Up next, targeting this evening for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from California, including six with Direct to Cell capabilities → http://spacex.com/launches
SpaceX is targeting Saturday, April 6 for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, including six with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:25 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:17 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Sunday, April 7 starting at 7:25 p.m. PT.
Standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink satellites due to unfavorable weather. Now targeting tomorrow, April 6 → http://spacex.com/launches
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-8-1QuoteSpaceX is targeting Saturday, April 6 for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, including six with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:25 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:17 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Sunday, April 7 starting at 7:25 p.m. PT.New launch date is April 7th at 02:25 UTC.
T.S. Kelso@TSKelsoCelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 8-1 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-04-07 at 02:25:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g8-1. Deployment of 21 satellites at 03:27:37.620 UTC. Data for 6 backup launch opportunities also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.
A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg SFB, Calif. this evening (April 6). The vehicle is slated to leave the south base between 7:25 and 11:17 p.m. PDT and carry 21 Starlink satellites into orbit.If the vehicle lifts off early in the launch window, a large portion of the southwestern U.S. and northwest Mexico could be treated to an interesting display as the rocket's exhaust is illuminated by the Sun at high altitude while suspended in a dusk or dark sky.Following stage 1/stage 2 separation, three white, star-like objects may appear to follow the rocket. The two objects closest to the rocket are the jettisoned halves of the protective payload shroud (nose cone). The object farthest behind the Falcon 9 is the first stage.Observers with an unobstructed horizon may briefly see the bright orange flame from the first stage as it prepares to land on a drone ship downrange.If the Falcon 9 is launched later, the event could still be visible to the unaided eye for hundreds of miles, but the exhaust plume will be much less pronounced.Although this event could be visible to the unaided eye over a wide area, tripod-mounted binoculars or a telescope may provide a surreal view.Source: Launch Alert via Launch-Alert
Watch Falcon 9 launch 21 @Starlink satellites to orbit, including six with Direct to Cell capabilities.
John Sirlin@SirlinJohnBeautiful SpaceX Falcon 9 launch out of Vandenberg, sailing over the desert this evening! 🚀 #azwx
Vandenberg Space Force Base@SLDelta30Today, April 6 at 7:25 p.m. local, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 4 East marking the 12th launch from the United States Space Force’s West Coast Spaceport at Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2024! 🚀 #AimHigh #sempersupra
SpaceX@SpaceXThe Direct to Cell network leverages existing Starlink infrastructure to enable seamless access to text, voice, and data for LTE phones – eliminating deadzones across the globe
Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflightAnd another booster back home. Some fire out of the aft is usual after touchdown, but it seemed like a lot that time - before they cut off. Could have been the lighting.
William Harwood@cbs_spacenewsF9/Starlink 8-1 (04/06/24 10:25 PM EDT/0225 UTC): LIFTOFF of SpaceX's 34th Falcon 9 so far this year, the 319th since the rocket's debut in 2010, the 155th Starlink flight overall and the 23rd so far this year
