Rather than just capturing yet another streak shot of a night launch, I recorded video of it from the Bennett Causeway off of FL-528 in Cape Canaveral. Turns out video is hard and I have a lot to learn. That’s okay, it’s fun to learn and improve.
On April 28, 2023, SpaceX attempted a new feat: launching two rockets from the Eastern Range (KSC and CCAFS) within three hours of each other.
First up, Falcon 9 carrying two O3b internet satellites for SES launching off SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the second, a Falcon Heavy carrying ViaSat-3 Americas scheduled a mere two hours and fourteen minutes later.
We optimized our view for the latter launch, while opting to forgo a close view of Falcon 9. (It was some 11-12 miles away). Here’s our view from the perfectly named Mosquito Lagoon.
This was an unsuccessful launch attempt, but that happens often enough that you almost expect it…even from the very reliable SpaceX. Weather is a huge challenge, but let’s not forget how complicated and powerful the rockets themselves are. If it’s not as good as it can be for a launch, they’ll probably scrub and try again tomorrow.
Sometimes, that happens when you are in a beautiful wild place at a gorgeous time of day. And that makes it not so bad after all.
Shortly before noon SpaceX lofted another batch of Starlink satellites to Earth-orbit today. The launch was from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Startup Relativity Space conducted their first launch as a company from LC-16 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 23, 2023.
The boost phase was successful, they had successful staging, but problems with the second stage prevented the company from achieving orbit on its first try. No matter, they successfully launched, proved that additive manufacturing (3-D printing) can withstand the dynamics and pressures of flight and also proved that their new methane-fueled engines for the first stage of their rocket performed to spec.
Here is a long exposure of the rocket’s flight, as seen from the Launch Viewing area at Sands Space History Museum in Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX launched forty satellites for OneWeb, a global Internet connectivity firm. It was the 13th launch for Booster-1062, and the first time the venerable rocket stage returned to its launch site rather than landing at sea on one of SpaceX’s automated barges.
SpaceX launched 21 of its second-generation Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 on February 27, 2023.
Falcon 9 carried dual-band, six-ton mobile communications relay station Inmarsat I-6 F2 to orbit for Inmarsat, a British company.
The launch was at 10:59pm local time at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 complex. It was a cloudy, muggy evening as a cold front approached, but the weather was deemed good enough for the successful launch.
Unfortunately, due to some bad luck and lack of a backup plan, these photos were taken through the trees on the banks of the Indian River. The low cloud deck made the show a very brief one after liftoff, though from time to time the rocket glared through a gap in the clouds.
SpaceX launched another 54 Starlink satellites to orbit this morning as they continue to build out their constellation to provide ubiquitous Internet connectivity anywhere in the world.
The launch represented the fastest turnaround and launch from a single launch pad — five days — and is their tenth launch of 2023.
SpaceX launched the Amazonas Nexus satellite tonight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The payload is owned by the Spanish company Hispasat. Amazonus Nexus will connect trans-Atlantic airline passengers, maritime traffic, and rural communities across the Americas.
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39-A inside Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Thursday morning with 53 Starlink satellites for their Starlink network.
This was Booster 1069’s fifth mission overall.
Photo was taken aside the aptly named Mosquito Lagoon, and on a relatively warm winter’s night, the flying insects were out in force.
They were not the only bite-y things about — as the sound of the rocket’s engines washed over the water, a bull alligator perhaps 10-15 meters away roared his disapproval. It is said that the sub-sonic tremors that accompany any nearby rocket launch are similar to those issued by males competing with one another for territory. Undoubtedly the gator would have been foul-tempered if it had been encountered. Fortunately, that was not the case and no photographers were harmed in viewing the launch.
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