Another 23 Starlink satellites are set to be sent to orbit aboard a Falcon 9 this evening from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 09:49 PM EDT and extends until 01:17 AM EDT Friday.
If for some reason tonight’s planned liftoff does not happen, according to SpaceX, “If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, May 3 starting at 9:03 p.m. ET.”
Around eight and half minutes after liftoff, the first stage is planned to touch down on one of SpaceX’s three automated barges, this time ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ which will be postitioned downrange to await the returning booster.
Starlink 6-54 launches on April 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Another 23 Starlink satellites are in orbit early this evening, after SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 6:08 PM EDT.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster used tonight’ – B1076 — completed its thirteenth mission successfully when it touched down safely on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) ‘Just Read The Instructions’ which was stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas.
Starlink 6-54 launches on April 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Tonight’s flight was the 257th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch (excluding Amos-6, which exploded during pre-launch testing) and the 356th launch for SpaceX.
Booster: B1076
B1076 has successfully completed its 13th mission.
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
Booster B1076 record as of April 28, 2024
‘Just Read The Instructions’ will return to Port Canaveral in a few days, where the booster will be offloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be inspected, refurbished and possibly prepared for another next flight.
Next Launch
SpaceX plans to launch more Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 on Wednesday, May 1st.
Date: NET May 1, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink 6-55
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 09:43 PM – 02:14 PM EDT
Payload: 23 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.
Time-lapse (a “daystreak”) of Falcon 9 lifting off this evening. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Booster B1076 starting the SpaceX Starlink 6-40 mission Photo: Charles Boyer, ToT
SpaceX is planning to launch another lot of Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this evening.
According to SpaceX, liftoff is targeted for 6:08 PM EDT, and the launch window is open until 9:48 PM EDT. If for some reason tonight’s planned liftoff does not happen, the backup launch window open Monday, April 29 starting at 5:45 PM EDT.
Payload
23 Starlink satellites, to be used in SpaceX’s orbital-based Internet service.
The 45th Weather Squadron is forecasting a 20% chance of creating a Range Violation Sunday, meaning a better than 80% chance of acceptable conditions. On Monday, conditions improve to 90% “Go” in the 45th’s forecast.
Looking at the forecast closely, the 45th says, “Locally, enhanced onshore flow will tap somewhat deeper moisture off the Atlantic, resulting in additional onshore-moving cumulus clouds accompanied by widely scattered showers. The greatest risk of these will be during the late night through early afternoon hours and thus outside our launch windows.”
That sure sounds like a summer coastal front, and given that it’s almost May, summer weather in Florida is starting to make its annual appearance. That means that on many days, launches can and will be affected by daily storms and winds in the vicinity of the launch area.
Sky Cover
The National Weather Center is calling for cloud cover of about 40-50% tonight at the opening of the launch window.
graphic: National Weather Service / NOAA
Trajectory
Falcon 9 will take a southeasterly direction tonight, as is customary for Group 6 Starlink missions.
Given that the flight is immediately offshore with no return to launch site, there will be no sonic boom from the launch this evening on the Space Coast.
Booster: B1076
According to Space, tonight’s booster previously launched “CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, EUTELSAT 36D, and six Starlink missions” and will be on its thirteenth mission overall. That’s Booster B1076.
B1076 last launched thirty days ago when it lofted the Eutelsat 36D mission on March 30, 2024.
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
Booster B1076 record as of April 27, 2024
Landing
Per SpaceX, “Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read The Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.”
After touching down on ”Just Read The Instructions’, the booster will be returned to Port Canveral after a few days, where it will be offloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, where it will be inspected, refurbished and possibly prepared for another next flight.
Interesting Stats
This will be the 44th SpaceX launch this year1
356th SpaceX launch all time1
20th launch from SLC-40 this year
302nd Falcon family Booster landing
If successful, it will be the 257th consecutive successful Falcon 9 launch (excluding Amos-6)2
1: this includes Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Starship Heavy Launches 2: Amos-6 is discounted due to a pad failure, not an in-flight anomoly
Playalinda Beach wil be open during these hours, but be aware that SLC-40 is further away from the beach than is LC-39A, so you won’t get quite the same experience as you would from the closer pad.
