Blue Origin’s New Glenn on its debut launch in January. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Blue Origin announced this morning that it has been given certification by NASA for Category 1 missions. A NASA Category 1 mission is a launch with a high risk, such as using a new rocket configuration or one with little flight history, and is an important step in the qualification process for higher categories and higher-risk missions.
With the classification, New Glenn is now certified by NASA to launch the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, a flight slated for sometime this spring. Neither organization has yet commented on a more specific launch date.
Blue Origin’s CEO, Dave Limp, succinctly replied to the announcement on the X platform by saying, “Thank you, NASA, for the partnership.”
By achieving this qualification, Blue is now rated for Class D: High Risk Tolerance missions.
Class D: High risk tolerance missions, normally representing a lower priority mission with a medium to low complexity. Class D payloads may be launched on Risk Category 1 rockets or rockets that NASA has not certified. Other high-risk payload launch service options may be pursued through the NASA Flight Planning Board.
Examples of past NASA Class D missions include CYGNSS (Pegasus XL,2016), NICER (Falcon 9, 2017), TROPICS (Electron, 2017), and MarCO (Atlas V-401, 2018).
via NASA Launch Services Risk Classification Fact Sheet
Obviously, this is a first-step for Blue Origin, and it will obviously seek to attain certification to carry higher risk payloads in the future when New Glenn has a longer track record.
Booster B1067 lifts off on September 18, 2024 with Galileo FM26 and FM32 for ESA Photo: Derek Newsome
Tomorrow morning, SpaceX plans to launch Starlink 12-8 to low-Earth orbit. The flight has one remarkable aspect: the flight will be the 26th for the company’s Booster B1067. Liftoff is planned for no earlier than 01:14:10 AM EST from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral. Around eight minutes after liftoff, B1067 is planned to land on ASDS ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’, which is stationed offshore close to The Bahamas.
The All-Time Champion Of Booster Reusability
B1067 has played a significant role in advancing reusable rocket technology since its inaugural flight in June 2021. Like other boosters in the Falcon 9 Block 5 series, B1067 was engineered for rapid turnaround and multiple reuses, aligning with SpaceX’s goal of reducing the costs associated with space exploration.
B1067’s maiden voyage occurred on June 3, 2021, during the CRS-22 mission, which delivered supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). Following this successful debut, the booster supported several key missions, including:
SpaceX Booster B1067 prior to its 22nd flight in September 2024. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Crew-3 (November 11, 2021): Transported astronauts to the ISS.
Türksat 5B (December 19, 2021): Deployed a Turkish communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.
Crew-4 (April 27, 2022): Facilitated another crewed mission to the ISS.
CRS-25 (July 15, 2022): Conducted a resupply mission to the ISS.
Galileo FM26 / FM32: launched two navigation satellites for the European Space Agency
In addition to these missions, B1067 has flown numerous batches of Starlink satellites, contributing to SpaceX’s expanding satellite internet constellation, which now boosts about five million subscribers in over 200 countries worldwide.
In January 10, 2025, B1067 completed its 25th flight during the Starlink 12-12 mission, setting a new benchmark for booster reusability. Tonight, 37 days after that flight, B1067 is slated to break its own record.
Payload
21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. SpaceX has around 7,000 Starlink satellites in orbit already, with plans to have up to 42,000 at some point in the future.
Starlink satellites are space debris neutral, meaning after their operational life is concluded, the company de-orbits a given satellite, with almost no portions reaching the ground.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force has issued a Launch Mission Execution forecast: 80% GO through the launch window. Their only concerns are clouds and winds.
Via the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45. Retrieved 14 February 2025 at 0800 ET
Trajectory
As it has been with previous Group 12 Starlink launches, Falcon 9 will fly southeast from Cape Canaveral.
Online Viewing
SpaceX’s live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff. You can view that on the X platform (@SpaceX).
Spaceflight Now will begin their webcast about an hour prior to liftoff. They are an invaluable resource for anyone planning to watch the launch in person, as they will offer the latest information on the countdown as it proceeds.
Booster B1067 lifts of carrying the Satria payload on June 18, 2023. Photo: Derek Newsome
SpaceX launched two satellites for Luxembourgish satellite company SES today aboard a Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 5:26 PM EST (22:26 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and into unsettled skies with storms lingering in the Space Coast region.
