SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Friday night from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch recap: Scroll down for live coverage of the Friday, May 31, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40.
Friday evening, SpaceX kicked off what could be a double-launch weekend.
A Falcon 9 rocket carried the next batch of Starlink internet satellites into orbit ? Starlink 6-64. SpaceX stated they would target a liftoff time of 10:37 p.m. EDT ? which was the end of the launch window, after already pushing the launch time twice.
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The rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40 and traveled in a southeast trajectory.
The 45th Weather Squadron had called for 90% favorable weather ahead of Friday's launch, yet winds were an issue early in the launch window.
Had SpaceX not been able to launch Friday, a backup window was available Saturday evening beginning at 7:08 p.m. EDT.
To follow Friday's launch was the crewed flight test of Boeing's Starliner, which was set for liftoff at 12:25 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 1 from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 10:45 p.m.: The booster has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship.
Landing burn and touchdown of Falcon 9 on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship pic.twitter.com/h1NSP4tC2V
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 1, 2024
SpaceX Liftoff!
Update 10:37 p.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
One more for the month of May, liftoff of Falcon 9 pic.twitter.com/YHyWQ6KaE0
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 1, 2024
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 10:32 p.m.: Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
We are 10 minutes from tonight’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch!
Update 10:27 p.m.: T-10 minutes! Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket rising into the night sky.
Simply look towards the direction south of Kennedy Space Center from your direction. The rocket will be following a southeastern trajectory.
SpaceX heading for launch!
Update 10:03 p.m.: SpaceX has started fueling ahead of tonight's launch.
The Falcon 9 must now liftoff or the mission will be scrubbed for the day.
Propellant load for tonight's Falcon 9 launch has started
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 1, 2024
SpaceX Countdown
Update 10:00 p.m.: While we await fueling of tonight's launch, let's take a look at what to expect.
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 rocket launch backup opportunities
Update 9:42 p.m.: Should SpaceX be unable to launch tonight, a backup window opens tomorrow, June 1, beginning at 7:08 p.m. EDT.
As of current, SpaceX is still hoping to launch tonight.
New SpaceX launch time
Update 9:29 p.m.: SpaceX is now targeting the end of the launch window at 10:37 p.m. EDT.
Launch team now targeting the end of tonight's window to allow recovery assets to get into final position. Counting down now to launch at 10:37 p.m. ET.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 1, 2024
Brevard EOC ready for tonight's SpaceX launch
Update 9:23 p.m.: Brevard EOC has started preparations ahead of tonight's launch.
5/31/24 9:13 PM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 10:00 - 10:43 PM pic.twitter.com/aTEjLWT6f9
— Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) June 1, 2024
SpaceX confirms wind may be an issue
Update 9:15 p.m.: SpaceX is keeping an eye on the wind ahead of this evening's launch.
The FLORIDA TODAY Space Team will keep you updated as we move towards launch time!
Less than one hour to tonight's Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink from Florida. Teams are keeping an eye on winds, but otherwise looking good to step into propellant load
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 1, 2024
Falcon 9 historic anniversary
Update 9:08 p.m.: Believe it or not, yesterday marked four years since Falcon 9 launched the Demo-2 mission. This mission was the first mission to launch astronauts from U.S. soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle.
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were the first astronauts to ride onboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon on this test flight which certified Dragon to ferry NASA crews.
Sound familiar? Boeing Starliner has its crewed test flight tomorrow.
Today marks the fourth anniversary of Falcon 9 launching @NASA’s Demo-2 mission to the @space_station, returning human spaceflight to the United States pic.twitter.com/jzwyCwam3l
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 30, 2024
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster has flown 13 previous times
Update 8:54 p.m.: The booster used for this launch will see its fourteenth flight. On top of seven other Starlink missions, this Falcon 9 carried CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, Ob3 mPOWER, Ovzon 3, and EUTELSAT 36D.
It will land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, so local sonic booms are not expected.
SpaceX launch time pushed later into the window
Update 8:42 p.m.: Ordinally set to launch at 7:47 p.m., SpaceX has pushed this launch back to 10:11 p.m. EDT.
It has been a windy night here on the Space Coast, yet skies remain clear as we head into a beautiful twilight.
Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team at floridatoday.com/space for the latest updates from the Space Coast.
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: Launch recap: Live updates from Starlink Falcon 9 launch at Cape