this was a new one

This train is heading toward the launch site! \uD83D\uDE02https://t.co/9qf1KQYChW pic.twitter.com/mIhvPdcK5H

Chris Bergin - NSF  (@NASASpaceflight) April 2, 2023

He's stopping! A wise decision! pic.twitter.com/I0mnJGuy38

Chris Bergin - NSF  (@NASASpaceflight) April 2, 2023

nailed it

I really like these return to land launches.

Jerry Pike@JerryPikePhoto.  What a sight to see this morning at the Cape! Tug Crosby Skipper and SpaceX droneship JRTI return to port with Falcon 9 B1077 as droneship ASOG heads out with Doug for the next mission💪 @SpaceOffshore

What a sight to see this morning at the Cape! Tug Crosby Skipper and SpaceX droneship JRTI return to port with Falcon 9 B1077 as droneship ASOG heads out with Doug for the next mission\uD83D\uDCAA @SpaceOffshore pic.twitter.com/n31HGm34g4

Jerry Pike  (@JerryPikePhoto) April 2, 2023

Mission:  Falcon 9, Intelsat 40e

1) Background info: Source

"A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Intelsat 40e communications satellite for Intelsat. Intelsat 40e will join Intelsat’s “Epic” fleet of high-throughput satellites, providing in-flight connectivity and other mobile communications services over North and Central America. Intelsat 40e is a partial replacement for Intelsat 29e, which failed in 2019. Intelsat 40e hosts NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument to measure atmospheric chemistry and monitor air pollution over North America. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite was built by Maxar, and is based on the 1300 platform."

2) Launch window:    12:30 - 2:29 AM EDT (7 April 2023)

3) Launch Site:   SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

4) Launch direction:  East

5) Webcast viewing options:

a. SpaceX webcast (Starts about 15 minutes before liftoff)

b.  YouTube:



6)  Observation comments:  

7) Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.


Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.   Departure! ASOG droneship and Doug are underway from Port Canaveral to support the Intelsat 40e mission.

This departure then paves the way for JRTI droneship to enter Port shortly after with B1077 from Starlink 5-10, which is waiting just offshore.

What a sight to see this morning at the Cape! Tug Crosby Skipper and SpaceX droneship JRTI return to port with Falcon 9 B1077 as droneship ASOG heads out with Doug for the next mission\uD83D\uDCAA @SpaceOffshore pic.twitter.com/n31HGm34g4

Jerry Pike  (@JerryPikePhoto) April 2, 2023

b.   Satellite:


Credit:  Intelsat

NASA’s TEMPO instrument integrated on the Intelsat 40e communications satellite at Maxar’s factory in Palo Alto, California. Credit: Maxar.  TEMPO may be the washing machine sized "foil" covered object at the top of the satellite.


Credit:  Intelsat


Intelsat 40e at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station being prepped to load in the fairing (photo courtesy of SpaceX)

c.  Ready for launch:  


A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands vertical on pad 40 Thursday, hours before liftoff with the Intelsat 40e communications satellite. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight Now

d.  Navigation warning:  


Raul@Raul74Cz.   Launch Hazard Areas for #Intelsat 40e mission from CCSFS SLC-40, valid for NET 07 Apr 04:30 UTC, alternatively 08 to 13 Apr based on issued NOTAM/NOTMAR. B1076.4 landing 673km downrange. Estimated fairing recovery position approximately 872km downrange.

8) First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:  The first stage will land on the ASOG droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

9) Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:02:30  1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:34  1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:41  2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:03:16  Fairing deployment
00:06:31  1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:54  1st stage entry burn ends
00:08:11  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:08:21  1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:47  1st stage landing
00:26:35  2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:27:30  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:32:22  Intelsat IS-40e deploys

10)  Orbit destination:  Geosynchronous transfer orbit

Webcast is starting.

Stream is live.

I have video of the launch from my house. How do I post a video off my phone? Upload to youtube?
Eta:

At least you were up to watch it.
It did wake us up though.

At the close of the first quarter 2023 SpaceX had launched 21 times.  If that rate holds that would be about 84 for the year.   They may have launched 67 times in 2022 but that may be incorrect.

I used to think keeping the F1 thread schedule up-to-date with 20 races was annoying, but you've been killing it, AmericanPeople.

Thanks for keeping this thread going.

Thanks, however I will not be doing Starship launches for the near-term.  I just put a link to the big Starship thread for now.

7 years ago today @SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 on a drone ship for the first time! It was their second landing in total, but first at sea which opened up almost all missions to reusability. I absolutely love hearing the crowd go crazy! It’s easy to forget how insane this feat is. pic.twitter.com/7HyJF52w26

Everyday Astronaut  (@Erdayastronaut) April 8, 2023

And it’s still cool as fuck to watch.

