SpaceX F9 - Starlink V1.0-L24 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Launch Date: April 28
Launch Window: 11:44pm EDT (8:44pm PDT, 03:44 UTC on the 29th)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Core Booster Recovery: ASDS
Booster: B1060-7
Fairings: Reused
Mass: 60 satellites at 260 kg each - 15,600 kg (34,500 lbs)
Orbit: LEO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 25th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L24.

 

[e-FTW]

Booster: B10..

Nice!

 

[Grendal]

Nice!

It's likely B1049 or B1051: B1049 is just over a month and B1051 is just under a month.

Wiki says there is a new F9 booster in the works. B1067 may launch in the coming months.

 

[Nikxice]

SpaceX might have a couple of more weeks to prepare for whichever booster they've chosen. NASASpaceFlight.com recently wrote about the future launch schedule, speculating right after Wednesday's successful Starlink 23, "This flight is likely to be the last SpaceX mission prior to the Crew-2 launch later this month". SpaceX is obviously capable of coordinating a couple of tight launches in FL. Approaching Crew-2's launch date of 4/22, they are likely prioritizing Crew-2 to minimize distractions.

 

[e-FTW]

Absolutely, everything else stops or slows down before a crew launch. This flight is my only chance to win the Race To Ten™! But it would need to get delayed to early May. Not that crazy with Crew in the way.

 

[Grendal]

JRTI has left port.

 

[Grendal]

Webcast. 24 hour delay.

New weather:

 

[e-FTW]

Could be related to:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1386479119127486466

 

[Grendal]

Successful launch, MECO, landing, and SECO. We're in the coast phase.

81st successful recovery of a booster..

And successful deployment.... Complete success.

 

[Cosmacelf]

I liked how SpaceX added a bunch of new stuff to the broadcast. Among many other things they talked about how Starlink satellites were much safer at 550 km than at higher altitudes. They also talked about how they co-ordinate with the Space Force and NASA to ensure conjunctions with other space craft don't happen. This struck me as a reaction to the manufactured bad press OneWeb threw their way with that imaginary story about a possible conjunction.

 

[Nikxice]

Nice tribute to Michael Collins seconds after launch. Tonight SpaceX carrying the fire, launch to landing.