That said, it is still a day at the beach, you’ll be plenty close enough to watch the rocket launch and you’ll definitely have a good experience. If you decide to go there, keep in mind the following:
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!
Other Viewing Locations
Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible, but after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket.
Be prepared for potential changes or pushbacks in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.
Timelapse streak of Galileo L12’s flight path as seen from Merritt Island.
On a somewhat unexpectedly cool, brisk evening on the Space Coast with passing showers in Titusville and other locations nearby Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX launched two navigation satellites for the European Space Agency. Liftoff was at 08:34 PM EDT from Pad LC-39A at KSC. Liftoff and ascent to orbit was successful.
SpaceX plans to launch a pair of long-delayed navigation satellites this evening at 8:34PM from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Should conditions force a scrub, the next backup opportunity is on Sunday, April 28 at 8:30 PM EDT.
The satellites, FM25 and FM27, are being launched aboard a Falcon 9 booster as part of Europe’s MEO Galileo constellation. They will join twenty-six other satellites that began launching in 2011 to form part of a high-precision navigation system for the European Union.
Starliner lifts off on top of an Atlas V as it begins its Orbital Flight Test 2. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
According to NASA, Flight Readiness Reviews are starting today for the upcoming Boeing Crewed Flight Test of the Starliner Capsule “Calypso.” It is slated to launch with Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard no earlier than May 6, 2024, at 10:34 PM EDT.
In those meetings, reviews of the preparations and technical states of the Atlas V rocket that will carry the capsule, Starliner and NASA will be examined and a determination made afterwards as to mission readiness.
Wilmore and Williams will quarantine at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before traveling to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than Thursday, April 25, where they’ll remain in quarantine until launch.
Meanwhile, teams also are preparing for the Flight Test Readiness Review, which will take place over the course of two days – Wednesday, April 24, and April 25. That review brings together teams from NASA, Boeing, ULA, and its international partners to verify mission readiness including all systems, facilities, and teams that will support the end-to-end test of the Starliner.
Following a successful flight test, NASA will begin certifying the Starliner system for regular crew rotation missions to space station for the agency.
Launch is scheduled no earlier than 10:34 p.m. EDT May 6.
Starliner is already mounted atop Atlas V, and both the launch vehicle and capsule continue to undergo preparations for the launch. As with all launches, there is a lengthy to-do list, and part of the Launch Readiness Review will be to examine where all parties are in the process that leads up to liftoff.
Starliner leaves the Boeing preparation facility at Kennedy Space Center on its way to SLC-41. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Astronauts In Quarantine
Wilmore and Williams have entered quarantine, a normal step before a crewed launch: NASA and its ISS international partners want to ensure that new astronauts arriving at the ISS do not bring any communicable illnesses—even a common cold—to the crew already aboard the orbiting outpost.
NASA and Boeing also want to ensure that the crew is fit and ready for launch and orbital activities, which culminate in Starliner docking at the ISS a few days after launch from here on the Space Coast.
This has been done for decades and is part of the regimen of a launch campaign.
NASA does not provide coverage of these internal meetings but will instead announce the findings Thursday at 6 PM EDT when they hold a press conference. Stay tuned.
You can learn more about NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test by following the mission blog, the commercial crew blog, @commercial_crew on X, and commercial crew on Facebook. Talk of Titusville will also offer full coverage of events leading up to the launch and the launch itself.
A representative view of a Starlink launch at night from SLC-40 with a low cloud deck. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
SpaceX plans to send another tranche of 23 Starlink satellites to orbit Monday Tuesday evening from Pad SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 6:15 PM EDT and extends to 10:15 PM. Weather may be a concern, especially in the first hours of the launch window, according to the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force in their official launch forecast.
Weather
Note: updated due to the launch schedule change announced on April 22:
Weather for the launch is about as good as it gets in Florida any time during the year: the 45th Space Wing has forecast conditions with a better than 95% chance of acceptable weather conditions for liftoff. Their only concern is a small chance of cumulus clouds interfering at a given T-0 time.
Trajectory
Southeast. This is the well-trodden path of Group 6 Starlink satellites on their way to orbit, and tomorrow’s trajectory is no different.
Landing
The landing will be aboard the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) ‘Just Read The Instructions’ (JRTI), which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas.
After the landing, JRTI will return to Port Canaveral with the booster. It will then be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility on Roberts Road inside Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.
