About forty-five minutes before today’s scheduled liftoff, SpaceX announced that they were scrubbing for the day and would try to launch Falcon 9 tomorrow morning:

SpaceX added on their website later that, “Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 a.m. ET, with opportunities available until 11:28 a.m. ET.”

_{Updated added 3pm May 27, 2024}

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SpaceX has set the launch of another 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 Monday morning from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to the company, “Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 a.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 11:30 a.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, May 28 starting at 7:30 a.m. ET.”

The booster used for the mission will land downrange on the droneship Automated Spaceport Drone Ship ‘Just Read The Instructions’, which will be on station northeast of The Bahamas. Since the mission is not a Return To Launch Site mission, there won’t be any sonic boom on the Space Coast.

Payload

23 Starlink satellites, to be used in SpaceX’s orbital-based Internet service.

They are manufactured at SpaceX’s Starlink manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington, are estimated to weigh 750-800 kg apiece and are about 3.0 meters (9.84 feet) long and 1.3 meters (3.94 feet) wide at liftoff. When a Starlink Mini V2 extends its solar panels, it is an estimated 98.5 feet in diameter.

Weather

Weather for the launch is again highly favorable, with 95% chances of acceptable weather in the start of the launch window, and slightly degrading to “only” 90% acceptable later in the day. If for some reason the launch doesn’t happen on Monday, the planned backup window is also good, but night quite as good as Monday: opening at a 90% chance of favorable range conditions, as Tuesday morning progresses, cumulus clouds drop the chances of acceptable weather at 85%.

In short, chances are very good that weather will not be a limiting factor for this mission.

Sky Cover

The National Weather Center forecasts that roughly 10% of the sky will be covered by clouds during the launch window.

These estimates are hit-or-miss and in any case are highly local, but are interesting if you are planning to view the launch in person.

Trajectory

Falcon 9 will take a southeasterly direction tonight towards The Bahamas, as is customary for all Group 6 Starlink missions. Spectators looking toward the Atlantic Ocean from shore will see the rocket flying left to right.

Given that the flight is immediately offshore with no return to launch site, there will be no sonic boom from the launch on the Space Coast.

Booster

According to SpaceX’s Starlink 6-60 Mission page, “This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and six Starlink missions.”

That’s Booster B078, which last flew late last month on the Starlink 6-53 mission.

Booster B1078
Flight Number	Payload	Date
1	Crew-6	March 2, 2023
2	O3b mPOWER 3 & 4	April 28, 2023
3	Starlink 6-4	June 4, 2023
4	Starlink 6-8	August 7, 2023
5	Starlink 6-16	September 16, 2023
6	Starlink 6-31	December 3, 2023
7	USSF-124	February 14, 2024
8	Starlink 6-46	March 25, 2024
9	Starlink 6-53	April 23, 2024

Countdown Timeline

There are key events in the countdown that you may hear called out in launch coverage.

Remember that once Propellant Loading (T-minus thirty-eight minutes) starts, Falcon 9 is committed to the launch attempt. Because of the nature of the cryogenic fuels used to power the rockets, any hold precludes a later launch attempt the same day. While it only rarely happens, there have been occasions where that has happened, and a launch scrub is called for the day’s attempt.

SpaceX provides the following countdown milestones on their mission information page:

Hours:Minutes:Seconds	Event
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 prelaunch 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

Timeline of Falcon 9 Flight

SpaceX has published a timeline of expected events during the mission:

Hours:Minutes:Seconds	Event
00:00:00	Liftoff
00:01:11	Max-Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:26	1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:30	1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:36	2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:02:56	Fairing deployment
00:06:09	1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:33	1st stage entry burn ends
00:07:59	1st stage landing burn begins
00:08:22	1st stage landing
00:08:41	2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:08	2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:10	2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:05:17	Starlink satellites deploy

All events up to the end of the 1st stage entry burn should be visible for launch spectators watching the launch in person, so long as clouds are not blocking the viewer’s line of sight. Fairing separation is generally only visible during daytime launches and then only using advanced optics like high-powered binoculars or a super-telephoto lens (500mm+).

Watching Online

SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-60 This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Space Launch Schedule, an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play.

Launch Viewing: In Person

This morning’s planned launch is from SLC-40, on the south side of the Eastern Range (KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station combined.) The southern parks in Titusville on Washington Avenue and FL-528/A1A in Cape Canaveral are the best spots to watch liftoff directly.

• Banana River Bridge on FL-528 W in Cape Canaveral
• Kennedy Point Park in Titusville
• Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville

Restaurants With Good Launch Views

Given the early hours of the launch window (7:30AM – 11:30AM EDT) these restaurants may not be open for launch viewing. Later in the day, all three may well be, so if you are interested, be sure to call ahead to make sure they’ll be ready to serve you.

• The Space Bar ($$$) – atop the Courtyard Marriott near Kennedy Parkway
• New York New York ($$) – on the Indian River with an outdoor seating area. Is family-friendly.
• Shiloh’s ($$$) — located on the Indian River with an outdoor deck overlooking KSC/CCSFS

Indirect Views

There are several excellent viewing spots for SLC-40 launches that offer indirect views — meaning you won’t see the rocket until it clears obstructions such as trees, buildings, even a storm berm in one case.

• Jetty Park, Port Canaveral
  • Fee required, much be purchased in advance: Port Canaveral Store
  • It’s very possible to see a cruise ship coming or going.
  • The pier especially has great views
• Cocoa Beach
  • Parking fees (probably). Pay with your smartphone on the parking app. There are signs everywhere telling you how.
  • Further away, but still good views.
• Northern Titusville Parks
  • Further away, but really nice views.

Playalinda Beach

Playalinda Beach out on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore will be open to spectators, that is, if KSC Security and the National Park Service allow viewers for the launch. It opens to visitors at 6 AM.

This varies from launch to launch, but as a general rule, they have allowed spectators to watch Starlink launches from the beach. A now-dwindling brush fire near Beach Road may affect Playalinda plans, so call ahead to be sure.

Cape Canaveral National Seashore • Playalinda Beach
Phone: (386) 428-3384 x0
Current operating hours: 6:00 AM–8:00 PM

If you are going to Playalinda, and if it is open, remember these general tips. Some may not apply to this particular launch.

• Get there at least two hours early, or better, earlier than that. Lines are long at the entry gate and they will only allow as many spectator vehicles as there are parking space available.
  
• If the launch L-0 time is moved to after 8PM, you must leave Playalinda, as the National Park Service is very strict about closing hours.
  
• Cape Canaveral National Seashore has a fee to get in and cash is not accepted. Debit and credit cards are okay, or if you have one of the National Park Service’s passes for the Seashore or the National Parks, that will work as well.
  
• Cellphone service is spotty at best and often non-existent at Playalinda. Don’t count on your cellphone to keep up with the launch; you might get a signal, or you might not.
  
• You are not allowed to view from the pullouts on Beach Road. Stanchions will block them. You’ll have to park and go to the beach.
  
• Refreshments are not available. There are no stores at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, so you’ll need to bring drinks and food if you want any while you’re there.
  
• Rangers will keep you back a certain distance from the launch area on the beach. Even if the beach is open, you’ll still be unable to go down to the fence that demarcates the normal security zone. There’s a line that spectators can’t go past somewhat north of the fence. That’s for safety and security.

Be prepared for potential changes or pushbacks in the launch schedule, and keep up by monitoring the live stream links mentioned above.

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