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as or right meow...
Starlink 6-34 Tonight (12/12) @ 23:02 Heavy Tomorrow (12/13) @ 20:13 |
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MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you." -A. Wilkow |
Originally Posted By Dagger41: The odds of launching tonight are a bit better than than last night. Probability of Violating Weather Constraints is 20%. Up to you. If you miss it, you're going to miss one hell of a show. View Quote You understand my dilemma well. JimmyT, do you have a link to confirm this? As of 1253pm https://www.spacex.com/launches/index.html Shows both rockets scheduled for tonight. |
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Originally Posted By TheLookingGlass: You understand my dilemma well. JimmyT, do you have a link to confirm this? As of 1253pm https://www.spacex.com/launches/index.html Shows both rockets scheduled for tonight. View Quote Check here They are not up to the minute when changes occur. |
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Will there be live video of actual launch or just more of Elon's Bitcoin Pyramid scheme?
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[NO TEXT]
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SpaceX is targeting no earlier than Wednesday, December 13 at 8:13 p.m. ET for Falcon Heavy’s launch of the USSF-52 mission to orbit.
Sounds like uncertainty. See first post for a livestream link. |
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Originally Posted By AmericanPeople: SpaceX is targeting no earlier than Wednesday, December 13 at 8:13 p.m. ET for Falcon Heavy’s launch of the USSF-52 mission to orbit. Sounds like uncertainty. See first post for a livestream link. View Quote Thank God I didn't push our trip back again. I think I'd wake up to blood spurting out of my neck before I passed out. Being on base was cool, but man the uncertainty sucks. I wonder if the ground issues is linked to the fire in CA. |
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Bugger !
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It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack
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I had to drive back to Palm Beach. I can't leave my mom alone for more then a few days, shes elderly.. I really wanted to see the heavy launch but I can't wait till wednesday night. Still, I had a good time in Titusville and Daytona. There's a lot of cool stuff to see.
Maybe another time, boys. |
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Starlink is still on, for now.
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It was raining here about 20 minutes ago.
https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/conus_band.php?sat=G16&band=Sandwich&length=24 |
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It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack
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The Starlink 6-34 launch scheduled for late on 12 December 2023 had a hold in the countdown at around T-01:45. No reason was heard and the launch is now scheduled for 11:07 PM EDT on 13 December 2023.
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Originally Posted By AmericanPeople: The Starlink 6-34 launch scheduled for late on 12 December 2023 had a hold in the countdown at around T-01:45. No reason was heard and the launch is now scheduled for 11:07 PM EDT on 13 December 2023. View Quote We are expecting Gale force winds for the rest of this week and in to next week. |
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It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack
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Originally Posted By Dagger41: We are expecting Gale force winds for the rest of this week and in to next week. View Quote Based upon your post I checked the 45th Weather Squadron forecast and it does appear that winds may prevent a launch for a few days. "Forecast Discussion: Conditions will progressively deteriorate heading into tomorrow night, as a strong area of high pressure to our north strengthens resulting in a tightening pressure gradient. Strong onshore winds will continue to increase during the day tomorrow and through Thursday, likely exceeding wind constraints for both the primary and backup days. Thus, the primary concerns for both days are Liftoff Winds along with a lower risk of violating the Cumulus Cloud Rule for any coastal showers that develop." |
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No Falcon 9, Starlink 6-24 launch tonight (13 December 2023) due to weather.
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Well shit.
System forecast to form over Gulf will bring tropical storm-like conditions to Central Florida |
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It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack
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View Quote this mornings forecast includes: High Surf Advisory until December 17, 10:00am Wind Advisory until December 15, 10:00am Coastal Flood Warning until December 16, 01:00pm |
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MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you." -A. Wilkow |
This will be reposted and updated on page 134 to reflect the January 2024 launch date.