Booster: B1078
SpaceX stated on its website that this launch is using the booster that “previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and five Starlink missions.” That booster’s tail number is B1078.
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
Booster B1078 as of March 25, 2024
Online Viewing
A live webcast of this mission will begin on SpaceX’s X account feed about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live on X.
SpaceX’s official web page has links to live coverage as well as up-to-date planned launch times. Starlink 6-53 Mission Page.
Spaceflight Now will begin its live launch feed one hour prior to liftoff. SFN on Youtube.
Watching In Person
This evening’s planned launch is from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are: the Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W near Port Canaveral, or the southern parks on US-1 / S. Washington Avenue in Titusville. Kennedy Point Park and Rotary Riverview Park (among others) are your best bets for free viewing sites
Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, and Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible. However, after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly, assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket. Jetty Park does charge admission, and they do not accept cash. Visit their website to purchase an entry pass before you go.
SpaceX may well push back their target launch time more than once tomorrow, especially if conditions are slightly marginal and close to acceptable for liftoff.
Close to Main Engine Cutoff, Falcon 9 passed just above the moon from our point of view on the Banana River in Cape Canaveral. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Two launches in two days on two nearly perfect Florida late spring evenings: that’s life on the Space Coast these days, and that’s what’s happened over the last 25 or so hours here at The Cape. Tonight, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from their launch pad at SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying another 23 Starlink satellites to orbit. Launch was at 6:40 PM EDT, right at the start of the launch window.
This evening’s launch was the 18th launch from SLC-40 this year, the 41st of the year overall from SpaceX (40 Falcon family, 1 Starship test launch), and was the 300th landing of a Falcon family booster. On the average, SpaceX is performing a launch every 2.63 days, which far outperforms any other organization globally, including active nation-states such as China.
Now that Spring Break is over, and many of the winter residents are starting to return home, crowds were not as thick in the usual spots as they have been as little as a few weeks ago. That said, there were still hundreds of people lining the riverbanks in Titusville, in Cape Canaveral and of course on the beaches as well. Those spectators enjoyed a beautiful launch, with Falcon 9 clearly visible until well into the second stage’s flight.
Not long before the launch of Falcon 9, two F-22’s flew near the launch pad over the Banana River.
Booster B0180 Touches Down Safely Near Bahamas
About eight and a half minutes after liftoff, Booster B0180 touched down safely on SpaceX’s ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ automated droneship located offshore in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas, completing its seventh mission safely.
ASOG will return to Port Canaveral in a few days, where the booster will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center, and after inspection and reconditioning, it will be prepared for its next flight at some future date to be determined.
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
April 18, 2024
Booster B1080 Flight Record as of April 18, 2024
Starlink 6-52 heading to orbit. Photo: Charles Boyer ToT
Next Launch
On Monday, April 22, SpaceX plans to launch another tranche of Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Date: NET April 22, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink 6-53
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC -40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Time: 06:40 PM EDT (Tentative and subject to change)
Payload: 23 Starink 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.
Representative SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Another day, another Starlink launch from SpaceX, or so it seems lately. The company is regularly launching new batches of of the Internet service providing satellites, with a new set going up every few days on the average.
Averages can be a bit deceiving, of course, as is the case today: there was a Starlink launch late yesterday afternoon from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center, and today, just over twenty-four hours later, SpaceX is planning to send another 23 satellites to orbit from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window opens at 6:40 PM EDT and runs to 11:11 PM.
Today’s launch will be the 18th launch from SLC-40 this year, the 41st of the year overall from SpaceX, and could mark the 300th Falcon family booster landing. The pace and of course the number of booster landings is remarkable, and the company is making orbital spaceflight seem routine. It never is, of course, and the fact that SpaceX is making it seem as “easy” as they are testifies to their hard work and dedication.
Weather
As they did yesterday, the 45th Weather Squadron has forecasted a 10% Probability of Violation, meaning there is a 90% chance of acceptable weather during the launch window. Their primary concern is the Thick Clouds rule.
Trajectory
Southeast. If you are looking towards the ocean, the rocket will appear to travel left to right as it heads towards space.
Landing
Landing is planned to be on the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ (ASOG) which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas.
