In the meantime...
Starlink 6-48 launched April 5 UTC.
Bandwagon-1 launched April 7 UTC.
Starlink 6-49 launched April 10 UTC.
There is not a FCC STA launch request for a Starlink 6-50.
Starlink 6-51 is scheduled to launch April 17 UTC.
Starlink 6-52 is scheduled to launch April 18 UTC.
Starlink 6-53 is scheduled to launch April 22 UTC.
Galileo-FOC Flight 12 is scheduled to launch in late April.
Starlink 7-28 has the earliest launch NET date of the Florida Group 7 launches, March 16.
Will it launch NET late April?
Circumstantial evidence
Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated April 17 after
Starlink 6-51 launch; my
bold:
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 18 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch on April 22 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch two Galileo navigation system satellites for Europe on April 28. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.
The
Galileo pair launch is from LC-39A on April 28, with B1060.20 launching as an expendable.
There is availability for a
Starlink launch circa April 24, from SLC-40, using
ASOG for the first stage landing.
There is schedule availability for yet another
Starlink launch circa April 28, from SLC-40, using
JRTI for the first stage landing. Group 7 or 8?
Circumstantial evidence
Well, no. It is
Starlink 6-54, perhaps followed by an unknown number of further
Group 6 launches.
SpaceX may choose to interleave launches from Groups 6, 7, and 8.
Well more NOTAMs for yet another Starlink launch from the Cape has been filed...and it's Group 6-54 that was never explicitly filed with the FCC (but which a recent "generic" communication license has been granted for such launches).
Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated April 18 after Starlink 6-52 launch; my bold:
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 22 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 26 around 7-11 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch two Galileo navigation system satellites for Europe from pad 39A on April 28. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.
The launch path appears to cross over some of the Bahamian land mass. That does not seem prudent unless SpaceX can guarantee with 100% certainty (I doubt that they can) that there is no possibility of a booster failure that could have debris landing on Bahamian soil.
The launch path appears to cross over some of the Bahamian land mass. That does not seem prudent unless SpaceX can guarantee with 100% certainty (I doubt that they can) that there is no possibility of a booster failure that could have debris landing on Bahamian soil.
The booster is, by recent international agreement with SpaceX, landing in Bahamian waters.
This agreement allows SX to fly out without making a dogleg around the islands.
The launch path appears to cross over some of the Bahamian land mass. That does not seem prudent unless SpaceX can guarantee with 100% certainty (I doubt that they can) that there is no possibility of a booster failure that could have debris landing on Bahamian soil.
I am sure you realize that no one can make that claim about vehicle reliability. Cars, airplanes, bicycles, and boats/ships have witnessed death and destruction every year, all of these have been in operation for over a hundred years. The question should be: "Has reliability improved to the point of safe overflight?" As of today's date (21 April 2024), there have been 306 successful consecutive launches , and 299 (nonconsecutive) successful landings. Apparently this is a reasonable operations record for the government of the Bahamas.
Edit: I forgot trains.
As of today's date (21 April 2024), there have been 306 successful consecutive launches , and 299 (nonconsecutive) successful landings. Apparently this is a reasonable operations record for the government of the Bahamas.
225 consecutive successful landings (not recoveries, but a landed booster falling over isn't a risk to the general public).
Starlink 6-55 is the next Florida Starlink launch[ed], May 3 UTC NET May 2.
Starlink 6-57 launched May 6 UTC.
Starlink 6-56 launched May 8 UTC.
Starlink 6-58 launched May 13 UTC.
Starlink 6-59 launched May 18 UTC.
Starlink 6-62 is scheduled to launch May 23 UTC.
Starlink 6-63 is also scheduled to launch May 23 UTC.
Edited
NextSpaceflight has converted it to just a generic Starlink Mission. The FCC permit is valid until September 16th so maybe eventually SpaceX will use it.