Mission: Falcon 9, Starlink 7-9 1) Mission description: "A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink Version 2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean." Source 2) Launch window: 9:19 PM PST ( 3) Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California 4) Launch direction: South southeasterly 5) Webcast viewing options: SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 7-9 - SLC-4E - Vandenberg SFB - January 3, 2024 6) Observation comments: None 7) Launch preparations: a. Boats heading out. Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Dec 11 @ 5:37pm PT / 8:37pm ET Go Beyond (fka. Go Crusader) departed PoLB on Dec 12 @ 7:08am PT / 10:08am ET Source: NASASpaceFlight.com b. Satellites: See previous Starlink discussions. c. Ready for launch: Source: SpaceFlightNow.com d. Navigation warning: Source: NASASpaceFlight.com 8) First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal: Drone ship OCISLY 9) Launch to deployment events/timeline: Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off. Times approximate. 00:01:12 Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 00:02:26 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) 00:02:29 1st and 2nd stages separate 00:02:35 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1) 00:03:04 Fairing deployment 00:06:17 1st stage entry burn begins 00:06:37 1st stage entry burn ends 00:08:12 1st stage landing burn begins 00:08:33 1st stage landing 00:08:39 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) 00:53:35 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2) 00:53:38 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2) 01:02:39 Starlink satellites deploy 10) Orbit destination: 336 x 345 kilometers, 53 degree inclination |
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Rocket Lab has a launch tonight, 2-hour window opens at 11pm EST. Name: "The Moon God Awakens"
Location: Launch Complex 1, Pad B on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula Info here Mission Overview Rocket Lab will launch a dedicated Electron mission for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company. The mission will carry iQPS’s QPS-SAR-5 satellite named “TSUKUYOMI-I” into orbit on a dedicated Electron mission from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission has been named “The Moon God Awakens” in acknowledgement of Tsukuyomi, the Japanese God of the Moon. QPS-SAR-5 is a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite that will join a constellation after QPS-SAR-6 already in orbit. iQPS’s satellites are small, high-performance SAR satellites that use a lightweight, large, stowable antenna to collect high resolution images of Earth, even through clouds and adverse weather conditions. Ultimately, the iQPS constellation is planned to have 36 satellites capable of monitoring specific fixed points on Earth every 10 minutes. In addition to being launched by Electron, the QPS-SAR-5 satellite will use Rocket Lab’s Mark II Motorized Lightband (MLB) as its separation system demonstrating the Company’s vertically integrated space systems strategy. View Quote Rocket Lab 'The Moon God Awakens' Launch |
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Successful launch for Rocket Lab so far.
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The Starlink 7-9 launch was delayed to around 12:30 AM PST on 15 December then two hours or so before that time was delayed until 9:19 PM PST later that day.
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In post #20 above, Chokey noted that there will be six satellites in the Starlink 7-9 launch that will be able to be able to act as cell towers in space. Here is additional information on that:
"However, this late night Friday mission is unique in that it will include the first six Starlink satellites that feature direct-to-cell capabilities. SpaceX stated that the new function “will enable mobile network operators around the world to provide seamless global access to texting, calling and browsing… on land, lakes or coastal waters.” This direct-to-cell promise for the Starlink network is the beginning of a promise announced by SpaceX founder Elon Musk during an event in August 2022 with T-Mobile CEO and President Mike Sievert at Starbase in Texas. Musk described the capability as a “massive game changer” that would eliminate dead zones in even the most remote parts of the world. “This really is a big deal,” Musk said during the presentation. “Even if an entire region or country lost connectivity because of a severe hurricane or floods or fires or tornados, earthquakes… even if all the cell towers were taken out, your phone would still work.” According to a Nov. 30, 2023, email sent to Kathyrn Medley, the acting division chief of the Federal Communication’s (FCC) Satellite Licensing Division, SpaceX anticipates launching “approximately 840 direct-to-cell capable satellites over the next 6 months, with additional launches continuing after that period.” Jameson Dempsey, SpaceX’s director of satellite policy and the author of the email, wrote that the planned and future launches would “ensure that we can launch a critical mass of satellites in time to deliver commercial service later in 2024.” “As such, while we understand that the Commission may limit our experimental authority to the satellites we expect to launch and testing the next 6 months, we request that the launch license include authority for all 7500 satellites in our direct-to-cell modification application,” Dempsey wrote. Sievert noted during the August 2022 event that the upcoming service in the U.S. would use the existing T-Mobile mid-band PCS spectrum." Source |
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Mission: Falcon 9, Starlink 6-34
