SpaceX 2023 Flight Thread (launch year is over with a total of 96 flights, 5 Falcon Heavy's and 91 Falcon 9's)

Scrub due to a ground issue.

However, two possible SpaceX launches later today, one from CCSFS and one from Vandenberg.

A Falcon 9 launched from SLC-40 at CCSFS tonight carrying Starlink Group 6-1. The mission was a success with a successful drone ship landing of the booster.

Okay, trying Crew-6 again in about 25 minutes.

Link to audio only with orbital track.

Link to full coverage with commentary.

Nominal orbital insertion on Crew-6 as well as a successful booster landing on the drone ship. And just confirmed Dragon separation from the second stage, marking a successful end to the launch phase of this mission.

It’s all fun until the Kessler Syndrome shows up.

On March 3rd, a Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg SLC-4E carrying Starlink Group 2-7 to a high inclination low Earth orbit. The mission was successful with a successful drone ship landing.

Minutes ago, on March 9th, a Falcon 9 launched from CCSFS SLC-40 carrying OneWeb #17 to a polar low Earth orbit. The launch and boost phase were successful and the booster successful returned to CCSFS Landing Zone 1. Currently coasting and awaiting the second firing of the second stage and deployment of the individual satellites. 40 satellites will be deployed over an approximately 38 minute period.

It is interesting to see SpaceX routinely do what neither NASA nor the Air Force would do for over 50 years, that being launch polar missions from Florida.

R.I.P. Rufina the Cow. (Perhaps the most expensive cow in history.)

:smile:

All forty OneWeb #17 satellites have been successfully deployed.

Damn it’s getting crowded up there. The global warming alarmists who want to shade Earth from the Sun are getting their wish. :wink:

On the 15th, a Falcon 9 launched from KSC 39A carrying SpaceX CRS-27 to the International Space Station. The mission was successful with a successful drone ship landing.

On the 17th, there were two flights. A Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg SLC-4E carry Starlink Group 2-8 to a high inclination low Earth orbit. A Falcon 9 launched from CCSFS SLC-40 carrying SES-18 and SES-19 to geostationary transfer orbit. Both missions were successful and both boosters successfully landed on drone ships.

Already 6 successful missions on the book for March to this point and we still have the better part of two weeks to go.

19 launches for the year (18 Falcon 9, 1 Falcon Heavy) to this point.

3 potential missions left this month.

On the 24th, a Falcon 9 launched from CCSFS SLC-40 carrying Starlink Group 5-5 to low Earth orbit. The mission was successful with a successful drone ship landing.

On the 29th, a Falcon 9 launched from CCSFS SLC-40 carrying Starlink Group 5-10 to low Earth orbit. The mission was successful with a successful drone ship landing.

One more potential launch remains for March, Tranche 0, Flight 1, scheduled for the 30th from Vandenberg SLC-4E.

On April 2nd, a Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg SLC-4E carrying Tranche 0, Flight 1 to low Earth orbit. The mission was successful with a successful land landing at Vandenberg.

22 launches to this point in the year, 21 Falcon 9 and 1 Falcon Heavy.

11 remaining potential launches for April, though obviously not all of those will actually go in April.

Of note, there is a Falcon Heavy scheduled for April 18th, carrying the ViaSat-3 Americas plus two rideshares.

“Rideshares”, is that like a space Uber thing?

WW

:smile:

It is basically when a small company hitches a ride with a larger customer. SpaceX does this frequently and in fact even has dedicated rideshare missions i.e. Transporter. A company that could not afford a dedicated launch can hitch a ride on another customer’s mission for a tiny fraction of the cost of a dedicated mission.

I know, it was a joke.

:wink:

WW

Ahh. :smile:

Some people just don’t get my rapier like wit.

(OK, change the “some” to “most”.)

WW

Heh

:smile:

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 from CCSFC SLC-40, carrying Intelsat 40e and the TEMPO rideshare mission to Geostationary Transfer Orbit. The mission was successful with a successful drone ship landing.

Also, the orbital test flight of SpaceX Starship may come as soon as April 17.

Looks like the Starship blew up this morning. Successful launch, unsuccessful mission.