SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 1 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:30 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, April 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. PT.A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.This is the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and eight Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Primary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 03/31/2024 05:48 pmPrimary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.It's Easter. Somebody dropped the ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣Edit: Picked it up ASAP!
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/31/2024 06:15 pmQuote from: Ken the Bin on 03/31/2024 05:48 pmPrimary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.It's Easter. Somebody dropped the ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣Edit: Picked it up ASAP!So why did SpaceX give wrong information to the FAA and to CelesTrak about a launch attempt on early April 1 UTC?I'm thinking someone was celebrating Easter a little too much while on the job. 🐇
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 03/31/2024 08:15 pmQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/31/2024 06:15 pmQuote from: Ken the Bin on 03/31/2024 05:48 pmPrimary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.It's Easter. Somebody dropped the ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣Edit: Picked it up ASAP!So why did SpaceX give wrong information to the FAA and to CelesTrak about a launch attempt on early April 1 UTC?I'm thinking someone was celebrating Easter a little too much while on the job. 🐇That's a valid question. 🤔 I don't know.We'll see if TS Kelso revises his launch opportunities listings.
SPACEX STARLINK 7-18, VANDENBERG SFB, CAPRIMARY: 04/02/24 0230Z-0701ZBACKUP: 04/03/24 0230Z-0710Z
NOAA forecasts can give you some general hints on conditions before you drive to a launch, especially very high winds, fog, rain and lightning, but the actual launch criteria are quite detailed. Here's a good doc on launch criteria for crew dragon, I haven't spotted one for uncrewed.https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/falcon9_crewdragon_launch_weather_criteria_fact_sheet.pdfThe criteria makes no mention of gusts, but when reading this NOAA wind forecast, it is easy to get the impression that the ground level wind gusts conveniently stop right at 7:00. I believe that NOAA doesn't report gusts below 15 mph. At 8pm, wind speeds drop to 6, but you might still have unreported gusts as high as 14. These forecasts also tell you nothing about upper level winds or the other 10 or more criteria. IANAMeteorologist, but that's my experience. (fixed a time)
CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 7-18 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-04-02 at 02:30:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g7-18. Deployment of 22 satellites at 03:32:22.460 UTC. Data for 14 backup launch opportunities is also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.
With less than an hour to liftoff, weather is not tracking any issues ahead of tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of 22 @Starlink satellites from California
Fueling is underway at pad 4E in California for tonight’s sunset launch of Falcon 9. All systems are currently go for launch
Upcoming launches with the latest on the final Delta IV-Heavy mission. By John Sharp (@ukspacebulletin)
Watch Falcon 9 launch 22 @Starlink satellites to orbit.
Liftoff of Falcon 9’s 150th dedicated @Starlink launch!
It's been a hot minute since the last Falcon 9 launch, so here's another.
