SpaceX and Falcon 9 launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit late this afternoon. Liftoff was at 5:47 PM EDT under crystal clear skies and a slight breeze.
A multiple exposure composite of Falcon 9 rising this evening to start the Starlink 10-8 mission. This was the view from The Space Bar in Titusville. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1069 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’ to complete its nineteenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit.
At 6:53 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload.
Starlink 10-8 is the 102nd SpaceX launch this year and the 414th for the company all time.
Tonight launch was the 50th from SLC-40 this year.
It was the 980th launch from Cape Canaveral.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
SpaceX is scheduled to launch another set of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 early on Monday evening from Space Launch Complex 40.
Date: NET October 21, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Starlink Group 10-13
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Window: 5:10 PM – 9:10 PM EDT
Payload: Starlink 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.
Launch spectators enjoyed some food and drinks at The Space Bar before the Starlink 10-8 launch on October 26, Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvilleA closer view of Falcon 9 launching this afternoon from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville.
SpaceX and Falcon 9 lofted another twenty Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit tonight. Liftoff was at 5:47 PM EDT.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1073 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its eighteenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to Earth orbit.
At 6:56 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload and noted that this was their 100th successful Falcon flight of the year. (The number includes Falcon Heavy) That record is notable, given that all other nations plus other launch providers in the US have only collectively launched 95 other missions.
Deployment of 23 @Starlink satellites confirmed, completing our 100th successful Falcon flight of the year!
Crew-8 aboard Crew Dragon arriving at ISS on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Photo: NASA
NASA has announced that they are scheduling Crew-8 from the International Space Station today so that the four astronauts comprising the crew can begin their return to Earth:
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 23, for the agency’s Crew-8 mission to depart from the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. An undocking on Wednesday would result in a splashdown on Friday, Oct. 25.
Forecasters have seen improvement in expected weather at some of the landing sites off the coast of Florida and continue to monitor conditions while considering splashdown sites and exact timing.
The agency added that there is another weather briefing this morning. The specific splashdown location has not been announced, but will either be in Florida’s waters in the Gulf of Mexico or off of the eastern Florida coast.
The last two weeks of weather have not been very kind to spaceflight schedules here in Florida, with hurricane-related or wind-related launch scrubs, and delays in the return of Crew-8 from ISS. Last month, the Polaris Dawn crew’s return was delayed due to weather as well.
Fortunately, forecasts seem to be turning in favor of launches and landings. The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 reported in their launch forecast for Starlink 6-61 (also scheduled for Wednesday, October 23) that “Launch conditions improve for Thursday as [a hgh pressure] ridge builds over the Florida peninsula, relaxing wind speeds and ushering in even drier air. Weather will be very favorable with a negligible risk of any weather violations [for launching.]” Presumably the calmer skies will also be of benefit to Crew-8’s astronauts.
“Weather conditions near the multiple splashdown sites off Florida’s coast remain unfavorable for the return of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission from the International Space Station. Forecasts remain marginal for an undocking on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and Wednesday, Oct. 23. If weather conditions improve, NASA and SpaceX will target no earlier than 9:05 p.m. EDT, Oct. 22, for undocking from the space station. Based on the current forecast, conditions are expected to improve as the week progresses.”
NASA, October 21, 2024
Originally scheduled to return to Earth on October 7, Crew 8’s Dragon capsule Endeavour was slated to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on October 13. However, poor weather in potential recovery zones postponed that departure, and for the past two weeks, the crew has been awaiting better conditions.
Seas have been 6-8 feet through this period, which has seen a hurricane pass through the region and a strong front boundary afterward, stirring up strong winds and choppy seas. Small Craft Advisories have been an almost standard feature for the Florida coastline during the period, and so far, those conditions have shown little sign of relenting. NASA managers are meeting again tomorrow to discuss the weather outlook, according to the Commercial Crew office.
The forecast for the coastal waters of Florida are not encouraging, at least in the early part of the week:
East Coast of Florida: High pressure is forecast to remain over the eastern U.S. through mid-week, resulting in a prolonged period of moderate to fresh east northeast winds. The long fetch of winds over the Atlantic will produce poor to hazardous boating conditions into late week. Isolated, onshore-moving showers will remain possible into Friday.
Gulf of Mexico: Cautionary conditions remain across all Gulf waters today. Those conditions will persist in the offshore waters tonight while northeast winds begin a slow decrease in the nearshore waters. By Tuesday, winds throughout the northeast Gulf waters will relax to more moderate levels heading into midweek with seas falling to 1-2 feet.
Crowds gathered on Cocoa Beach to watch a Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral earlier in 2024. 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. The launch window extends from 6:52 PM EDT to 10:14 PM the same day. The launch will be SpaceX’s 99th in 2024.
Note: article has been updated to reflect a day/time change in the launch schedule.
At A Glance
Mission: Starlink 6-61
Date: NET October 22 2024
Launch Window: 6:52 PM EDT — 10:14 PM EDT*
Weather: 85% GO
Organization: SpaceX
Rocket: Falcon 9
Trajectory: Southeast
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
The mission’s payload is another group of Starlink satellites, which will join Group 6 of SpaceX/Starlink’s orbital constellation in low-Earth orbit. Starlink is an Internet service serving over four million customers in over one hundred countries and territories globally.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 15% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 85% GO.
Primary concerns are winds and cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area, with additional concerns listed for the booster landing area at sea.