After the landing, ASOG will return to Port Canaveral with the booster. It will then be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility on Roberts Road inside Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.
Booster: B1080
SpaceX stated on their website that “This is the seventh flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched ESA Euclid, Ax-2, Ax-3, CRS-30, and two Starlink missions.”
That’s Booster B1080. It’s last flight was 28 days ago, on March 21st when it launched CRS-30 to the International Space Station.
Booster B1080 launches Axiom 3, Jannuary 18, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
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
Booster B1080 Flight Record as of March 21, 2024
Online Viewing
A live webcast of this mission will begin on SpaceX’s X account feed about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live on X.
SpaceX’s official web page has links to live coverage as well as up-to-date planned launch times. Starlink 6-52 Mission Page.
Spaceflight Now will begin its live launch feed one hour prior to liftoff. SFN on Youtube.
Watching In Person
This evening’s planned launch is from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are: the Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W near Port Canaveral, or the southern parks on US-1 / S. Washington Avenue in Titusville. Kennedy Point Park and Rotary Riverview Park (among others) are your best bets for free viewing sites.
If you would like to enjoy food and drinks during the launch, you have several options in the Titusville area:
A local’s go-to for a casual tiki bar on the riverfront without a lot of fuss, but with a very friendly staff. Their kitchen closes at 6:30 PM EDT, so if you’d like to have dinner, get there before 6 PM or so.
The Space Bar (6245 Riverfront Center Boulevard, Titusville, FL 32780)
On top of the Courtyard by Marriott just off of Kennedy Parkway, the Space Bar has an elevated view of the launch pad as well as food and drinks available. TSB is run by the same company that operates the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center and is across the bridge from KSCVC.
Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach Pier, Jetty Park Pier will have indirect views, meaning that liftoff will not be visible, but after the rocket clears the pad and any ground obstructions, you will be able to see Falcon 9 ascending clearly assuming there are no clouds between you and the rocket. Jetty Park does charge admission and they do not accept cash — visit their web site to purchase an entry pass before you go.
Being that the launch is in the early evening, if you plan to attend in person, don’t forget mosquito spray. Also be prepared for potential changes in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.
Falcon 9 pushing through the atmosphere creates a vapor cone on the fairings, April 17, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
SpaceX got Falcon 9 to work right at the beginning of tonight’s launch window when it launched the Starlink 6-51 mission at 5:26 PM EDT into the bluebird skies of the Space Coast. The payload was another 23 Starlink satellites to join the company’s ever-growing constellation of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit that provide Internet service to underserved areas globally.
Booster Touches Down Safely Near Bahamas
About eight and a half minutes after liftoff, Booster B1077 touched down safely on SpaceX’s ‘Just Read The Instructions’ automated droneship located offshore in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of the Bahamas, completing its 12th mission safely.
Falcon 9 Ascending: as it near the speed of sound, Falcon 9 created a contrail on April 17, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
Booster B1077
Booster B1077 successfully completed its 12th flight. It entered service on October 5, 2022 and was previously used for Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and now six Starlink missions, and safely touched down at sea on the Automated Spaceport Drone Ship ‘Just Read The Instructions.’
The drone ship will return to Port Canaveral, where it will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.
SpaceXBooster B1077
Flight
Mission
Date
1
Crew-5
10/15/2023
2
GPS III SV06
01/18/2023
3
Inmarsat-6 F2
02/18/2023
4
Starlink Group 5-10
03/29/2023
5
Dragon CRS-2 SpX-28
06/05/2023
6
Galaxy 37
08/03/2023
7
Starlink Group 6-13
09/01/2023
8
Starlink Group 6-25
10/30/2023
9
Starlink Group 6-33
12/07/2023
10
Northrup Grumman NG-20
01/30/2024
11
Starlink Group 6-43
03/10/2024
12
Starlink Group 6-51
04/17/2023
Booster 1077 flight record as of April 17, 2024
Next Launch
The wait won’t be long for the next launch from the Space Coast: weather and spacecraft readiness permitting, SpaceX is planning another Starlink launch Thursday, April 18, this time from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Date: NET April 18, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink 6-52
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC -40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Time: 06:40-11:11 PM EDT (Tentative and subject to change)
Payload: 23 Starink Satellites
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed at any time due to weather, technical reasons or range conditions.
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