SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 7-12 : VSFB SLC-4E : 28/29 January 2024 (05:57 UTC)

[gsa]

Thanks, Steven, that's twice in a row for bad livestream from SpaceX, almost occurring at the same spot and returning almost before MECO.  Something doesn't smell right.  Thanks for the coverage.  Must be frustrating.

This time it returned at T-30 and stayed till the end, as far as I can see.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/turkeybeaver/status/1751945277525639398

Great execution by the SpaceX team across both Florida and California. Special shout out to the west coast team for smashing the launch to launch record for SLC-4e and OCISLY. At just over five days, the pad and droneship have demonstrated the speed required to meet our 2024 launch rate

[shiro]

Some reusability stats for this launch (Starlink Group 7-12):

Booster B1075.9 turnaround time:
35 days 16 hours 46 minutes
(its previous mission was SARah 2/3 on Dec 24, 2023 UTC).

FYI: median turnaround time for Falcon 9 / Heavy boosters is currently 49.17 days *
* – based on the last 30 launches, excluding new first stages.

Launchpad SLC-4E turnaround time:
5 days 5 hours 22 minutes
(the previous launch from this pad was Starlink Group 7-11 on Jan 24, 2024 UTC).

It's the fastest turnaround of SLC-4E ever! The previous record was set just two months ago: 6 days 13 hours and 44 minutes between Korea 925 EO/IR and Starlink Group 7-8 launches. And furthermore, both missions have used ASDS for the first stage landing now (which wasn't true for the pervious one: Korea 925 EO/IR was RTLS mission).

FYI: median turnaround time for SLC-4E is currently 12.32 days *
* – based on the last 30 launches.

The same type of stats for previous SpaceX launches may be found on this spreadsheet online.

[catdlr]

I found a new SpaceX enthusiast on YouTube who captured last night's launch from his vantage point. He has a library of other flights, including some RTLS. I would subscribe to his channel and encourage him to capture more flights. He's either using a tripod or has very steady hands.  I guess that his location is in Santa Barbara County near the mainline railroad (the sound of train horns in the distance).

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/johnschreiber/status/1751855836421583185

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1752027347455549783

[realnouns]

Go Beyond (fka. Go Crusader) returned to PoLB on Jan 30 @ 10:34am PT / 1:34pm ET

[realnouns]

Debra C + OCISLY + B1075 returned to PoLB on Jan 31 @ 6:42am PT / 9:42am ET