SpaceX launched the Starlink 6-69 mission to low-Earth orbit late this afternoon, and by so doing completed its second launch from the Eastern Range (Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center) in less than five hours. Starlink 6-69 launched aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at 4:28 PM EST, a mere four hours and six minutes after SpaceX launched Koreasat 6A from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Both launches were successes.
People enjoying late afternoon on Cocoa Beach were treated to a second launch for the day. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1080 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its twelfth mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit. About the same time that the booster landed, the initial orbit for the payload was achieved, with a short orbit rounding burn just before payload deployment.
‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ will now return with B0180 to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be offloaded, returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X facility at Kennedy Space Center where it will be inspected and presumably begin the process of it being prepared for its next mission,
At 5:33 PM EDT, SpaceX confirmed a successful deployment of the payload of Starlink satellites and a successful end to the flight.
53rd launch from Space Launch Complex 40 this year
Next Launch
The next launch from the Eastern Range is a near carbon copy of today’s Starlink 6-69 flight. Starlink 6-68 is slated to launch from SLC-40 on Thursday with the launch window opening at 5:33 AM EST and extending to 9:33 AM the same day. The payload is another group of Starlink satellites to join SpaceX’s constellation of data satellites.
Date: NET November 14, 2024
Organization: SpaceX / NASA
Mission: Starlink 6-68
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral
Launch Window: 5:33 AM – 9:33 AM EST
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.
Starlink 6-69 rising to space on November 11, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvilleStarlink 6-69 rising to space on November 11, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX is planning to launch another set of Starlink satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral. This is the “weekend launch” in what has basically been a twice weekly cadence lately. The launch window opens at 4:28PM and extends for four hours until 8:28PM. According to SpaceX, “If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, November 11 starting at 4:02 p.m. ET.”
After concluding its duty powering the payload towards orbit, the first stage booster, B1080, will land on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ which will be stationed on the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas. Since the booster is not returning directly to the Cape Canaveral region after liftoff, there will not be a sonic book over the Space Coast region. This will be the 12th flight of B1080.
Weather looks good, and it should be a beautiful day to go to space.
A SpaceX booster heading to space from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
At A Glance
Mission: Starlink 6-69
Date: NET November 10, 2024
Launch Window: 4:28PM – 8:28PM EST*
Weather: 75% GO
Organization: SpaceX
Rocket: Falcon 9
Trajectory: Northeast
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 satellites account for more than 50% of all active satellites, with over 7,000 active units in 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 10% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 90% GO.
Primary concerns are winds and cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area.
Trajectory
Southeastwards, or left to right if you are looking towards the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-69. 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 open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
Late this afternoon, SpaceX is planning to launch Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral to add to its constantly expanding constellation of Starlink satellites.
This time a Group 6 launch, meaning it is a southeastward launch. It will be into very late afternoon skies on the first day of Standard time and sunsets an hour (by the clock) earlier than the day before. The launch window extends from 4:57 PM EST to 8:03 PM and is expected to be under pleasant skies and an onshore breeze.
At A Glance
Mission: Starlink 6-67
Date: NET November 3, 2024
Launch Window: 4:57 PM EST — 8:03 PM EST*
Weather: 90% GO
Organization: SpaceX
Rocket: Falcon 9
Trajectory: Southeast
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Booster Landing: ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’
A graphic representation of Starlink satellites in orbit from SatelliteMap.Space
Payload
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.
To date, SpaceX has not released any renderings of its Starlink Mini v2, which is the bulk of the units that they have been launching over the last several months.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 10% probability of a violation of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window, meaning that they expect conditions to be 90% GO. This is pretty close to a perfect forecast for the launch site, but the 45th is also listing a moderate concern in the Booster Landing Area. No further information is given.
Primary concerns are cumulus clouds in the Cape Canaveral area.
Launch Viewing: In Person
The best free options are available for spectators: the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 West or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 or the beaches.
Jetty Park will be open. There is an entry fee.
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.
Launch spectators on the beach at Jetty Park. Falcon 9 ascending is the orange dot in the top left quarter of the photo. (click to enlarge) Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
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.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream you listen to on your phone 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. If you are watching in person, expect ignition to happen a few seconds before you hear it on launch coverage on your device. The gap can vary so a real-time countdown clock is handy.
Next Space Flight is 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.
Online Viewing
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-67. 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 and Falcon 9 launched another batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral into low Earth orbit late in the afternoon of October 27, 2024. Liftoff was at 5:47 PM EDT under crystal clear skies and a slight breeze.
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.
SpaceX launched the Starlink 8-11 mission into hazy skies with storms looming in the distance late in the morning on September 5, 2024, aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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
SpaceX got right back to business early Saturday morning as it launched the Starlink 8-10 mission aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
You must be logged in to post a comment.