Spectacular as seen from San Diego.  The stage 1 boost-back burn is always super bright.

Partial overcast south of LAX but still able to see the booster separation and fairings in the exhaust plume. Seeing a sunset launch never gets old.

Nothing completes the night like a SpaceX rocket launch \uD83D\uDE80 pic.twitter.com/HyLvhJDzwX

Pamela Chelin  (@PamelaChelin) June 24, 2024

Mmm, Falcon Heavy up next, always a crowd pleaser.

They pulled it out of the garage this morning, started the trek to the pad, stopped and rolled it back into the garage.

Delayed until further notice.

Mission:   Falcon Heavy, GOES-U

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon Heavy will launch the fourth and final satellite of the next-generation series of geostationary weather satellites for NASA and NOAA. GOES-U will orbit 22,300 miles above the equator to monitor weather conditions across the United States. The satellite will be renamed GOES-19 once it reaches its operational orbit. The Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land at Landing Zones 1 and 2."    SpaceFlightNow source

2)  Launch window:  5:16 - 7:16 PM EDT (25 June 2024)

3)  Launch site:   SLC-39A,  Florida

4)  Launch direction:  East

5)  Webcast viewing option:



6)  Observation comments: None

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats departing:



b.  Satellite:  




Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore.  SpaceX recovery ship Doug is some 1150 km downrange - and still travelling - to be in position to recover the fairing for the upcoming launch of GOES-U Falcon Heavy mission.

c.  Ready for launch:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

d.  Navigation Warnings:  




Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:   The Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land at Landing Zones 1 and 2.  The center core will be expended (ocean disposal).

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

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

Hr/Min/Sec                    Event

00:01:11   Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:25   Side boosters engine cutoff (BECO)
00:02:28   Side boosters separate
00:02:44   Side boosters boostback burns begin
00:03:53   Side boosters boostback burns end
00:03:56   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:03:59   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:04:06   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:04:24   Fairing separation
00:06:36   Side boosters entry burns start
00:06:51   Side boosters entry burns end
00:07:53   Side boosters landing burns start
00:08:11   Side boosters landing
00:08:23   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:26:19   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:27:46   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
04:21:18   2nd stage engine starts (SES-3)
04:21:51   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-3)
04:30:02   GOES-U deploys

10)  Orbit insertion:  Geosynchronous transfer orbit

weather not looking good for tomorrow and Wednesday, only 30% favorable.

https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/Portals/14/Weather/Falcon%20Heavy%20GOES-U%20L-1%20Day%20Forecast%20-%2025%20Jun%20Launch.pdf

it's at the pad now

Finally. Been watching it off and on all day.

Falcon Heavy rolls out to the launch pad at 39A for @NASA’s GOES-U mission pic.twitter.com/akvjroyQs3

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) June 25, 2024

Isn't that gray band on the second stage a sign that it will do a burn hours after the two second stage burns in low Earth orbit?

Update:  Yes there is a third second stage burn much later:

04:21:18 2nd stage engine starts (SES-3)
04:21:51 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-3)

NASA stream is live.

Launch is GO for 5:26pm Eastern.

Extremely clear skies, can see the boosters returning on the NASA stream.

Side boosters separate from Falcon Heavy pic.twitter.com/5jCrp6GLTu

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) June 25, 2024

Double-bullseye for the boosters.

That will never get old.  

Just amazing.

All hail Elon!

Like I said, always a crowd pleaser.

That was a shiny white new booster hours ago.

NASA launch commentary sucks.

It's kinda funny, they could clean the soot off it, it would make the booster lighter But they leave it on for various reasons. Layers and layers pile on until the booster looks like a chimney. People have even made the joke, a Falcon that looks like an Electron.

Rocket Lab has gone with methane for Neutron partly because it burns cleaner than RP-1. It will be interesting to see how much smudging the methane powered Raptor engines leave on Super Heavy Booster once they start reflying those things.

Like a flicked cigarette.

cool deployment video

Deployment of @NOAA’s GOES-U satellite confirmed pic.twitter.com/Q5CDr6FSaL

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) June 26, 2024

I think a Falcon MegaHeavy with 4 boosters would be sweet.

Wow! Earth is but a pale blue dot!

Could falcon heavy launch with crew dragon? Would there be a reason to?

There's not any system or hardware reason that I'm aware of that would prevent it. However, Falcon heavy has never gone through the approval process to get man rated.  There really isn't a reason to do so since Falcon 9 can already lift dragon to useable orbits, including the elliptical one that Polaris Dawn is planning. Falcon heavy would just be capable of pushing it to a much higher orbit, but with nothing to dock to, there is not much of a point.

It would. But SpaceX is focused on Starship development above everything else at the moment, so…

Unless it is an artifact caused by the camera/shutter, it appears you can faintly see the shockwaves radiating through those those thin clouds during the first ten seconds or so of the footage. Amazing.

The idea has been discussed to send astronauts to the Lunar Gateway Station. It would require a better life support system than what Crew Dragon has at the moment but it could be an alternative to SLS in that job if they were willing to go to the rigmarole of man rating FH.

That said, NASA has put a lot of work into SLS and they seem pretty determined to do… something with it.

See below.  

That shit is just straight up Science Fiction.

Coming in supersonic, lighting off the engines, and then landing.

It's crazy...and I fucking love it.

