A stunning sunset launch for @spacex. Sending SES-18 and SES-19 to space atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX performs a doubleheader, launching two Falcon 9 rockets just over 4 hours apart. This one, carrying 2 satellites for SES, lifted off from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral at 7:38pm. Mission overview: nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/spacex…
Falcon 9 launches SES-18 & SES-19
Falcon 9 passing through Max-Q
A shot of Falcon 9 shortly before stage separation 🔥
Falcon 9 launches SES-18 and SES-19 to orbit
“It’s Friday” -Rebecca BlackFalcon 9 and two communications satellites for SES ride into the sunset on this fine Friday evening after launching from SLC-40 at 7:38pm local time. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
Fully automated track of tonight's SpaceX launch with zero human inputs. Stage 2 even went behind a cloud for a bit. The system reverted to @flightclubio data to maintain the correct trajectory during that period.
The software compares neural net tracking data with the FlightClub predictions and adds error offsets to improve accuracy when the FlightClub data is needed.
Not quite jellyfish weather, both in the Jupiter Inlet and in the sky as SpaceX launches SES-18 and SES-19 into orbit right around sunset 150 miles south of the launch site. This is 150 still images merged together btw.All about the mission: nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/spacex…
Can confirm telemetry has been acquired from both #SES18 and #SES19 and so MISSION SUCCESS! Thanks to @SpaceX for a great ride. We will take it from here @SES_Satellites
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1636875201471295489QuoteWilliam Harwood @cbs_spacenewsF9/SES-18/19: LIFTOFF! At 7:38pm EDT (2338 UTC)
William Harwood @cbs_spacenewsF9/SES-18/19: LIFTOFF! At 7:38pm EDT (2338 UTC)
Did anyone else notice something (solar array??) flapping around on SES-19 shortly before and after payload fairing sep? Maybe it was just insulation? It concerned me. Glad to hear both satellites have checked in and there aren’t any problems that we are aware of.
SES-18, SES-19 and Falcon 9 stage 2 cataloged as 55970-72 in a 308 x 19720 km x 26.9 deg subsync transfer orbit, confirming successful launch.
CelesTrak has GP data for 3 objects from the launch (2023-038) of SES-18 & SES-19 atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Mar 17 at 2338 UTC: spaceflightnow.com/2023/03/17/fal…. Data for the launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?INTDES=2023-038
Bob arrived at Port Canaveral at 2am this morning with both faring halves from the SES 18/19 launch.nsf.live/spacecoast
SpaceX Falcon 9 B1069 circling just outside port (but within sight of our camera 😉) waiting for the Mickey Mouse cruise ship to depart. Arriving in Port Canaveral shortly.nsf.live/spacecoast
View from the second stage following last week's launch of SES-18 and SES-19 to a geosynchronous transfer orbit
This four leaf clover provided all the required luck to land the Falcon 9 on St. Patricks day! 🍀Live views of the rocket: nsf.live/spacecoast
