Interstellar Lab, a French company with facilities on Merritt Island, has joined forces with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation to grow roses on the moon. Mission Little Prince is planning to launch in 2027, and will land on the lunar surface aboard Astrolab’s FLEX rover.
Interstellar said in a press release from earlier in the year that, “This collaboration with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation brings an artistic and educational dimension to this mission, stimulating young people’s imagination and promoting the values of curiosity, open-mindedness and environmental preservation.”
“Since its first publication in France in 1946, The Little Prince has become a universal phenomenon, carrying Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s humanist message that transcends cultural and temporal barriers, weaving deep bonds between generations and cultures the world over.”
What or Who Is The Little Prince?
The Little Prince is a novella written and illustrated by French writer and military pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It has sold an estimated 140 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 500 languages. In it, a young prince visits various planets, including Earth, and addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss.
While it is ostensibly written as children’s book, The Little Prince makes observations about life, adults, and human nature. Many literary scholars consider the slim volume to be one of the 100 best pieces of literature written in the 20th century — no small feat in a time period where writers like Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Nabokov, James Joyce and too many others to name made their mark on Western culture.
While it is only briefly mentioned in the story, a rose teaches The Little Prince about love – for which, there can be no better symbol. Hence, the idea of roses on the moon.
Practical Applications
Romantic symbolism aside, the are sound technical reasons for Interstellar to take on the experiment. The company states its mission is to “preserve life on Earth and expand it into space.” They add that they are “working to grow plants and foodstuffs in space,” and states their mission is to “preserve biodiversity on Earth and help it become multi-planetary.” To that end, Interstellar is a finalist in NASA’s “Deep Space Food Challenge” where they have created a modular bioregenerative system for producing fresh microgreens, vegetables, mushrooms, and insects. Growing roses in conditions as harsh as the moon will prove to be a great testing ground for the company’s technologies and capabilities.
Falcon 9 lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 on July 8, 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX weathered lightning in the area until skies cleared early this evening, allowing the company to launch the Turksat-6A mission aboard a Falcon 9. Originally scheduled for 5:20 PM EDT, liftoff was delayed several times until 7:30 PM when the afternoon’s storms were far away enough to allow the rocket to safely ascend towards orbit.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1076 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’ to complete its fifteenth mission, while the second stage and payload continued to Earth orbit.
Shortly after 8 PM, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload, marking yet another successful mission for the company and for Falcon 9: its 351st Falcon 9 launch, its 308th booster landing, and its 282nd flight of a previously flown booster.
Launch Replay
Payload
The payload for this mission was a domestically produced telecommunications satellite, Türksat 6A. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğle stated that Türksat 6A was produced with a local production rate of nearly 90 percent, a first for the Türkish nation.
In May, he said, “We produced our Türksat 6A satellite locally and nationally. While producing this, we assigned Türksat’s engineers to the construction of TÜRKSAT 3A, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B satellites, trained them and included them in the production programs.”
It is currently traveling under its own power to a geosynchronous orbit positioned at 42° East, where it will have an expected service lifetime of at least fifteen years once it reaches its operational location and is tested and commissioned.
Falcon 9 powers through clouds this evening over Florida skies Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Türksat 6A will service Türksat’s normal customer base as well as adding four new countries with the new Türksat 6A. “Currently, with our satellites, we cover Europe, the Middle East, the Turkish Republics and a part of the Far East,” Uraloğle said. “We are already selling this service to the geographies I mentioned. There will be additional income by selling this communication service and exporting services to the new 4 countries.” he said.
Booster B1076.15
Booster B1076
Flight Number
Mission
Launch Date
1
CRS-26
November 26, 2022
2
OneWeb 16
January 10, 2023
3
Starlink 6-1
February 27, 2023
4
Intelsat 40e
April 7, 2023
5
Starlink 6-3
May 19, 2023
6
Starlink 6-6
July 24. 2023
7
Starlink 6-14
September 9, 2023
8
Starlink 6-21
October 5, 2023
9
O3b mPOWER 5/6
November 12, 2023
10
Ovzon-3
January 3, 2024
11
Starlink 6-40
February 29, 2024
12
Eutelsat 36D
March 30, 2024
13
Starlink 6-54
April 28, 2024
14
Starlink 6-64
May 31, 2024
15
Turksat-6A
July 8, 2024
Booster B1076 record as of July 8, 2024
Next Launch
SpaceX is scheduled to launch another set of Starlink satellites early on Saturday morning from Space Launch Complex 40.
Date: NET July 13, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink Group 10-4
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 03:58 AM – 08:28 AM EDT
Payload: Starlink Mini v2 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.
