Update: Liftoff of SpaceX’s latest batch of Starlink internet satellites at 11:58 p.m. EDT Sunday, July 9! The successful launch and landing – the 16th for this booster – paves the way for another mission currently targeting early Thursday, July 13. See the latest at our launch schedule here.
—
Follow live updates as SpaceX targets 11:58 p.m. EDT Sunday, July 9, for the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket and 22 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Tonight’s launch window is instantaneous, meaning the 230-foot rocket must fly on time at 11:58 p.m. or delay to no earlier than Monday evening. The next available opportunity opens at 8:11 p.m. EDT Monday, July 10.
After liftoff and a flight toward the southeast, Falcon 9’s first stage booster will target a drone ship landing in the Atlantic Ocean. This will mark its 16th flight date, making it SpaceX’s fleet leader.
Follow live updates below:
Liftoff!
11:58 p.m. EDT: Liftoff of the latest Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral! Up next is landing on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship, then deployment in just over an hour. Here’s the post-launch timeline:
- T-plus 00:01:12: Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
- 00:02:27: 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
- 00:02:31: 1st and 2nd stages separate
- 00:02:38: 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
- 00:03:05: Fairing deployment
- 00:06:13: 1st stage entry burn begins
- 00:07:32: 1st stage entry burn ends
- 00:08:09: 1st stage landing burn begins
- 00:08:30: 1st stage landing
- 00:08:39: 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
- 00:54:09: 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2
- 00:54:11: 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
- 01:02:19: Starlink satellites deploy
T-minus 5 minutes to launch
11:53 p.m. EDT: At T-minus five minutes, everything is continuing as planned toward liftoff of the Space Coast’s 34th mission of the year. If you’re a local spectator, enjoy the show!
SpaceX fueling Falcon 9 rocket
11:23 p.m. EDT: SpaceX has started fueling the Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, setting the stage for an on-time liftoff at 11:58 p.m. EDT. Here’s what’s left of the timeline:
- 00:35:00: RP-1 (rocket-grade kerosene) loading begins
- 00:35:00: 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
- 00:16:00: 2nd stage LOX loading begins
- 00:07:00: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
- 00:01:00: Command flight computer to begin final pre-launch checks
- 00:01:00: Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch
- 00:00:03: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:00: Falcon 9 liftoff
Women in space:60 years ago, women broke the ceiling to space. More are flying with every mission.
Tonight’s launch trajectory: southeast
10:45 p.m. EDT: After liftoff from Launch Complex 40 at 11:58 p.m. EDT, the Falcon 9 booster flying tonight’s Starlink mission will fly along a southeastern trajectory. SpaceX has flown nearly 100 missions dedicated to the constellation and has secured more than 1.5 million customers to date.
Record-breaking Falcon 9 booster
10 p.m. EDT: Tonight’s 11:58 p.m. EDT launch will mark the 16th flight for this booster, making it the most flights for a Falcon 9 to date. If all goes according to plan, it will land on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship 8 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.
Euclid telescope:SpaceX launches European space telescope to hunt for dark matter
SpaceX still counting down to launch
9 p.m. EDT: SpaceX teams are still counting down to launch of this Starlink mission, known as 6-5, from Launch Complex 40. Storms moved over the Space Coast in the interim and conditions are more favorable for an on-time liftoff at 11:58 p.m. EDT.
SpaceX now targeting end of window
6:30 p.m. EDT: SpaceX is now targeting the last opportunity in tonight’s launch window at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is 11:58 p.m. EDT. The company did not release details on why the rocket was not available to fly during three earlier opportunities: 8:36 p.m., 9:27 p.m., and 10:17 p.m. EDT.
If schedules hold, fueling should start at 11:23 p.m. EDT. Here’s the pre-launch timeline:
- T-minus 00:38:00: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load
- 00:35:00: RP-1 (rocket-grade kerosene) loading begins
- 00:35:00: 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
- 00:16:00: 2nd stage LOX loading begins
- 00:07:00: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
- 00:01:00: Command flight computer to begin final pre-launch checks
- 00:01:00: Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch
- 00:00:03: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:00: Falcon 9 liftoff
Rocket launch schedule:Upcoming Florida launches and landings
Credit: Source link
