We were faced with really unusual weather for this afternoon's launch from Launch Complex 39A on the Kennedy Space Center. It not only didn't rain, we didn't even get clouded out from seeing the launch from the backyard. The clouds didn't go overhead, but thoroughly absorbed the sunlight and kept the temperature pleasant. The 5:04 PM (EDT) launch was a European weather satellite (video coverage) and appeared as flawless as you can imagine.
Thanks to NextSpaceflight, we knew that there's a second launch early Wednesday morning, 1:29 AM EDT, from SLC-40, but what I didn't know until I went looking for details is that this mission appears ready to set a couple of new records for SpaceX's missions.
First, this will be the 500th launch of a Falcon 9. Second, this booster will be their fleet leader in number of launches and booster tail number B1067 will be flying its 29th mission. There are two boosters with 26 flights which puts B1067 two missions ahead of those two boosters now and three ahead when this mission succeeds.
Typically, around 8-1/2 minutes after liftoff the booster targets a landing. This landing will be on the droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ If successful, this will be the 116th touchdown on this vessel and the 472nd booster landing to date.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now
Spaceflight Now will be doing video coverage of this launch.
They just keep crankin'.
ReplyDeleteChinese, they be copyin'.
Blue Origin be snoozin'.
Rocketlabs be blastin".
I be goin'.
Just amazing. They've commoditized the launch business.
ReplyDeleteIt really is amazing. We're finally getting something like the way space exploration was talked about 50 years ago. Reusable rockets flying, landing on their launch pads and we're even approaching the "refuel and take off again in the same day" stories we lived on.
DeleteWe just re-watched The Martian at my house. Big chunks of that plot (the Earth end of it, anyway) are non-issues in a world that has Space-X.
ReplyDeleteIf Trump deports Musk, what happens with SpaceX?
ReplyDeleteI think that's media fascination reinforced by Trump loving to yank their chains. Musk is a naturalized citizen, so deportation is difficult and unlikely.
DeleteThen there's the complication that he made Gwynne Shotwell CEO over SpaceX which probably means he consults on some problems but isn't involved in day-to-day problems.
On the left coast a bit of weirdness: no Falcon launches at all are scheduled in July from Vandenberg. No launches *at all*, by anyone.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that's the way lots of loony Californians want it - lots of good paying jobs with nothing visibly happening. Like Puerto Rico with Roosevelt Roads and Vieques.
DeleteIt's more likely Vandenberg has little in the queue and is waiting for the SpaceX EIS to finish.
Jonathan
I was under the impression that Vandy was like the Cape in the sense that there's SpaceX at around one launch per week and the others are barely an additional launch. ULA, Blue Origin and all closer to two per year than even once a month. ULA is aiming for 25/year with Vulcan Centaur, but they're a long way from that. They haven't hit three launches in the vehicle's life.
Delete