Harold S.’s Post

SpaceX is continuing its pace of launching and orbital mission an average of every two days with its next Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff of the Starlink 12-12 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) is set for 11:21 a.m. EST (1621 UTC) on Friday. This will be SpaceX’s 5th Falcon 9 launch in 2025. In its forecast issued on Thursday, the 45th Weather Squadron forecast a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff, citing no weather constraints. The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1067 in the SpaceX fleet, will be making a record-setting 25th launch and landing attempt. It previously launched four flights to the International Space Station, the Galileo L13 mission for the European Commission and 13 previous batches of Starlink satellites. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1067 aims to land on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions.’ If successful, it will mark the 106th booster landing on JRTI and the 395th booster landing to date. Among the 21 Starlink satellites onboard the Falcon 9 rocket are 13 that feature Direct to Cell capabilities. While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hasn’t granted full implementation of the DTC service, on Thursday, it once again authorized emergency use for those impacted by the fires in the greater Los Angeles area. Earlier in the day, SpaceX announced it would be providing a month of free Starlink service to those impacted by the fires. It also sent free kits to agencies, organizations and shelters helping to respond to the deadly and destructive fires. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/g-FkBJYm #DTC #SpaceX #Starlink #Falcon9

SpaceX has officially announced they have moved the launch time to 8:53 p.m.. A reason for the delay of the Sunday evening launch from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) has not been provided. The launch window still runs until 12:11 a.m., following the typical four-hour period seen with Starlink launches. Should SpaceX be unable to launch tonight, backup opportunities are available beginning at 7:45 p.m. Monday. The Falcon 9 booster being used will see its 15th flight. It was previously used for nine other Starlink missions, as well as memorable missions such as CRS-27 and Bandwagon-1. Local sonic booms are not expected, as this Falcon 9 will land out on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. Friday saw the largest solar activity in 19 years, with multiple reports of the aurora borealis seen as far south as Central Florida on Friday evening. The last time the aurora was spotted in Florida was in 1989. With the ability of solar storms to impact communication satellites, many are wondering if this will impact Starlink. Elon Musk posted on X that while Friday's solar storms put Starlink satellites under a lot of pressure, they appear to be holding up to the increased solar activity. While the 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 85% chance of favorable weather, the solar activity is predicted to be moderate to high. It remains to be seen if that will have an impact on the decision to launch. #SpaceX #Starlink #Falcon9

SpaceX maintained its rapid pace of launching an orbital mission on average every two days with its Falcon 9 flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday afternoon. It also completed a record-breaking 25th landing of an orbital class rocket. Liftoff of the Starlink 12-12 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) happened at 2:11 p.m. EST (1911 UTC). This will be SpaceX’s 5th Falcon 9 launch in 2025. In a forecast issued on Thursday, the 45th Weather Squadron reported a greater than 95 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff, citing no weather constraints. The Falcon 9 first stage booster for this mission, tail number B1067 in the SpaceX fleet, made a record-setting 25th launch and landing attempt. It entered service in 2021, previously launching four flights to the International Space Station, the Galileo L13 mission for the European Commission and 13 previous batches of Starlink satellites. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1067 landed on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ marked the 106th booster landing on JRTI and the 395th booster landing to date. Among the 21 Starlink satellites onboard the Falcon 9 rocket are 13 that feature Direct to Cell capabilities. While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hasn’t granted full implementation of the DTC service, on Thursday, it once again authorized emergency use for those impacted by the fires in the greater Los Angeles area. Earlier in the day, SpaceX announced it would be providing a month of free Starlink service to those impacted by the fires. It also sent free kits to agencies, organizations and shelters helping to respond to the deadly and destructive fires. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/g-FkBJYm #DTC #SpaceX #Starlink SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 booster, B1067, on the Starlink 12-12 mission on Jan. 10, 2025. This was the first time an orbital class rocket launched for a 25th time and went on to land successfully as well. (Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now)

Against the backdrop of a pink and purple sunset, SpaceX launched its third batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit since Monday morning. It was able to overcome a blustery evening that at times saw wind gusts of more than 26 miles per hour. Liftoff of the Starlink 8-19 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 7:31 p.m. EDT (2331 UTC) on Friday, Oct. 18. Thursday evening, the 45th Weather Squadron issued a launch weather forecast for the new launch date of Friday, which showed only a 40 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff. Liftoff winds were forecast to be between 19 and 26 miles per hour. “Strong onshore flow will continue through the weekend as the high pressure across the eastern U.S. will persist. Moisture will be slow to return, but some isolated onshore-moving showers are possible by the backup day,” meteorologists said. “The primary concern remains Liftoff Winds with the addition of the Cumulus Cloud Rule for Saturday.” The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting the mission, tail number B1076 in the SpaceX fleet, launched for a 17th time. It previously supported Intelsat 40e, Turksat-6A, the 26th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-26) mission to the International Space Station and eight previous Starlink missions. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1076 touched down on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions.’ The mission marked the 94th successful booster landing using JRTI and the 355th booster landing to date. Onboard the rocket are 20 Starlink V2 Mini satellites, of which 13 feature Direct to Cell capabilities. With a successful deployment, the total number of DTC Starlink satellites launched now stands at 259. This launch of Starlink satellites also brought the total number of orbital launches from Florida this year to 71, one shy from tying the total launched in 2023. #SpaceX #Starlink #Falcon9 SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches across the sky on the Starlink 8-19 mission, as seen in this streak shot from across the Indian River Lagoon. (Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now)

[SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Can Return To Flight, FAA Says] Well, that was quick. SpaceX can resume flying its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this evening (Aug. 30). The news comes just two days after a Falcon 9 first stage crashed while attempting to land after a successful launch of SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellites, spurring an investigation overseen by the FAA. That investigation is ongoing, but the agency has un-grounded the Falcon 9 nonetheless. "The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation of the anomaly during the Starlink Group 8-6 mission remains open, provided all other license requirements are met," FAA officials said in an emailed statement today. "SpaceX made the return-to-flight request on Aug. 29 and the FAA gave approval on Aug. 30." Wednesday's (Aug. 28) Starlink launch was a record breaker — the 23rd liftoff for that particular Falcon 9 first stage, one more than any other SpaceX booster. The rocket hit its landing target — the deck of a SpaceX droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean — but could not stay upright. SpaceX's launch livestream showed flames billowing from the booster's base just after touchdown, followed by a topple. That fall destroyed the rocket: SpaceX watchers recently captured imagery of the droneship with the booster's wreckage strewn about its deck. The landing-failure investigation is the second FAA Falcon 9 inquiry in the past month and a half. The rocket returned to flight on July 26 after a two-week hiatus caused by an upper-stage failure that resulted in the loss of 23 Starlink satellites. The clearance to fly doubtless comes as a relief for the crew of Polaris Dawn, a four-person orbital mission that will feature the first-ever private spacewalk. Polaris Dawn had been scheduled to launch early this week, before Wednesday's incident, but bad weather forecasts pushed the liftoff back. SpaceX has not yet announced a new target launch date for the historic five-day mission. Source: https://lnkd.in/e45b9q_R #galaxyaerosgh #space #spaceexploration #SpaceNews

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐗 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟏 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 🚀 On January 13, 2025, SpaceX successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, further expanding its global satellite network. Among the 21 satellites were 13 equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities, a key advancement in providing global cellular connectivity. The launch took place at 11:47 a.m. EST, and the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff. The booster made a flawless landing on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, marking its 15th successful recovery. The Falcon 9's upper stage continued its mission, deploying the satellites into low Earth orbit approximately 65 minutes after launch. This mission marks SpaceX's sixth launch of 2025, contributing to the company’s ongoing impressive launch cadence. In 2024, SpaceX completed over 130 Falcon 9 missions, a significant portion of which were dedicated to Starlink launches. Image credit: SpaceX via X Stay updated with the latest insights by visiting xpylon.com. https://lnkd.in/dYwK2zcT #Transportation #SpaceX #Aerospace #Starlink #Satellites #SpaceExploration

WorldView Legion satellite imagery will support valuable missions — at unmatched speed, quality and scale with: — 30 cm-class resolution — <1.5 m RMSE accuracy — Up to 15 revisits per day — 5 million sq km daily collection capacity --- Unrivaled accuracy, agility and collection capacity Our high-resolution constellation offers customers around the globe affordable access to the highest quality view of their world. The WorldView Legion satellites cost about $700 million to build. From defense and intelligence to living maps for navigation, WorldView Legion satellite imagery will support valuable missions — at unmatched speed, quality and scale with: — Up to 15 revisits per day — 30 cm-class resolution — <1.5 m RMSE accuracy — 5 million sq km daily collection capacity

🚀 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐗 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝟑𝐛 𝐦𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 SpaceX successfully launched the O3b mPOWER 7 and 8 satellites for SES on December 17, 2024, marking its third Falcon 9 mission within 24 hours. Liftoff occurred at 5:26 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, despite challenging weather conditions. The satellites are part of SES's medium Earth orbit (MEO) broadband network, designed to serve millions of users globally. This mission follows earlier launches of O3b mPOWER satellites, which faced power module issues. SES has implemented fixes for future satellites, including operational adjustments and hardware replacements. The Falcon 9 booster, flying its first mission, landed successfully on the droneship Just Read the Instructions, ensuring its potential for reuse. SES plans to complete its constellation with additional launches through 2026. Screenshot: spacex.com Stay updated with the latest insights by visiting xpylon.com. https://lnkd.in/dU6rfnVd #Aerospace #Aviation #SpaceX # #SatelliteLaunch # #TechnologyInnovation

SpaceX is targeting 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 (𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰) for a  𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝟵 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟯 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁 (𝗟𝗘𝗢) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮. Launch opportunities are available until 𝟭𝟭:𝟮𝟴 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗘𝗧. (𝗥𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗱𝗵 /𝗗𝗼𝗵𝗮/𝗞𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 : 𝟲.𝟮𝟴 𝗣𝗠 , 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟯 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘄) A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live. This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

A day after bad weather in the booster recovery zone forced a mission scrub, SpaceX launched its latest batch of 21 Starlink satellites. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida happened Saturday morning at 8:50 a.m. EDT (1250 UTC). The booster flying this mission, tail number B1067 in the SpaceX fleet, made its 21st flight, successfully landing on the droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ a little more than eight minutes after liftoff. The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby moved far enough up the East Coast, to allow the launch to proceed on Saturday. Prior this its latest Starlink mission, Falcon 9 booster, B1067, flew a fifth of its previous missions in support of NASA. It launched the Crew-3 and Crew-4 astronaut missions to the International Space Station as well as two cargo missions as part of its Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract. B1067 also launched 11 previous batches of Starlink satellites. The successful booster landing on JRTI marked the 88 touchdown for that droneship and the 336th booster landing to date. Among the 21 Starlink satellites flying are 13 that support SpaceX’s Direct to Cell capabilities. The Starlink 8-3 mission was the 55th dedicated Starlink launch in 2024 and the 118th launch of the V2 Mini variety of the satellites. Following payload deployment, there will be a total of 142 DTC Starlink satellites on orbit. #SpaceX #Starlink #Falcon9 The shock waves created as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket became supersonic created a halo-like effect during its ascent. Liftoff of the Starlink 8-3 mission took place at 8:50 a.m. EDT (1250 UTC) on Aug. 10, 2024. (William Harwood/CBS News)