 

.@NASA is fostering continued scientific, educational, and technological developments in low Earth orbit to benefit humanity, while also supporting deep space exploration at the Moon and Mars. As the agency transitions to commercially owned space destinations closer to home, it… pic.twitter.com/6p1J8UvX9A

NASA Space Operations  (@NASASpaceOps) June 26, 2024

.@NASA
is fostering continued scientific, educational, and technological developments in low Earth orbit to benefit humanity, while also supporting deep space exploration at the Moon and Mars. As the agency transitions to commercially owned space destinations closer to home, it is crucial to prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the @Space_Station
in a controlled manner after the end of its operational life in 2030.

NASA announced @SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas.

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-international-space-station-us-deorbit-vehicle/

NASA Selects International Space Station US Deorbit Vehicle


Abbey A. Donaldson
Jun 26, 2024

RELEASE24-090
NASA Headquarters

NASA is fostering continued scientific, educational, and technological developments in low Earth orbit to benefit humanity, while also supporting deep space exploration at the Moon and Mars. As the agency transitions to commercially owned space destinations closer to home, it is crucial to prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station in a controlled manner after the end of its operational life in 2030.

NASA announced SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas.

“Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all.”

While the company will develop the deorbit spacecraft, NASA will take ownership after development and operate it throughout its mission. Along with the space station, it is expected to destructively breakup as part of the re-entry process.

Since 1998, five space agencies, CSA (Canadian Space Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and State Space Corporation Roscosmos, have operated the International Space Station with each agency responsible for managing and controlling the hardware it provides. The station was designed to be interdependent and relies on contributions from across the partnership to function. The United States, Japan, Canada, and the participating countries of ESA have committed to operating the station through 2030. Russia has committed to continued station operations through at least 2028. The safe deorbit of the International Space Station is the responsibility of all five space agencies.

The single-award contract has a total potential value of $843 million. The launch service for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will be a future procurement.

In its 24th year of continuously crewed operations, the space station is a unique scientific platform where crew members conduct experiments across multiple disciplines of research, including Earth and space science, biology, human physiology, physical sciences, and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth. Crews living aboard station are the hands of thousands of researchers on the ground having conducted more than 3,300 experiments in microgravity. Station is the cornerstone of space commerce, from commercial crew and cargo partnerships to commercial research and national lab research, and lessons learned aboard International Space Station are helping to pass the torch to future commercial stations.

SpaceX is going to destroy the International Space Stationhttps://t.co/ywDQaNjbdM

Scott Manley  (@DJSnM) June 26, 2024

If they can de-orbit it, can't they re-orbit it?

pic.twitter.com/MnvArHwJRm

Elon Musk  (@elonmusk) June 26, 2024

I am assuming that they have determined that 2030 is at the end of the ISS useful life.   Maybe they need something else to spread taxpayer money or they will rely upon private station systems.

Yes, they can and do periodically boost the ISS a little higher.

It's in an odd orbit that was only selected because it's easy to reach from Baikonor. I'm told that boosting it into a higher orbit would be more trouble than it's worth.

Can we claim salvage and nab it?

Every time we demand to be heard, they hold back our water, owkwa beltalowda, ration our air, ereluf beltalowda, until we crawl back into our holes, imbobo beltalowda, and do as we are told!

Mission:   Falcon 9, Starlink 10-3

1)  Mission Description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of 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:   7:14 - 11:00 AM EDT (27 June 2024)

3)  Launch site:   SLC-40,  Florida

4)  Launch direction:  Northeast

5)  Webcast viewing option:



6)  Observation comments:   None

7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out:

Signet Warhorse III + JRTI departed PC on Jun 25 @ 7:04am ET


Bob departed PC on Jun 25 @ 3:31pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellites:  Previously provided.

c.  Ready for launch:    Not found

d.  Navigation Warnings:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship JRTI.

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:    

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

00:01:10 Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:37 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:57 Fairing deployment
00:06:05 1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:27 1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:50 1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:13 1st stage landing
00:08:41 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:53:41 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:53:43 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:02:35 Starlink satellites deploy

10)  Orbit insertion:  264 kilometers (perigee) x 277 kilometers (apogee) at 53 degree inclination

If you have the tech and crew to do so then perhaps you could talk NASA and it's partners into selling it to you for a symbolic $1. Detach the Russian segment and huck it at some empty part of Siberia with the message, "here's your garbage back!"

SpaceX is honored to be entrusted by @NASA to support this critical mission https://t.co/63zFgM5oFn

SpaceX  (@SpaceX) June 26, 2024

It's a beautiful morning.  

The video quality is light years ahead of the early days of Falcon 9.

The pair of double sonic booms about 3 seconds apart is a nice feature.
Mrs wasn't ready for it this time and got a bit rattled when the waves hit us.

Mission:  Falcon 9, NROL-186

1)  Mission description:  "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the NROL-186 mission on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office. The agency stated that this will be the second launch supporting it’s “proliferated architecture, delivering critical space-based [intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance] to the nation.”   The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean." Source

2)  Launch window:    8:14 - 10:14 PM PDT (28 June 2024)

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

4)  Launch direction:   South-southeasterly

5)  Webcast viewing options:



6)  Observation comments:    Southwest USA jellyfish viewing opportunity
7)  Launch preparations:

a.  Boats heading out.

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Jun 27 @ 11:15am PT / 2:15pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Jun 27 @ 12:01pm PT / 3:01pm ET

Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

b.  Satellites:  Unavailable

c.  Ready for launch:   Not found

d.  Navigation warning:


Source:  NASASpaceFlight.com

8)  First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal:    Recovery on drone ship OCISLY

9)  Launch to deployment events/timeline:      

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

00:01:08   Max Q
00:02:26   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:37   2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:03:05   Fairing deployment
00:06:08   1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:28   1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:51   1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:13   1st stage landing
00:08:39   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:53:13   2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:53:15   2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)

10)  Orbit destination:  Not available