Falcon 9 lifting off in January 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX is planning to launch a Falcon 9 carrying a Turkish telecommunications satellite later Monday afternoon from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, weather permitting. The launch window opens at 05:20 PM EDT and extends over four hours to 09:43 PM EDT Monday.
The launch will be SpaceX’s 71st launch of 2024, and its 34th launch from Space Launch Complex 40 this year. Overall, it will 382nd SpaceX launch all time.
At A Glance
Mission: Turksat 6A
Date: NET July 8, 2024
Launch Window: 05:20 PM EDT – 09:43 PM EDT*
Organization: SpaceX
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Payload: Communications satellite to geosynchronous orbit. * consult SpaceX for the specific target for T-0.
Payload
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu of Türkiye Photo: Türksat
The payload for this mission is a domestically produced telecommunications satellite, Türksat 6A. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğle stated that the Türksat 6A communication satellite was produced with a local production rate of nearly 90 percent. In May, he said, “We produced our Türksat 6A satellite locally and nationally. While producing this, we assigned Türksat’s engineers to the construction of TÜRKSAT 3A, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B satellites, trained them and included them in the production programs.”
It will be placed in a geosynchronous orbit positioned at 42° East with an expected service lifetime of at least fifteen years once it reaches its operational location and is tested and commissioned.
Türksat 6A will service Türksat’s normal customer base as well as adding four new countries with the new Türksat 6A. “Currently, with our satellites, we cover Europe, the Middle East, the Turkish Republics and a part of the Far East,” Uraloğle said. “We are already selling this service to the geographies I mentioned. There will be additional income by selling this communication service and exporting services to the new 4 countries.” he said.
Weather
According to the 45th Weather Squadron, chances are high for a weather violation on the launch range creating a delay. Their forecast calls for a 70% likelihood of a weather violation, leaving only a 30% chance of acceptable weather. In their July 7th launch discussion, the 45th states, “For both Monday and Tuesday, [a frontal] ridge is expected to shift south of the spaceport, bringing weak southwesterly winds and coastal afternoon thunderstorms to the Cape. Some of these storms may produce 40 mph or greater winds. Convective activity should taper off after sunset, but steering winds are expected to be weak, possibly extending any weather violations that occur.”
Trajectory
Eastward. Falcon 9 will appear to be flying nearly straight out to see for spectators facing the Atlantic Ocean at launch time.
Landing
Landing is expected to be out at sea aboard one of SpaceX’s Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships.
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 their live coverage as well as up-to-date planned launch times.
Spaceflight Now will begin its live launch feed one hour prior to liftoff. SFN on Youtube.
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 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
This morning’s planned launch is from SLC-40, on the south side of the Eastern Range (KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station combined.) The southern parks in Titusville on Washington Avenue and FL-528/A1A in Cape Canaveral are the best spots to watch liftoff directly.
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 SLC-40 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.
Parking fees (probably). Pay with your smartphone on the parking app. There are signs everywhere telling you how.
Further away, but still good views.
Northern Titusville Parks
Further away, but really nice views.
Playalinda Beach
Playalinda Beach out on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore will be open to spectators until 8 PM EDT, that is if KSC Security and the National Park Service allow viewers for the launch. It opens to visitors at 6 AM.
Call ahead to be sure.
Cape Canaveral National Seashore • Playalinda Beach
Phone: (386) 428-3384 x0
Current operating hours: 6:00 AM–8:00 PM
If you are going to Playalinda, and if it is open, remember these general tips. Some may not apply to this particular launch.
Get there at least two hours early, or better, earlier than that. Lines are long at the entry gate and they will only allow as many spectator vehicles as there are parking space available.
If the launch L-0 time is moved to after 8PM, you must leave Playalinda, as the National Park Service is very strict about closing hours.
Cape Canaveral National Seashore has a fee to get in and cash is not accepted. Debit and credit cards are okay, or if you have one of the National Park Service’s passes for the Seashore or the National Parks, that will work as well.
Cellphone service is spotty at best and often non-existent at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch; you might get a signal, or you might not.
You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. Stanchions will block them. You’ll have to park and go to the beach.
Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, so you’ll need to bring drinks and food if you want any while you’re there.
Rangers will keep you back a certain distance from the launch area on the beach. Even if the beach is open, you’ll still be unable to go down to the fence that demarcates the normal security zone. There’s a line that spectators can’t go past somewhat north of the fence. That’s for safety and security.
Be prepared for potential changes or pushbacks in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.
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 cancel at any time.