Trajectory
Tomorrow’s launch is southeastwards. Spectators facing in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida will see Falcon 9 traveling left to right.
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-61. 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
The best free 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.
The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be closing right as the window opens. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
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.
SpaceX and Falcon 9 lofted another twenty Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit tonight. Liftoff was at 7:31 PM EDT.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1076 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’ to complete its seventeenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to Earth orbit.
SpaceX and Falcon 9 lofted another twenty Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit tonight. Liftoff was at 7:31 PM EDT.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1076 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’ to complete its seventeenth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to Earth orbit.
At 8:35 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload.
A Falcon 9 rises off of the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40 on February 27, 2023 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
(Note: this article was written prior to the launch being moved to NET Friday October 18, and has been updated to reflect that. –CB)
At A Glance
Mission: Starlink 8-19
Date: NET October 18, 2024
Launch Window: 07:21-07:31 PM EDT*
Weather: 40% Go during the primary launch window
Organization: SpaceX
Rocket: Falcon 9
Trajectory: Northeastward
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Booster Landing: Offshore on ASDS Just Read The Instructions
Payload: Communications satellites.
Destination: Low-Earth Orbit
* consult SpaceX website for the specific target for T-0.
Launch Discussion
SpaceX is planning to launch another tranche of Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 Friday evening from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The launch window is a short one: ten minutes long, from 07:21-07:31 PM EDT.
After completing its part of the launch, the booster used for this flight will land on ASDS Just Read The Instructions, which is stationed off the coast of South Carolina. Given that the booster will be landing offshore, there will be no sonic boom this evening in the Space Coast region.
The launch will be SpaceX’s 102nd of 2024 and its 15th launch from SLC-40 this year. Overall, it will be the 48th SpaceX launch from its primary pad on the Eastern Range.
Payload
The payload for this mission is a familiar one for SpaceX and launch spectators here in Florida: Starlink satellites. Once they are deployed in orbit, these satellites will join the burgeoning Starlink constellation of LEO satellites.
Starlink provides low-latency, high-bandwidth Internet connectivity to over 4 million customers globally.
A graphic of Starlink satellites in orbit from HeavensAbove.com
Weather
It’s a coin flip for this launch, as a front has pushed through the area and breezy conditions have been the result.
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 is giving a 60% Probablity of Violation due to the aforementioned winds, which means there is a 40% chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. SpaceX has launched with lower odds, so one never knows. If the weather is within safety margins inside the launch window, they’ll get the mission completed.
Retrieved 17 OCT 2024 10AM EDT
Trajectory
The trajectory for the Starlink 8-19 mission is northeastward, the customary direction for SpaceX’s Group 8 Starlink launches. The rocket right-to-left if you are on the Space Coast and facing in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 8-19. 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 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
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.
Restaurants With Good Launch Views
At Port Canaveral, there are a number of good restaurants that will have indirect views: Gators Dockside , Fishlips and Grills Seafood all have outdoor seating with great views over the port towards SLC-40.
The Space Bar and New York New York in Titusville are great place to watch a launch. NYNY will probably close their kitchen before 7pm, so if you choose that option, go early if you are hungry.
NASA’s Commercial Crew office released its high-level plan for 2025 today. It has few surprises, with two SpaceX Commercial Crew missions, and offers the slightest of updates for Boeing’s Starliner program and holds out the possibility of a Starliner flight next year.
SpaceX Commercial Crew Flights in 2025
Crew 9 lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 on September 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Crew-10 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission is scheduled for February 2025.
NASA Astronaut Anne McClain will be the mission commander, NASA Astronaut Nichole Ayers will be the pilot mission specialists JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov will be the mission specialists. This mission will be the second spaceflight for McClain and Onishi, and the first for Ayers and Peskov.
Crew-11 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 is targeted for no earlier than July of next year, but that may be adjusted because of operational needs — resupply missions on docking ports, etc. NASA will announce the four-person crew at a later date.
There is speculation that the two members of Crew-9 who were taken off the flight to accommodate Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test astronauts will be assigned to this flight, but at this point in time, that is just rumor and has no basis in official facts released by the agency.
Stephanie Wilson and Zena Cardman were deep into the training cycle for the Crew-9, which presumably gives them a headstart. Still, ultimately, Chief of the Astronaut Office Joe Acaba and other NASA officials will make the call. When that information will be released to the public is unknown.
Boeing Starliner
Starliner CST-100 in launch preparation, May 31, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Here is where today’s release gets really interesting: NASA says that, “The timing and configuration of Starliner’s next flight will be determined once a better understanding of Boeing’s path to system certification is established. This determination will include considerations for incorporating Crew Flight Test lessons learned, approvals of final certification products, and operational readiness.”
“Meanwhile, NASA is keeping options on the table for how best to achieve system certification, including windows of opportunity for a potential Starliner flight in 2025.”
To fly in 2025, Boeing and its contractors will need to fix the issues that dogged the Crewed Flight Test this year, namely overheating thrusters, helium leaks, and potentially degraded seals (this was seen in ground testing during the investigations of Starliner CFT).
To do that, Boeing and NASA engineers must finalize their data analyses if they still need to do so. From there, Boeing and its subcontractors can begin designing and fabricating any hardware changes and qualifying those for human spaceflight. Externally, Boeing seems optimistic that they can do those things in 2025. Whether that happens remains to be seen, given that aerospace projects are often delayed.
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