UPDATE #6: With Hilary now no longer a problem at Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on Tuesday, August 22 at 2:37 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
There was success, again, as following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, that is stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
This was the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, and now six Starlink missions.
But Wait There’s More …
Later tonight SpaceX teams at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida are ready to launch a Falcon 9 rocket Tuesday, August 22, with another batch of the company’s Starlink internet satellites.
If schedules hold, this would become the Space Coast’s 43rd launch this year.
The launch is set to occur during a four-hour launch window from 8:47 p.m. EDT until 12:46 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 23. Should teams need it, other launch opportunities are available around the same time, 24 hours later on Wednesday, August 23.
Space Force forecasters last reported weather conditions to be 85% “go” for the duration of the window Tuesday night. Only a slight chance of cumulus clouds was listed as a concern.
Forecasters projected the weather conditions to be similar for the backup day, with a 75% chance of “go” favorable conditions around the Cape.
UPDATE #5: Due to the effects of Hurricane Hilary in the Pacific Ocean (see above NASA Earth Observatory satellite image) SpaceX is now targeting Tuesday, August 22 at 1:36 a.m. PT (08:36 UTC) for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
If needed, additional opportunities are available at 2:26 a.m. PT (09:26 UTC) and 2:37 a.m. PT (09:37 UTC). Four backup opportunities are also currently available on Tuesday, August 22 starting at 10:45 p.m. PT (05:42 UTC on August 23) until 2:05 a.m. PT on August 23 (9:05 UTC).
This is the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, and five 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.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff
UPDATE #4: The anticipated launch of SpaceX is remaining today, Monday, August 21 at 11:04 p.m. PT (6:04 UTC on August 22) for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. To date the storm has created massive landslides and an earthquake in Southern California.
FORMERLY #3: SpaceX is targeting Monday, August 21 at 11:04 p.m. PT (6:04 UTC on August 22) for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The storm has created massive landslides and an earthquake in Southern California.
On Thursday: The impact of Hurricane Hilary on rocket recovery operations forced four more days of delay. The reusable first stage booster is usually recovered by a barge in an area of the eastern Pacific which is in the path of Hilary.
“Due to Hurricane Hilary impacting recovery operations in the Pacific, we are standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink,” SpaceX wrote on X (formerly Twitter) late Thursday. SpaceX recovers its first-stage Falcon 9 boosters by landing them on a drone ship in the Pacific about 8 minutes after launch.
Additionally: A magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in Ventura County’s town of Ojai, California.
If needed, four additional opportunities are available starting at 11:54 p.m. PT (6:54 UTC on August 22) until 2:26 a.m. PT on August 22 (9:26 UTC). Four backup opportunities are also currently available on Tuesday, August 22 starting at 10:42 p.m. PT (5:42 UTC on August 23) until 2:05 a.m. PT on August 23 (9:05 UTC).
This is the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, and five 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.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff
PREVIOUSLY #2: SpaceX scrubs scheduled launch due to approaching Hurricane Hilary.
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, California — Despite the multiple launch options provided for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, all of those options have been scrubbed ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Hilary.
Tropical Storm Hilary strengthened into a hurricane Thursday, with forecasters warning it could potentially bring devastating rainfall and high winds to Southern California this weekend.
Image: Weatherbell.com
“Hilary is forecast by AccuWeather’s hurricane experts to become a major (Category 3) hurricane and peak as a Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale while spinning just off the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula this weekend.”
The last tropical storm to impact the state was 84 years ago, according to official records.
Under some forecast scenarios, Tropical Storm Hilary could bring a year’s worth of rain to typically dry locations in just two to three days, which would cause extensive flooding.
The NWS forecast office in Phoenix said the amount of atmospheric water vapor surging into the Southwest ahead of the storm may reach levels “almost never experienced this time of year.”
The National Hurricane Center said Hilary was about 475 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, as of 5 p.m. Thursday ET, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. While Hilary is likely to weaken as it travels northward, it could bring heavy rainfall to the southwestern United States, along with large swells and high surf along the coast.
When the launch takes place this is the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, and five 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.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff
PREVIOUSLY #1: SpaceX is targeting Thursday, August 17 at 1:42 a.m. PT (8:42 UTC) for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
If needed, two additional opportunities are available at 2:33 a.m. PT (9:33 UTC) and 3:26 a.m. PT (10:26 UTC). Two backup opportunities are also currently available on Friday, August 18 at 12:30 a.m. (7:30 UTC) and 1:20 a.m. PT (8:20 UTC).
This is the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, and five 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.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to lift