Falcon 9 rises over a ghost boat on the Banana River on July 3, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX successfully launched another group of Starlink satellites into orbit this morning from its Space Launch Complex 40 facility to open the second half of the year. Liftoff was at 4:55 AM EDT.
Around 8:20 minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster used for the mission, tail number B1073, touched down safely on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean near the Carolinas. After landing, B1073 has now flown sixteen successful missions. ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be unloaded, transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, and prepared for its next flight after inspection and refurbishment.
Launch Replay
Payload
According to SpaceX, tonight’s payload is “20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.”
Debbie Henninger Harris caught this photo of Falcon 9 ascending to orbit in Raleigh, NC this morning. The launch was visible for much of the SE coastal state. Photo: Debbie Henninger Harris, shared by permission
Booster B1073.16 Record
Booster B1073
May 12, 2024
Flight
Mission
Date
1
Starlink 4-15
May 14, 2022
2
SES-22
June 29, 2022
3
Starlink 4-26
August 10, 2022
4
Starlink 4-35
September 24, 2022
5
HAKUTO-R
December 11, 2022
6
Amazonus Nexus
February 7, 2023
7
CRS-27
March 15, 2023
8
Starlink 6-2
April 19, 2023
9
Starlink 5-11
June 12, 2023
10
Starlink 6-12
September 4, 2023
11
Starlink 6-27
November 8, 2023
12
Starlink 6-37
January 15, 2024
13
Starlink 6-41
March 4, 2024
14
Bandwagon-1
April 7, 2024
15
Starlink 6-58
May 12, 2024
16
Starlink 8-9
July 3, 2024
Booster B1073 flight record as of July 3, 2024
Falcon 9 lifts off and turns night into day for a moment—iPhone photo.
Next Launch
SpaceX will send a satellite built in Türkiye to geosynchronous orbit. Once commissioned, it will provide services to customers in Türkiye, Europe, the Northern coast of Africa, the Middle East, India, and Indonesia.
Date: NET July 7, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Türksat 6A
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 5:20 PM EDT
Payload: Communications satellite
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 Falcon 9 heads to space in 2023, as seen from Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX plans to add more satellites to their Starlink constellation in the wee hours Wednesday morning with the Starlink 8-9 mission set to depart Space Launch Complex 40. Liftoff is currently targeted for 02:57 AM EDT with a launch window extending to 06:01:00 AM EDT the same day. If weather or technical reasons cause a scrub, an additional opportunities are also available on Sunday, July 7 starting at 12:28 AM EDT.
The booster used for the mission is Booster B1073, the same one that experienced an abort-at-ignition on its last launch attempt. After completing its boost cycle, B1073 on the company’s automated landing barge ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ which is stationed at sea in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of the Carolinas. Since the booster will not be returning to the launch site, there will be no sonic booms on the Space Coast.
Payload
According to SpaceX, tonight’s payload is “20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.”
Starlink satellites mounted for launching. Photo: SpaceX
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron forecasts an 80% chance of acceptable launch conditions. They do mention cumulus clouds as possibly playing the role of spoiler, however, with a long launch window, SpaceX can delay if fueling has not started and wait for improved conditions.
Trajectory
The planned trajectory for the launch is northeastwards, or right-to-left if you are a spectator in Florida looking towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Booster
SpaceX says that the booster, which is planned for use tonight, “[Will be] the 16th flight for the first-stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1, and 10 Starlink missions.”
That’s Booster B1073, the same one that experienced an abort-at-ignition on its last launch attempt. It has been re-inspected and any repairs needed have been completed, so it’s back to work for the well-experienced first stage.
Booster B1073
May 12, 2024
Flight
Mission
Date
1
Starlink 4-15
May 14, 2022
2
SES-22
June 29, 2022
3
Starlink 4-26
August 10, 2022
4
Starlink 4-35
September 24, 2022
5
HAKUTO-R
December 11, 2022
6
Amazonus Nexus
February 7, 2023
7
CRS-27
March 15, 2023
8
Starlink 6-2
April 19, 2023
9
Starlink 5-11
June 12, 2023
10
Starlink 6-12
September 4, 2023
11
Starlink 6-27
November 8, 2023
12
Starlink 6-37
January 15, 2024
13
Starlink 6-41
March 4, 2024
14
Bandwagon-1
April 7, 2024
15
Starlink 6-58
May 12, 2024
Countdown Timeline
There are key events in the countdown that you may hear called out in launch coverage.