SpaceX has provided the best nerd entertainment in my 42 years.

Mission:  Falcon 9, Transporter 7

1) Background info: Source

"A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Transporter 7 mission, a rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with numerous small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will return to Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg. "

2) Launch window:    11:47 PM PDT  (14 April 2023).

3) Launch site:   SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

4) Launch direction:   South-southwest

5) Webcast viewing options:

a. SpaceX webcast (Starts about 10 minutes before liftoff)

b.  YouTube:

https://youtu.be/F_OEbfFvdeE

6)  Observation comments:    None

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.


Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.   Departure! Fairing recovery ship NRC Quest is outbound from the Port of Long Beach for the Transporter-7 mission.    The booster will RTLS and land at LZ-4.

b.  Satellites:   See event timeline.  


Source:  GHGSat



c.  Ready for launch:  


Credit:  Jack Beyer

d.  Navigation warning:


A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Transporter 7 mission, a rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with numerous small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will return to Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg.

8) First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Return to Landing Zone 4

9) Launch to deployment events/timeline:      

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:02:18  1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:20  1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:30  2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:35  1st stage boostback burn begins
00:03:01  Fairing deployment
00:03:30  1st stage boostback burn ends
00:06:11  1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:25  1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:19  1st stage landing burn begins
00:07:36  1st stage landing
00:08:19  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:57:48  2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:57:50  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:01:02  C6 - Mey-Lin deploys, manifested by GHGSat   C6, C7 and C8
01:01:17  SSS-2B deploys, manifested by Exolaunch      EXOLaunch carriers. 20 satellites.  Credit: EXOLaunch
01:01:25  C8 - Oceane deploys, manifested by GHGSat
01:01:37  DEWA-SAT 2 deploys, manifested by Exolaunch
01:01:48  KILICSAT deploys, manifested by Maverick Space Systems     Photo
01:02:04  OrbAstro-AF-1 deploys, manifested by Exolaunch
01:02:17  BRO-9 deploys, manifested by Exolaunch
01:02:30  LEMUR 2 ONREFLECTION deploys, manifested by Exolaunch
01:02:59  C7 - Gaspard deploys, manifested by GHGSat
01:03:46  TAIFA-1 deploys, manifested by Exolaunch     Being loaded into EXOLaunch dispenser
01:04:08  Connecta T2.1 deploys, manifested by Exolaunch     Satellite
01:04:20  Sapling deploys, manifested by Exolaunch      Sapling-1 from Transporter 6,  Cal Poly
01:04:34  LS2f deploys, manifested by Exolaunch     Lacunasat-3  NanoAvionics
01:04:47  FACSAT CHIRIBIQUETE deploys, manifested by Exolaunch     Credit:  GOMSpace
01:05:00  ROSEYCUBESAT-1 and Inspire-Sat deploy, manifested by Exolaunch    InspireSat
01:05:12  Blue Dot Consortium: Pleiades - Squared deploys, manifested by Exolaunch
01:06:04  It’s About Time deploys, manifested by Maverick Space Systems
01:06:17  CIRBE deploys, manifested by Maverick Space Systems  Credit:  LASP, UCB
01:07:09  Sateliot-0 deploys, manifested by Exolaunch       Photo      On-orbit
01:07:22  LEMUR 2 SPACEGUS deploys, manifested by Exolaunch     Gen 2 LEMUR.  Credit:  Spire
01:08:38  LEMUR 2 ROMEO-N-LEO deploys, manifested by Exolaunch
01:09:45  NewSat 36 deploys, manifested by Satellogic    Photo
01:11:04  NewSat 37 deploys, manifested by Satellogic
01:11:58  NewSat 38 deploys, manifested by Satellogic
01:12:13  UMBRA deploys, manifested by Umbra Lab  First Umbra prototype.  Umbra Lab
01:12:33  ALIZER 02 HAWK7B deploys, manifested by Omniteq  Possible satellite   In lab
01:13:28  ALIZER 02 HAWK7A deploys, manifested by Omniteq
01:14:26  ALIZER 02 HAWK7C deploys, manifested by Omniteq
01:14:46  Tomorrow.io’s Tomorrow-R1 deploys, manifested by Maverick Space Systems  Weather satellite
01:15:35  NorSat-TD deploys, manifested by Exolaunch   Credit:  Space Norway
01:16:16  NewSat 39 deploys, manifested by Satellogic
01:16:50  GHOSt-2 deploys, manifested by Maverick Space Systems
01:17:03  ION SCV-010 Masterful Matthaeus deploys, manifested by D-Orbit  Artist rendition of ION deploying satellite  Credit:  D-Orbit
01:20:45  GHOSt-1 deploys, manifested by Maverick Space Systems   Credit:  Astro Digital
01:22:09  VIGORIDE6 deploys, manifested by Momentus   Credit: Momentus   Photo in lab
01:46:15  2nd stage engine starts (SES-3)
01:46:16  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-3)
02:31:09  2nd stage engine starts (SES-4)
02:31:10  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-4)
02:35:19  Tubitak’s IMECE deploys   On top of the payload carrier  On-orbit

