SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 carrying the Starlink 6-59 mission to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral on Friday night. The launch window is planned for 08:32 PM EDT and extends to 11:30 PM EDT. If the mission does not take place tomorrow, SpaceX says that the backup launch window is “Saturday, May 18 starting at 8:06 PM EDT.”

The first stage booster will land downrange around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, so there won’t be a sonic boom on the Space Coast.

Payload

23 Starlink satellites, to be used in SpaceX’s orbital-based Internet service. They are manufactured at SpaceX’s Starlink manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington.

Each Starlink V2 Mini weighs an estimated 800 kilograms, and is estimated to be 4.1 meters (13 ft) by 2.7 meters (8 ft 10 in) in size with a total array of 120 m² (1,300 sq ft). Those numbers are estimates only, and SpaceX has not released the exact dimensions of the Starlink family of satellites.

According to Dr. Jonathon McDowell of Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics, roughly 6,000 Starlink satellites are in orbit. Starlink serves about 2.7 million customers in 75 countries worldwide.

Weather

 As summer begins on the Space Coast, the chance for weather complications to affect launches starts to rise and that is reflected in the 45th Weather Squadron’s forecast: “For Friday, models now suggest the boundary will return to the north with enough moisture for a few more showers and storms during the afternoon hours on the inland moving sea breeze. Though best chances will be inland of the Spaceport by the late afternoon, west-northwest steering flow will push some of this back towards the coast along with any associated anvil clouds.”

In other words, as Talk of Titusville publisher Michael Lynch says about launch forecasts, “It’s complicated.” That said, don’t be surprised if there are shifts in the L-0 time Friday evening, or in the event of a scrub, Saturday evening as well.

Sky Cover

The National Weather Center forecasts that roughly 45% of the sky will be covered by clouds at the beginning of tomorrow evening’s launch window. These estimates are often hit-or-miss and are highly local, but are interesting if you are planning to view the launch in person.

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 on the Space Coast.

Booster: B1062

Countdown Timeline

There are key events in the countdown that you may hear called out.

SpaceX provides the following countdown milestones on their mission information page:

Timeline of Falcon 9 Flight

SpaceX has published a timeline of expected events during the mission:

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. Fairing separation is generally only visible during daytime launches and then only using advanced optics like high-powered binoculars or a super-telephoto lens (500mm+).

Launch Viewing: In Person

This evening’s planned launch is from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, which means that the best direct views of liftoff are: 

• Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W in Cape Canaveral
• Kennedy Point Park in Titusville
• Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville

You can also view from these locations, as long as they are open. Call ahead to be sure:

• 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.
    
• Shiloh’s Steak and Seafood (3665 S Washington Ave, Titusville, FL 32780)
  • Casual fine dining, with an outdoor deck overlooking the Indian River and launch pads beyond that.
    
• New York New York (5401 Riveredge Dr, Titusville, FL 32780)
  • 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.

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.

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.

Weather

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.

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.

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

Watching Online

SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-54. This will also be available on the X platform.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

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: 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 Riverfront Park (among others) are your best bets.

Playalinda

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.