SpaceX F9/Dragon 2 : CRS2 SpX-30 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 21 March 2024 (20:55 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Per NextSpaceflight this is ASDS. Should be RTLS, correct?

I was the one who added that information (last December) but I'm not sure what I was thinking.
I'm actually unsure which FCC permit will be used for Dragon CRS-30 so I can't really conclude that, but RTLS seems indeed more likely.

[AndrewM]

Per the Crew 8 Post FRR teleconference, SpaceX is currently planning on flying this mission from SLC-40. They said it could move back to LC-39A depending on how preparations go.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

From Ben Cooper:

A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 11 at 8:47 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch.

[Yellowstone10]

The next set of samples for the Materials ISS Experiment, MISSE-19, will be on board this flight:

https://news.abovespace.com/2024/above-launching-tests-to-iss-on-march-4th/

HUNTSVILLE, AL,  February 20, 2024 — Above: Space Development Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Above: Orbital, will be testing the performance and durability of its proprietary materials in low orbit, aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the upcoming Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-19) mission in March, flown by SpaceX Dragon resupply mission, SPX-30. Above: Orbital is developing adaptable, space-based microgravity platforms for government and commercial customers.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aegisaero_aegisaerospace-aegisaero-nasa-activity-7138545225332924417-qyi_

The Aegis Aerospace Team has started the final integration of the MISSE-19 mission. This mission is composed of five MISSE Science Carriers (MSCs) of 12 experiments, six from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Research Centers and six Commercial experiments. MISSE-19 is scheduled to launch on SpX-30 in March 2024.

[GewoonLukas_]

Ben Cooper (Updated March 3rd)

A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March TBD, in the evening EDT.

https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html

[crandles57]

If LC-39A is set up for dragon having just launched Crew-8, why change that to more standard stage 2 and change SLC-40 from starlink to dragon for CRS-30? Wouldn't it make more sense to launch CRS-30 from LC-39A?

[cpushack]

If LC-39A is set up for dragon having just launched Crew-8, why change that to more standard stage 2 and change SLC-40 from starlink to dragon for CRS-30? Wouldn't it make more sense to launch CRS-30 from LC-39A?

Yup, but part of preparing SLC-40 for use with Crew Dragon is testing with Cargo Dragon, so this is part of that campaign

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 5; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch on March. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on mid-March TBD, in the evening EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

How soon can SpX-30 launch after the previous SLC-40 launch on March 4?

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight (Updated March 6th)
Launch NET March 15th, 2024, at 23:13 UTC
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6912

[zubenelgenubi]

Which first stage will be used for this launch?
(semi-rhetorical question)

Falcon 9 first stages are now apparently cleared for use up to twenty times for non-crewed launches, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon or Cygnus than these other payloads.

1064.6 and 1065.6 are the Falcon Heavy side boosters for Europa Clipper.  1072.1 and 1086.1 are assigned as the Falcon Heavy side boosters for GOES-U.

1073.14 and 1076.12 may undergo modifications to become Falcon Heavy side boosters for a future launch, but both are currently available for "single-stick" launches.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1080.6    Jan 18 (most likely?)
1062.19  Jan 28 Starlink 6-44
1077.11  Jan 30 Starlink 6-43
1078.8    Feb 14 (next likely?)
1060.19  Feb 15
1067.18  Feb 20
1069.14  Feb 25
1076.12  Feb 29 (maybe)

Edit March 20: It's B1080.6.

Edited

[StraumliBlight]

NASA Sets Science Webinar Coverage for Space Station Resupply Mission

In preparation for NASA’s SpaceX 30th commercial resupply mission, the agency will stream an International Space Station National Lab science webinar at 1 p.m. EST Friday, March 8, to discuss the hardware, technology demonstrations, and science experiments headed to the space station.

NASA will provide coverage of the webinar on the agency’s website.

