SpaceX Launch Recap: Updates from Falcon 9 rocket launch Thursday from Cape Canaveral
Launch Recap: Scroll down to read the updates from the Falcon 9 rocket launch which occurred on Thursday, August 15, at 9 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral.
Thursday morning, SpaceX launched a pair of WorldView Legion imaging satellites for Maxar, a space technology company, and gave the Space Coast the thrill of a booster landing with an accompanying sonic boom.
The satellites launched exactly at 9 a.m. atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex - 40, which is located just south of Kennedy Space Center. The launch traveled in a northeast trajectory.
The Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 80% chance of favorable weather during the launch window, however that chance dropped to 70% just before liftoff. SpaceX managed to launch anyway.
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Eight and a half minutes after lift off, the Falcon 9 first stage landed back at Cape Canaveral on Landing Zone 1, causing a sonic boom which rattled windows. That sound wave is generated when the Falcon 9 falls faster than the speed of sound.
Not to worry, as the landing burn and grid fins slow the booster down and direct it before landing.
This is where it gets interesting ?spectators saw the Falcon 9 come down before the sonic boom was heard. This is simply due to physics, as light travels faster than sound.
The satellites are the third and fourth in the Maxar series, which is set to consist of six satellites in total.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 9:08 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed at Landing Zone 1!
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on Landing Zone 1 pic.twitter.com/uDkh5ueR3o
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 15, 2024
SpaceX Liftoff!
Update 9:00 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Liftoff of @Maxar 2! pic.twitter.com/FYnti1LmH7
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 15, 2024
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 8:48 a.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter)has begun!
Liftoff is scheduled in 12 minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX launch countdown timeline
Update 8:38 a.m.: Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. T-minus:
38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.
35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
0 seconds: Liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway
Update 8:26 a.m.: SpaceX has confirmed fueling has begun for a 9 a.m. liftoff!
Propellant load has begun for Falcon 9’s launch of the @Maxar 2 mission from Florida. All systems are looking good, and weather is currently 70% favorable for liftoff pic.twitter.com/JeS5Rrfd3R
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 15, 2024
SpaceX booster will land at Cape Canaveral!
Update 8:15 a.m.: Today's Falcon 9 first stage will see its 16th flight. It has seen eight Starlink missions, CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, and Turksat 6A.
Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster will land back at Cape Canaveral ? allowing the Cape area to hear the sonic boom!
Brevard EOC activates ahead of SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral
Update 8:05 a.m.: Things are moving along in Brevard! The Brevard EOC has been activated ahead of this morning's liftoff.
8/15/24 8AM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 9-10AM pic.twitter.com/EB1IfZUvsP
— Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) August 15, 2024
SpaceX Launch: Check out these images from the Paris Olympics
Update 7:55 a.m.: While not from Florida, SpaceX launched the first two satellites in the WorldView Legion series in May. Check out the images those first two got of the Paris Olympics preparations!
The world’s top athletes will call this part of northern #Paris home from July to September this year. This GIF shows 15 cranes present during construction in March 2022 and the area ready for athletes in June 2024.
Maxar’s #satelliteimagery enables the precise monitoring and… pic.twitter.com/ei88SGgnGh— Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) August 8, 2024
Maxar reveals mission patch
Update 7:43 a.m.: Maxar has posted the mission patch for this launch on X. The two gold stars symbolize that this is the third and fourth satellite in the series of six.
Here’s a peek at the mission patch for tomorrow's launch of our next two WorldView Legion satellites!
The two gold stars symbolize that these are the third and fourth satellites in our first block of six WorldView Legions. Details here: https://t.co/IuiDZPkM7q#ittakesalegion pic.twitter.com/1ndvI9WCrZ— Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) August 14, 2024
SpaceX launch from Florida weather outlook
Update 7:33 a.m.: The 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 80% chance of favorable weather for this morning's launch window. Skies are currently clear in Brevard County, but weather activity lurks offshore.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Recap: Maxar WorldView Legion satellites from Cape Canaveral