Falcon 9 illuminated the cloud bottoms as it rose towards space today. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX chose to delay a liftoff attempt until the end of the launch window that opened at 3:59 PM EST and closed again at 5:26 PM, probably because of showers, potential lightning and/or cumulus clouds in the area.
Storms were rolling in from the southeast bringing rain, wind and some thunder
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1090 earned its first soot when it completed its first mission successfully by touching down safely offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’ offshore in the Atlantic. JRTI and B1090 will return to Port Canaveral, where B1090 will be offloaded and returned to Hangar X for preparation for its next flight.
Booster B1090 made a successful debut today. Note the lack of soot, that is deposited during return to land operations. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Payload
O3b mPower 7 & 8 are two telecommunications satellites in a planned constellation of eleven when completed. The pair were built by Boeing, and are operated by SES, a company headquarted in Luxembourg.
According to SES, “O3b mPOWER is SES’s second-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) system located 8,000km above Earth. To date, SES has launched six out of 13 O3b mPOWER high-throughput and low-latency satellites and has built an extensive ground infrastructure around the world. The system started providing global connectivity services in April 2024.”
SES rendering of a O3b mPOWER satellite in orbit. Graphic: SES
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Date: NET December 20, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: 4x Astranis MicroGEO
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Booster B1067 nearing the end of its 24th ascent. It would later land safely aboard ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas.’ Photo: Ed Cordero / FMN
SpaceX launched another group of Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit this morning. Liftoff was at 5:13 AM EST from Space Launch Complex 40 from from Cape Canaveral.
Around 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1067 touched down safely on the company’s drone ship ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ to complete its record-breaking 24th mission successfully, while the second stage and payload continued to low Earth orbit. At about the same time the booster landed, the initial orbit for the payload was achieved, with a short orbit rounding burn just before payload deployment.
B1067 flew today 23 days after its Koreasat 6A mission on November 11, 2024. Its previous flights include the CRS-22 and CRS-25 ISS resupply missions, NASA Crew 3, Crew 4 to ISS, the TelkomSat-113BT, Turksat-5B, Koreasat-6A, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F2, Galileo L13, mPOWER-A, PSN MFS satellites and now,13 Starlink missions. After landing and mow safely aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, the booster will return to Port Canaveral, where SpaceX will unload it and transport it to their Hangar X facility for inspection and hopefully preparation for its next flight, which would be its 25th.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
SpaceX will shift over to LC-39A to launch the Sirius XM-9 satellite for Liberty Media on Thursday, December 5. The satellite will enhance coverage of the companies satellite radio service.
SpaceX is planning to launch the Optus-X/TD7 telecommunications satellite for Australian communications company Optus today from Kennedy Space Center. The launch window opens at 4:29 PM EST and extends to 6:27 PM the same day. According to SpaceX, if the mission does not launch today, then “there is a backup opportunity on Monday, November 18 at the same time.”
Booster B1077 will power the ascent initially, and will be flying its 16th mission. B1077 has previously supported the Crew-5, GPS III-06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, NG-20, and nine Starlink missions in previous flights. It is slated to land offshore on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ after performing its part of the mission. Since the landing is offshore, the Space Coast will not hear a sonic boom today.
It should be a spectacular afternoon for a space flight, according to the 45th Weather Squadron of the Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45. With less than a five percent chance of a violation, that means the weather today should be 95%+ go at the launch site. There is, however, a moderate concern for the landing area, which may cause some launch delays if SpaceX decides to wait for conditions to calm in the location of ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Optus TD7. 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: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.
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.
SpaceX sent another group of Starlink satellites to orbit aboard a Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 40 this morning. Liftoff was at 8:21 AM.
Around 8.5 minutes later, Falcon 9 booster B1076 touched down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, which had been pre-positioned off the coast of The Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean. The drone ship will return to Port Canaveral and B1076 will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection and, presumably, preparation for its next flight.
At 9:27 AM EST, SpaceX announced payload deployment and a successful end to the mission:
SpaceX is scheduled to launch the Northrup Grumman-built Optus X telecommunications satellite aboard a Falcon 9 Sunday afternoon from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.
Date: NET November 17, 2024
Organization: SpaceX
Mission: Optus X
Rocket: Falcon 9
Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A
Launch Window: 4:29 – 6:37 PM EST
Payload: Optus X, a geostationary communications satellite.
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.
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 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.
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