Remember that once Propellant Loading (T-minus thirty-eight minutes) starts, Falcon 9 is committed to the launch attempt. Because of the nature of the cryogenic fuels used to power the rockets, any hold precludes a later launch attempt the same day. While it only rarely happens, there have been occasions where that has happened, and a launch scrub is called for the day’s attempt.
SpaceX provides the following countdown milestones on their mission information page:
Hours:Minutes:Seconds
Event
00:38:00
SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
00:35:00
RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
00:35:00
1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
00:16:00
2nd stage LOX loading begins
00:07:00
Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
00:01:00
Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
00:01:00
Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
00:00:45
SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
00:00:03
Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00
Falcon 9 liftoff
Via SpaceX
Typical SpaceX countdown timeline is presented for information purposes only.
Timeline of Falcon 9 Flight
SpaceX has published a timeline of expected events during the mission:
Hours:Minutes:Seconds
Event
00:00:00
Liftoff
00:01:10
Max-Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:24
1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:28
1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:35
2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:54
Fairing deployment
00:06:09
1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:33
1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:53
1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:18
1st stage landing
00:08:38
2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:43:50
2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:43:52
2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:52:44
Starlink satellites deploy
via: SpaceX
All events up to the end of the 1st stage entry burn should be visible for launch spectators watching the launch in person, so long as clouds are not blocking the viewer’s line of sight.
Watching Online
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 8-9. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
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.
Rendering of two Blackstar OTV (Orbital Transport Vehicles) in space. graphic via Blackstar Orbital Technologies Corporation
Blackstar Orbital Technologies, a Titusville-based company, has received a federal grant to “[study] the tactical applications and economic impacts of its proprietary high-performance smallsat class spaceplane platform.”
The grant comes in the form of an SBIR Award (Small Business Innovation Research) from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force. As a unique division within AFWERX, SpaceWERX inspires and empowers collaboration with innovators to accelerate capabilities and shape our future in space.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SpaceWERX employs 40 military, civilian and contractor personnel executing an annual $457 million budget. Additionally, SpaceWERX partners with Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO) as a collaborative program. SBIR is essentially a seed fund designed to help small companies develop technologies.
“This funding will allow us to explore the dual-use applications of our SpaceDrone technology, enhancing national security and defense capabilities. Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space technology, and this award is a significant step towards realizing our vision,” Chris Jannette, CEO of Blackstar Orbital, said in a press release.
The Blackstar is a planned modular, reusable spaceplane platform designed for multiple roles in the space-based defense environment: It can be configured as a communications platform, cargo hauler, or to fly customer-specified platforms in a VLEO (very-low Earth orbit), LEO, or other orbital regime. It weighs “roughly 300kg and sits on a 41″ x 56″ x 15″ footprint,” making it ideal for many launch platforms.
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.”
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.
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.
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!
Spectators were out on pleasure boats on the Banana River today, watching the SpaceX Starlink 10-2 launch. Photo: Charles Boyer, Talk of Titusville
Despite a pessimistic weather forecast, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the Starlink 10-2 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this afternoon at 01:15 PM EDT, at the opening of a nearly four-hour launch window.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster used for the mission, tail number B1078, touched down safely on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Carolinas. B1078 has now flown eleven successful missions. ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be unloaded, transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center and prepared for its next flight after inspection and refurbishment.
Launch Replay
Payload
Today’s payload was another 22 Starlink satellites that will join SpaceX’s constellation in low-Earth orbit. Over 1,000 of these satellites have been launched this year alone. There are well over 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, providing Internet connectivity to the company’s customers.
Booster B1078
According to SpaceX, the booster used for Starlink 10-2 previously launched “Crew-6, mPOWER-B, USSF-124, and seven Starlink missions” and will be on its eleventh mission overall. That’s Booster B1078.
B1078 last flew May 28, 2024, twenty-six days ago.
Booster B1078
Flight Number
Payload
Date
1
Crew-6
March 2, 2023
2
O3b mPOWER 3 & 4
April 28, 2023
3
Starlink 6-4
June 4, 2023
4
Starlink 6-8
August 7, 2023
5
Starlink 6-16
September 16, 2023
6
Starlink 6-31
December 3, 2023
7
USSF-124
February 14, 2024
8
Starlink 6-46
March 25, 2024
9
Starlink 6-53
April 23, 2024
10
Starlink 6-60
May 28, 2024
11
Starlink 10-2
June 23, 2024
Booster B1078 as of 06/23/2024
Falcon 9 found blue skies after clearing clouds and haze this afternoon over Florida. Photo: Charles Boyer, Talk of Titusville
Next Launch
SpaceX and NASA plan to launch the GOES-U weather satellite for NOAA late Tuesday, June 25, 2024 aboard a Falcon Heavy.