10)  Orbit destination:  Sun synchronous orbit.  Approximately 500 kilometer altitude

Now targeting no earlier than tomorrow, April 11 at 11:48 p.m. PT for a Falcon 9 launch of our seventh dedicated smallsat rideshare mission from Space Launch Complex 4E in California; teams are keeping an eye on weather ? https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 11, 2023

Its on

APRIL 17TH 8AM EST 1ST ORBITAL LAUNCH ATTEMPT

Falcon Heavy in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A pic.twitter.com/7la68mjfVD

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 11, 2023

They really want to reduce launch weight.   No paint.

Now targeting Thursday, April 13 for launch of Transporter-7 from California; the additional time allows teams to complete pre-launch checkouts and for weather conditions to improve

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 11, 2023

they're painted.

Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflight.    SpaceX Falcon Heavy has rolled out and is now vertical on 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. It will be launching the ViaSat 3 America satellite next week.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy has rolled out and is now vertical on 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. It will be launching the ViaSat 3 America satellite next week.

Next up, the Static Fire test.https://t.co/tANS0dWyIH pic.twitter.com/OjsQrmMIFH

Chris Bergin - NSF  (@NASASpaceflight) April 12, 2023

Static fire of Falcon Heavy complete; targeting Tuesday, April 18 for launch of @ViasatInc’s ViaSat-3 Americas mission from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. The 57-minute launch window opens at 7:29 p.m. ET

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 13, 2023

Falcon Heavy will also deliver @Astranis and Gravity Space spacecraft to a geostationary orbit

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 13, 2023

Transporter 7 now on 14 April 2023.

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, now targeting tomorrow, April 14 at 11:47 p.m. PT for launch of Transporter-7 from SLC-4E in California

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 14, 2023

I did not stay up for the final deployment but all seemed to go well.

Mission:   Falcon 9, Starlink 6-2

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of second-generation Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean."    SpaceFlightNow source

2) Launch window:   10:31 AM EDT (19 April 2023).    If needed, there are additional launch opportunities the same day at 10:31 a.m. ET (14:31 UTC) and 11:28 a.m. ET (15:28 UTC).    

If needed, there are additional launch opportunities the same day at 9:18 a.m. ET (13:18 UTC), 10:08 a.m. ET (14:08 UTC), 10:59 a.m. ET (14:59 UTC), and 11:49 a.m. ET (15:49 UTC).   Note:  these were the listed backup times with the original 8:27 AM EDT launch time.

3) Launch Site:   SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

4) Launch direction:  Southeast

5) Webcast viewing options:

a.   SpaceX webcast (Starts about 5 minutes before liftoff)

b.  YouTube:

https://youtu.be/kpoMcjTvylk

6)  Observation comments:    None.

7) Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.


Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.   Apr 14.  ASOG droneship is outbound to support the upcoming Starlink 6-2 mission, NET Apr 19th.

Departure! SpaceX recovery ship Bob is outbound to support the Starlink 6-2 mission.

ASOG droneship left a few days ago, towed by tug Crosby Skipper.https://t.co/icguJj64A8 pic.twitter.com/G5K8dok8Hg

Gav Cornwell  (@SpaceOffshore) April 16, 2023

Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.  Departure! SpaceX recovery ship Bob is outbound to support the Starlink 6-2 mission.   ASOG droneship left a few days ago, towed by tug Crosby Skipper.

b.  Satellites:


A side-by-side comparison of the Starlink V1.5 and the Starlink V2 Mini satellites. Credit: SpaceX / Spaceflight Now

c.  Ready for launch:  


Source:  SpaceFlightNow.com

d.  Navigation warning:


Raul@Raul74Cz.  LHA map for #Starlink Group 6-2 from CCSFS SLC-40 NET 19 Apr 12:28 UTC, alternatively 20 to 25 Apr based on issued NOTAM/NOTMARs. B1067.11 planned landing 637km downrange. Estimated fairing recovery ~696km downrange. S2 reentry area south of Cape Town.

8) First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recover on drone ship ASOG.

9) Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:02:25  1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:28  1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:34  2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:03:06  Fairing deployment
00:06:08  1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:31  1st stage entry burn ends
00:08:03  1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:26  1st stage landing
00:08:36  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:23  2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:26  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:05:13  Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit destination:   530 km circular low-Earth orbit at 43 degrees inclination.  Insertion orbit 344 x 353 km at 43 degrees

Deleted

Falcon Heavy's launch of the ViaSat-3 Americas mission is now targeted for no earlier than Wednesday, April 26

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 17, 2023

Correct but it is still a rare Falcon Heavy launch.

All systems and weather are looking good for today’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites. Targeting 9:47 a.m. ET for liftoff ? https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 19, 2023

This is a perplexing issue.  The original launch time was 8:27 AM EDT.  My source for orbital information had it at 8:50 AM EDT and for a short period this morning it was 8:50 AM EDT on the SpaceX website.  

Initially the backup launch times were:  "If needed, there are additional launch opportunities the same day at 9:18 a.m. ET (13:18 UTC), 10:08 a.m. ET (14:08 UTC), 10:59 a.m. ET (14:59 UTC), and 11:49 a.m. ET (15:49 UTC)."

Now with the 9:47 AM EDT launch time the backup launch times are:  "If needed, there are additional launch opportunities the same day at 10:31 a.m. ET (14:31 UTC) and 11:28 a.m. ET (15:28 UTC)."

The times would probably change if they went from a southeasterly launch path to a northeasterly path but then the recovery ships would be in the wrong place.  In addition, the required notices would not be valid.

It may just boil down to they will accept longer transitions on-orbit to reach the desired orbital plane as required by a different launch time.  For example, instead of a three week period to reach the operational orbit, they can accept a seven week period.

Now targeting 10:31 a.m. ET for today's launch of Starlink, all systems still looking good

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 19, 2023

Webcast is live.

They do make it look easy.

Targeting Tuesday, April 25 at 6:40 a.m. PT for a Falcon 9 launch of 46 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from SLC-4E in California ? https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 24, 2023

SpaceX Falcon Heavy ViaSat-3 Americas
APR 26, 2023 07:24 PM

Where can I find the launch trajectory map?

due east

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1lXI6eLOAAugRpPfYxDZlhI1_QL4_xIQ&ll=28.641842157541404%2C-68.23932555853824&z=5

weather is questionable

They've got a flame trench there. Just saying! \uD83D\uDE02

Chris Bergin - NSF  (@NASASpaceflight) April 24, 2023

Mission:  Falcon 9, Starlink 3-5

1) Background info: Source

"A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink V1.5 internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean."

2) Launch window:    6:40 AM PDT (9:40 AM EDT) (26 April 2023).

3) Launch site:   SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

4) Launch direction:   South-southwest

5) Webcast viewing options:

a. SpaceX webcast (Starts about 5 minutes before liftoff)

b.  YouTube:



6)  Observation comments:    None

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.


Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.  22 April 2023.  Of Course I Still Love You droneship departed from the Port of Long Beach overnight to support the Starlink 3-5 mission from VSFB. - NET Tuesday.     New support ship GO Beyond is now underway too.


Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.   22 April 2023.   Fairing recovery ship NRC Quest has departed from Long Beach to support the Starlink 3-5 mission from VSFB.

b.  Satellites:


A side-by-side comparison of the Starlink V1.5 and the Starlink V2 Mini satellites. Credit: SpaceX / Spaceflight Now  

c.  Ready for launch:


Credit: Jack Beyer

d.  Navigation warning:


Raul@Raul74Cz.  LHA map for #Starlink Group 3-5 from VSFB SLC-4E NET 25 Apr 13:02 UTC, altern. 26-29 Apr based on issued NOTMAR/NOTAMs. B1061.13 planned landing with roughly estimated fairing recovery approx. 635km downrange. Stage2 debris reentry in southern Pacific.

8) First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Drone ship OCISLY

9) Launch to deployment events/timeline:      

Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off.  Times approximate.  

00:02:27  1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30  1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:36  2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:47  Fairing deployment
00:06:13  1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:32  1st stage entry burn ends
00:08:01  1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:24  1st stage landing
00:08:38  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:52:44  2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:52:46  2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:59:53  Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Destination orbit:   Starlink Shell 3; 560 km circular low-Earth orbit (LEO); initial orbit: 321 x 308 km at 97.66 degrees

Now targeting Wednesday, April 26 at 6:40 AM PDT for Falcon 9's launch of 46 Starlink satellites (Starlink 3-5 mission).

Falcon Heavy is vertical on LC-39A in Florida ahead of tonight's targeted launch of @ViasatInc’s ViaSat-3 Americas mission ? https://t.co/ulZth3yuU5 pic.twitter.com/TSjc7BPT5I

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 26, 2023

The 57-minute launch window opens at 7:29 p.m. ET, and weather conditions are currently 50% favorable for liftoff

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) April 26, 2023