SpaceX is targeting no earlier than mid-March to launch its Dragon cargo spacecraft on top of a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The science webinar will include the following participants:

  • Heidi Parris, associate program scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
  • Davide Marotta, science program director for in-space biomedicine, ISS National Laboratory
  • Marc Elmouttie, research group leader, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
  • Paula Grisanti, CEO, National Stem Cell Foundation
  • Kris Kuehnel, managing director, Space Exploration Operations, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense
  • Michelle Lucas, founder and CEO, Higher Orbits
  • Hema Ramkumar, founder and CEO, Oculogenex
  • Jordan McKaig, graduate student, Georgia Institute of Technology

To participate in the event, members of the media must register for access by 12 p.m., March 8 at:

[zubenelgenubi]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated a third and fourth time March 6; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on mid-March at 7-11 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on late March, in the late afternoon EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March. A Falcon 9 will launch the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission from pad 40 on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight, updated March 8:
Launch 21 March 20:54 = 4:54 pm EDT

[ddspaceman]

ISS National Lab Prelaunch Science Webinar: NASA's SpaceX CRS-30 (Mar. 8, 2024)

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching for March 21 already, so I assume it's this launch.

082022Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 262/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 
   210045Z TO 210516Z MAR, ALTERNATE 220020Z TO 220451Z,
   222355Z TO 230426Z, 232329Z TO 240400Z, 
   AND 242304Z TO 250335Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.24N 080-37.15W, 28-39.00N 080-36.00W,
      28-38.00N 080-23.00W, 28-24.00N 080-01.00W,
      28-19.00N 080-03.00W, 28-27.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-31.11N 080-33.33W.
   B. 26-15.00N 076-00.00W, 26-06.00N 074-58.00W,
      25-36.00N 074-03.00W, 25-23.00N 073-53.00W,
      25-09.00N 074-01.00W, 25-06.00N 074-16.00W,
      25-08.00N 074-38.00W, 25-18.00N 075-00.00W,
      25-58.00N 075-59.00W, 26-15.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250435Z MAR 24.

[Alexphysics]

NGA Rocket Launching for March 21 already, so I assume it's this launch.

082022Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 262/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 
   210045Z TO 210516Z MAR, ALTERNATE 220020Z TO 220451Z,
   222355Z TO 230426Z, 232329Z TO 240400Z, 
   AND 242304Z TO 250335Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.24N 080-37.15W, 28-39.00N 080-36.00W,
      28-38.00N 080-23.00W, 28-24.00N 080-01.00W,
      28-19.00N 080-03.00W, 28-27.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-31.11N 080-33.33W.
   B. 26-15.00N 076-00.00W, 26-06.00N 074-58.00W,
      25-36.00N 074-03.00W, 25-23.00N 073-53.00W,
      25-09.00N 074-01.00W, 25-06.00N 074-16.00W,
      25-08.00N 074-38.00W, 25-18.00N 075-00.00W,
      25-58.00N 075-59.00W, 26-15.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250435Z MAR 24.

The window time and length plus the coordinates seem to indicate this is a Starlink launch. I'm guessing this could be a Starlink launch from 39A before CRS-30 the next day (unless they really want to have a 9 day turnaround for just two Starlinks from pad 40)

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching for March 21 already, so I assume it's this launch.

082022Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 262/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 
   210045Z TO 210516Z MAR, ALTERNATE 220020Z TO 220451Z,
   222355Z TO 230426Z, 232329Z TO 240400Z, 
   AND 242304Z TO 250335Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.24N 080-37.15W, 28-39.00N 080-36.00W,
      28-38.00N 080-23.00W, 28-24.00N 080-01.00W,
      28-19.00N 080-03.00W, 28-27.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-31.11N 080-33.33W.
   B. 26-15.00N 076-00.00W, 26-06.00N 074-58.00W,
      25-36.00N 074-03.00W, 25-23.00N 073-53.00W,
      25-09.00N 074-01.00W, 25-06.00N 074-16.00W,
      25-08.00N 074-38.00W, 25-18.00N 075-00.00W,
      25-58.00N 075-59.00W, 26-15.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250435Z MAR 24.

