-40 on September 12, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

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Artist’s rendering of New Glenn in flight.
Graphic: Blue Origin

NASA has decided to forego an attempt to launch the twin ESCAPADE in October aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn on its maiden flight:

NASA announced Friday it will not fuel the two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft at this time, foregoing the mission’s upcoming October launch window. While future launch opportunities are under review, the next possible earliest launch date is spring 2025.

The agency’s decision to stand down was based on a review of launch preparations and discussions with Blue Origin, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Space Launch Delta 45 Range Safety Organization, as well as NASA’s Launch Services Program and Science Mission Directorate. 

NASA

In their press release announcing the delay, NASA also stated that they are exploring opportunities to launch the ESCAPADE satellites “no earlier than the Spring of 2025.”

Illustration of ESCAPADE twin spacecraft entering Mars’ orbit.
Credits: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA

“This is an important mission for NASA, and it’s critical we have sufficient margin in our prelaunch work to ensure we are ready to fly a tight planetary window,” said Bradley Smith, NASA’s Launch Services Office director at NASA Headquarters.

New Glenn Maiden Launch Shifts Right to NET November

Blue Origin stated on X.com today that New Glenn’s first launch will now be in November and will carry their Blue Ring satellite.

Rocket Lab Reacts

Rocket Lab, who built the two ESCAPADE probes, said this after the announcement:

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Falcon 9 nearing the speed of sound
Falcon 9 rises off of the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40 and into hazy skies on September 5, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX launched the Starlink 8-11 mission into hazy skies with storms looming in the distance late this morning aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Liftoff was at 11:33 AM EDT, with Booster B1077 completing its fifteenth mission successfully 8:22 minutes later when it touched down offshore east of Charleston, SC, on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions.’ At about the same time, the second stage achieved its initial orbit.

At 12:38 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed satellite deployment and the conclusion of another successful launch for the company.

Falcon 9 nearing the speed of sound as it rose into the Florida skies on September 5, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Payload

According to SpaceX, tonight’s payload was “21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit.” That Direct to Cell service will initially be available on T-Mobile, and will be deployed at some point in the future.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

Rumors around the Space Coast are whispering that Polaris Dawn may finally launch after being grounded by uncertain weather in the landing zones at the conclusion of the mission, but there has been no official statement from either SpaceX or the Polaris Dawn team that this is the case.

Given that the current seven-day outlook for tropical activity in the Gulf of Mexico and near the eastern Florida coast has five potential development areas, those rumors do not seem accurate. Even if no tropical storm spins up, the sea states for a capsule return and landing might be dicy, and mission managers are not likely to take unnecessary risks for a crewed mission.

The September 5, 2024 Seven Day Tropical Outlook shows five areas of concern for storm development.
Graphic: NOAA / National Weather Service

Assuming that Polaris Dawn does not launch in the next few days, the next mission on the Eastern Range will be the BlueBird Block 1 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral on September 12.

  • Date: NET September 12, 2024
  • Organization: SpaceX / AST SpaceMobile
  • Mission: BlueBird Block 1
  • Rocket: Falcon 9
  • Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
  • Launch Window: 04:52 AM EDT
  • Payload: BlueBird, a direct-to-cell satellite
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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’
  • Payload: Group 8 Starlink satellites
  • Destination: LEO

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

Payload

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.

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 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.

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Nick Hague, left, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, right.
Photos from NASA and Roscosmos

NASA has made an official announcement regarding the roster for Crew 9, currently scheduled to fly to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon no earlier than September 24.

In a press release issued August 30, the agency said, “NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24, on the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, previously announced as crewmates, are eligible for reassignment on a future mission.”

NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman
Photo: NASA

They added that Hague and Gorbunov would fly to the space station as commanders and pilots on a two-crew member flight aboard a SpaceX Dragon. These changes were made to create room aboard Crew Dragon for Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose spacecraft will return to Earth on September 6 without the two aboard.

“I am deeply proud of our entire crew,” said Cardman said in the NASA press release, “and I am confident Nick and Alex will step into their roles with excellence. All four of us remain dedicated to the success of this mission, and Stephanie and I look forward to flying when the time is right.” 

NASA Astronaut Stephanie Wilson
Photo: NASA

Wilson added, “I know Nick and Alex will do a great job with their work aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 72.”

NASA Chief Astronaut Joe Acabo said, “While we’ve changed crew before for a variety of reasons, downsizing crew for this flight was another tough decision to adjust to given that the crew has trained as a crew of four.”

NASA says it will share the reassignment details for Cardman and Wilson when they become available.

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