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: 11:01 PM EST (18 December 2023). Backup opportunities available until 2:59 a.m. ET on Tuesday, December 19. 3) Launch site: SLC-40, Florida 4) Launch direction: Southeast 5) Webcast viewing option: SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 6-34 - SLC-40 - CCSFS - December 19, 2023 6) Observation comments: None 7) Launch preparations: a. Boats heading out. Gav Cornwell@SpaceOffshore. Departure! ASOG droneship is underway from Port Canaveral for Starlink 6-34. Signet Titan + ASOG departed PC on Dec 7 @ 5:26pm ET Source: NASASpaceFlight.com Bob departed PC on Dec 9 @ 7:07am ET Source: NASASpaceFlight.com b. Satellites: Previously provided. c. Ready for launch: d. Navigation Warning: Source: NASASpaceFlight.com 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. 00:01:12 Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) 00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate 00:02:40 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1) 00:03:10 Fairing deployment 00:06:14 1st stage entry burn begins 00:06:32 1st stage entry burn ends 00:08:06 1st stage landing burn begins 00:08:28 1st stage landing 00:08:44 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) 00:54:09 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2) 00:54:11 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2) 01:05:27 Starlink satellites deploy 10) Orbit insertion: 285 x 293 kilometers at 43 degree inclination |
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Yesterday's 45th Weather Squadron estimate is that there is a 40% chance of violating liftoff winds tonight (18 December 2023)
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Originally Posted By AmericanPeople: Yesterday's 45th Weather Squadron estimate is that there is a 40% chance of violating liftoff winds tonight (18 December 2023) View Quote It's still quite breezy. Clear as a bell though. 'Tonight Clear, with a low around 53. North northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. |
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It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack
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video
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Mission: Falcon 9, Starlink 6-32
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: 12:33 AM EST (23 December 2023). Backup opportunities available until 3:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, December 23. 3) Launch site: SLC-40, Florida 4) Launch direction: Southeast 5) Webcast viewing option: SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 6-32 - SLC-40 - CCSFS - December 23, 2023 6) Observation comments: None 7) Launch preparations: a. Boats heading out. Kurt J Crosby + JRTI departed PC on Dec 19 @ 1:33am ET Source: NASASpaceFlight.com b. Satellites: Previously provided. c. Ready for launch: Falcon 9 booster 1058 stands ready for launch Friday night at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: Spaceflight Now. d. Navigation Warning: Source: NASASpaceFlight.com 8) First stage return/ocean recovery/disposal: Recover on drone ship JRTI. 9) Launch to deployment events/timeline: Hours:Minutes:Seconds after lift-off. Times approximate. 00:01:12 Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 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) 00:03:08 Fairing deployment 00:06:10 1st stage entry burn begins 00:06:32 1st stage entry burn ends 00:08:05 1st stage landing burn begins 00:08:27 1st stage landing 00:08:40 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) 00:54:06 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2) 00:54:08 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2) 01:05:24 Starlink satellites deploy 10) Orbit insertion: 285 x 293 kilometers at 43 degree inclination |
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Firefly Aerospace had a launch today
Alpha FLTA004 Fly The Lightning |
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Originally Posted By Chokey: Firefly Aerospace had a launch today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJv-54Dpcc View Quote Good for them! |
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Everywhere we go, we are surrounded by people who stumble through life dependent upon the vigilance and/or kindness of others. - Zardoz
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Mission: Falcon 9, SARah 2 and 3
1) Mission description: "A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch two satellites with passive synthetic aperture radar reflectors for the German military." Source 2) Launch window: 5:11 - 6:34 AM PST (24 December 2023). 3) Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California 4) Launch direction: Southerly 5) Webcast viewing options: SpaceX - Falcon 9 - SLC-4E - SARah 2 & 3 - Vandenberg Space Force Base - December 24, 2023 6) Observation comments: A launch near the end of the launch window could result in nice jellyfish effects. Civil twilight in Los Angeles is 6:28 AM PST and sunrise is 6:56 AM PST on 24 December 2023. 7) Launch preparations: a. Boats heading out. Fairing recovery: Go Beyond (fka. go Crusader) departed PoLB on Dec 21 @ 8:58pm PT / 11:58pm ET Source: NASASpaceFlight.com b. Satellites: Source: NASASpaceFlight.com c. Ready for launch: Source: SpaceX.com d. Navigation warning: Source: NASASpaceFlight.com 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. 00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 00:02:15 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) 00:02:19 1st and 2nd stages separate 00:02:27 2nd stage engine starts 00:02:32 1st stage boostback burn begins 00:02:38 Fairing deployment 00:03:16 1st stage boostback burn ends 00:06:19 1st stage entry burn start 00:06:33 1st stage entry burn ends 00:07:24 1st stage landing burn start 00:07:52 1st stage landing 00:10:05 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) 00:20:06 Deployment of SRH2 00:25:06 Deployment of SRH3 10) Orbit destination: SARah 2 & 3 are expected to use an 88.2°, 500 km circular orbit. |
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SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 first-stage booster on record-breaking 19th flight
"SpaceX is preparing a Falcon 9 first-stage booster for a record-breaking 19th launch just after midnight as it continues the expansion of its Starlink satellite constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral is currently scheduled for 12:33 a.m. EST (0533 UTC). First-stage B1058 is already the fleet leader with 18 missions and is poised to cement that position with the Starlink 6-32 mission, which will deliver 23 satellites to orbit. The booster first flew in May 2020 carrying astronauts for the first time on the Demo-2 Crew Dragon mission. It still features a faded NASA ‘worm’ logo from that mission." |
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19 Successful flights and looks like it's still going strong.
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It’s… probably not as bad as you think it is.