The window time and length plus the coordinates seem to indicate this is a Starlink launch. I'm guessing this could be a Starlink launch from 39A before CRS-30 the next day (unless they really want to have a 9 day turnaround for just two Starlinks from pad 40)

My first thought was a Starlink launch, but I haven't yet received a Rocket Launching notice for 6-44 which is a lot sooner, unless 6-44 itself is being postponed all the way out to March 21, but that doesn't seem too likely.

I really wish that the NGA would include mission names on NGA notices where applicable.

[zubenelgenubi]

NGA Rocket Launching for March 21 already, so I assume it's this launch.

082022Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 262/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 
   210045Z TO 210516Z MAR, ALTERNATE 220020Z TO 220451Z,
   222355Z TO 230426Z, 232329Z TO 240400Z, 
   AND 242304Z TO 250335Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.24N 080-37.15W, 28-39.00N 080-36.00W,
      28-38.00N 080-23.00W, 28-24.00N 080-01.00W,
      28-19.00N 080-03.00W, 28-27.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-31.11N 080-33.33W.
   B. 26-15.00N 076-00.00W, 26-06.00N 074-58.00W,
      25-36.00N 074-03.00W, 25-23.00N 073-53.00W,
      25-09.00N 074-01.00W, 25-06.00N 074-16.00W,
      25-08.00N 074-38.00W, 25-18.00N 075-00.00W,
      25-58.00N 075-59.00W, 26-15.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250435Z MAR 24.

The window time and length plus the coordinates seem to indicate this is a Starlink launch. I'm guessing this could be a Starlink launch from 39A before CRS-30 the next day (unless they really want to have a 9 day turnaround for just two Starlinks from pad 40)

My first thought was a Starlink launch, but I haven't yet received a Rocket Launching notice for 6-44 which is a lot sooner, unless 6-44 itself is being postponed all the way out to March 21, but that doesn't seem too likely.

I really wish that the NGA would include mission names on NGA notices where applicable.

Perhaps the LC-39A Starlink launch after Starlink 6-44?  Perhaps the skipped-over 6-42? 🤔

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching for March 21 already, so I assume it's this launch.

082022Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 262/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 
   210045Z TO 210516Z MAR, ALTERNATE 220020Z TO 220451Z,
   222355Z TO 230426Z, 232329Z TO 240400Z, 
   AND 242304Z TO 250335Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.24N 080-37.15W, 28-39.00N 080-36.00W,
      28-38.00N 080-23.00W, 28-24.00N 080-01.00W,
      28-19.00N 080-03.00W, 28-27.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-31.11N 080-33.33W.
   B. 26-15.00N 076-00.00W, 26-06.00N 074-58.00W,
      25-36.00N 074-03.00W, 25-23.00N 073-53.00W,
      25-09.00N 074-01.00W, 25-06.00N 074-16.00W,
      25-08.00N 074-38.00W, 25-18.00N 075-00.00W,
      25-58.00N 075-59.00W, 26-15.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250435Z MAR 24.

The window time and length plus the coordinates seem to indicate this is a Starlink launch. I'm guessing this could be a Starlink launch from 39A before CRS-30 the next day (unless they really want to have a 9 day turnaround for just two Starlinks from pad 40)

My first thought was a Starlink launch, but I haven't yet received a Rocket Launching notice for 6-44 which is a lot sooner, unless 6-44 itself is being postponed all the way out to March 21, but that doesn't seem too likely.

I really wish that the NGA would include mission names on NGA notices where applicable.

Perhaps the LC-39A Starlink launch after Starlink 6-44?  Perhaps the skipped-over 6-42? 🤔

Maybe, but why would they issue a Rocket Launching notice for 6-42 before issuing one for the upcoming 6-44?

It's unusual to issue a notice this far in advance for any launch.

[Yellowstone10]

ISS National Lab Prelaunch Science Webinar: NASA's SpaceX CRS-30 (Mar. 8, 2024)

Interesting item to note from the video - the next set of payloads to be installed on the Bartolomeo platform, via Airbus's ArgUS multi-payload adapter. The adapter was launched on NG-20, and the payloads (including one called SpaceTV-1 from a company called Sen) will go up on CRS-30, then be installed on ArgUS on orbit and deployed via the JEM Airlock.