Date: NET June 25, 2024
Organization: NASA / SpaceX
Mission: GOES-U
Rocket: Falcon Heavy
Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
Launch Window: 05:16 – 07:16 PM EDT
Payload: GOES-U weather satellite
Falcon 9 launches Starlink 10-2 on June 23, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.
Falcon 9 / Astra 1P / SES-24 lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 today. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Florida weather can be a capricious, fickle thing, and that’s just what it has been the past few days on the Space Coast: windy, occasional rain, or sometimes both — weather that’s normal for this time of year but not very good for launching rockets. That caused two scrubs for SpaceX this week, due to high winds at Cape Canaveral.
Today, on the third attempt, the winds abated and the storms stayed far enough away for SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 carrying the Astra 1P / SES-24 television satellite to orbit. Liftoff was at the opening of the launch window at 5:35 PM EDT and roughly eight-and-a-half minutes later, Booster B1080 touched down safely aboard ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its mission for the day. At 6:10 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed successful deployment of the payload, marking another successful mission for the launch services company. Astra 1P will now move under its own power to geosynchronous orbit, where it will begin its commissioning process.
Falcon 9 ascending today. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Payload
Built by Thales Alenia Space, Astra 1P is a television satellite that will serve the pan-European market once operational. It is the most powerful wide-beam satellite to ever orbit at 19.2 degrees East. It offers up to 80 physical transponders with bandwidth filters and can carry up to 500 high-definition stations to roughly 119 million homes in its target markets.
Astra 1P was ordered in November 2021 (along with Asra 1Q). It is based on the Thales SpaceBusNEO platform and intended to replace three satellites. It is planned for about fifteen years of use.
Astra 1P / SES-24 Photo: Thales Alenia Space
Launch Replay
Booster B1080
Booster B1080 completed its ninth flight today after it successfully touched down on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Booster B1080 in flight today over Florida skies. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
JRTI and B1080 will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be offloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center. There, it will be inspected, refurbished as necessary and prepared for its next flight assignment.
Booster B1080
Flight Number
Mission
Date
1
Axiom-2
May 21, 2023
2
Euclid
July 1, 2023
3
Starlink 6-11
August 27 2023
4
Starlink 6-24
October 22, 2023
5
Axiom-3
January 18, 2024
6
CRS-30
March 21, 2024
7
Starlink 6-52
April18, 2024
8
Starlink 6-62
May 23, 2024
9
Astra 1P / SES-24
June 20, 2024
B1080 record as of June 20, 2024
Next Scheduled Launch
SpaceX plans to launch Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 on Sunday, June 23rd.
Date: NET June 23, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink 10-2
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 01:03 PM – 05:03 PM 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.
Falcon 9 stood tall in the breeze this afternoon at Space Launch Complex 40. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
With only a few minutes left in the countdown, SpaceX waved off their launch attempt of Falcon 9 carrying the Astra 1P television satellite designed to serve the European market once operational. Both the rocket and the payload are in good condition, and weather permitting, another attempt is expected as soon as late tomorrow afternoon.
SpaceX has updated the launch schedule: “SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, June 19 for a Falcon 9 launch of the SES ASTRA 1P mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two-hour and 49-minute launch window opens at 5:25 p.m. ET.”
The only problem? The weather is looking worse for tomorrow’s attempt.
The setting sun provided a stunning view of the VAB at Kennedy Space Center from just south of SLC-40 tonight. Photo: Ed Cordero, Florida Media Now
There are two areas of major concern for Wednesday’s launch attempt: winds here at the Cape and the sea state ESE in Atlantic Ocean, where ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ awaits Booster B1080 when it makes its landing attempt after a successful launch.
The 45th Weather Squadron notes this in their updated forecast, issued at 08:30PM EDT on Tuesday, June 18: “Dominant easterly flow will continue through the rest of this week as an easterly wave draws nearer. Wind speeds will be in the 25-30mph range for a Wednesday night launch attempt, with gusts potentially reaching 35-40mph within any shower activity.” Additionally, the 45th highlighted and pointed out that the Booster Recovery Weather (where JRTI is stationed at sea) is “Moderate to High.”
The leaves us with a three-in-ten (30%) chance of acceptable conditions here and at JRTI, bringing to mind the famous Jim Carrey line from the movie “Dumb and Dumber: “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
We’ll see.
45th Weather Squadron Forecast, June 18, 08:30 PM EDT
The VAB at Sunset / Charles Boyer ToTFalcon 9 Venting / Ed Cordeo, FMN
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