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Originally Posted By Hesperus: 19 Successful flights and looks like it's still going strong. View Quote The Falcon 9 booster is approved for up to 20 flights for Starlink missions. I do not know what the limit is for government and commercial payloads and manned flights. I also do not know if/when that limit will be approved once one or more boosters reach 20 flights. Perhaps they do a major refurbishment or elect to retire it and get a new booster. It appears that the Firefly launch was not a success... Firefly Alpha upper stage malfunction puts payload into wrong orbit "The rocket’s ascent appeared to go as planned, and launch controllers reported that the upper stage had achieved a nominal transfer orbit. Firefly then said a second burn of the upper stage was planned to take place about 40 minutes later to circularize the orbit, followed by payload separation. However, Firefly did not provide an update about the status of the launch for several hours. In the meantime, tracking data from the U.S. Space Force showed two objects in elliptical orbits of 215 by 523 kilometers from the launch. That suggested the upper stage malfunctioned during the circularization burn. Firefly confirmed in a statement 12 hours after launch that the second stage malfunctioned. “Alpha’s scheduled stage 2 engine relight did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit,” the company said. “We will work with our customer and government partners to investigate the stage 2 performance and determine the root cause.”" |
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Originally Posted By AmericanPeople: The Falcon 9 booster is approved for up to 20 flights for Starlink missions. I do not know what the limit is for government and commercial payloads and manned flights. I also do not know if/when that limit will be approved once one or more boosters reach 20 flights. Perhaps they do a major refurbishment or elect to retire it and get a new booster. It appears that the Firefly launch was not a success... Firefly Alpha upper stage malfunction puts payload into wrong orbit "The rocket’s ascent appeared to go as planned, and launch controllers reported that the upper stage had achieved a nominal transfer orbit. Firefly then said a second burn of the upper stage was planned to take place about 40 minutes later to circularize the orbit, followed by payload separation. However, Firefly did not provide an update about the status of the launch for several hours. In the meantime, tracking data from the U.S. Space Force showed two objects in elliptical orbits of 215 by 523 kilometers from the launch. That suggested the upper stage malfunctioned during the circularization burn. Firefly confirmed in a statement 12 hours after launch that the second stage malfunctioned. “Alpha’s scheduled stage 2 engine relight did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit,” the company said. “We will work with our customer and government partners to investigate the stage 2 performance and determine the root cause.”" View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By AmericanPeople: Originally Posted By Hesperus: 19 Successful flights and looks like it's still going strong. The Falcon 9 booster is approved for up to 20 flights for Starlink missions. I do not know what the limit is for government and commercial payloads and manned flights. I also do not know if/when that limit will be approved once one or more boosters reach 20 flights. Perhaps they do a major refurbishment or elect to retire it and get a new booster. It appears that the Firefly launch was not a success... Firefly Alpha upper stage malfunction puts payload into wrong orbit "The rocket’s ascent appeared to go as planned, and launch controllers reported that the upper stage had achieved a nominal transfer orbit. Firefly then said a second burn of the upper stage was planned to take place about 40 minutes later to circularize the orbit, followed by payload separation. However, Firefly did not provide an update about the status of the launch for several hours. In the meantime, tracking data from the U.S. Space Force showed two objects in elliptical orbits of 215 by 523 kilometers from the launch. That suggested the upper stage malfunctioned during the circularization burn. Firefly confirmed in a statement 12 hours after launch that the second stage malfunctioned. “Alpha’s scheduled stage 2 engine relight did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit,” the company said. “We will work with our customer and government partners to investigate the stage 2 performance and determine the root cause.”"
Today, Firefly’s Alpha launch had a successful liftoff & progressed seamlessly through each stage of flight, including MECO, stage separation, fairing separation and the first SECO. Alpha’s scheduled stage 2 engine relight did not deliver the payload to its precise target orbit. Communications to the spacecraft has been established and mission operations are now underway. https://fireflyspace.com/missions/fly-the-lightning/ |
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Originally Posted By Chokey:
View Quote Thanks. I am not usually up at this time to update changes in launch time. Starlink 6-32 launch photos/videos: 1. Credit: Max Evans@_mgde_ on NASASpaceFlight.com 2. Credit: Pete Carstens@CarstensPete on NASASpaceFlight.com 3. Credit: Saucy Lady@djsaucylady on NASASpaceFlight.com. Flying past Turks and Caicos (video...click on date)
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Scrubbed
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NRA Benefactor Life
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The Falcon 9, SARah 2/3 mission appears to have been successful. Here is a rebroadcast of the SpaceX livestream. Booster recovery #256.
SpaceX SARah 2 & 3 |
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NRA Benefactor Life
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Good chance of it launching if the winds are within limits.
Thursday. A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Thursday Night. Mostly clear, with a low around 50. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. |
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It's a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack
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