SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the SXM-9 satellite for Sirius-XM today. Liftoff was at 11:10 AM EST from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center and into hazy but blue skies over Florida.
Around 8.25 minutes later, Falcon 9 booster B1076 touched down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, successfully concluding its 19th mission. ‘Just Read The Instructions’ had been pre-positioned offshore downrange and will now return to Port Canaveral where B1076 will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection and, presumably, preparation for its 20th flight.
While the booster was landing at sea on its target drone ship, the second stage of Falcon 9 continued to orbit, and achieved its initial orbit about the same time as the booster was touching down below on the JRTI. At 11:45 AM EST, SpaceX announced that the launch was a success when it said that SXM-9 had been successfully deployed.
Payload
SXM-9 is a replacement for the failed SXM-7, which was launched in December 2020 and successfully reached geostationary orbit. During the commissioning and initial testing of SXM-7 on orbit, a payload failure occurred and it was declared a total loss in February 2021. SXM-9 will ascend under its own power to its final orbital location in Geosynchronous Orbit, a prograde, low inclination orbit around the Earth having a period of 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
On Sunday, December 8, 2024, SpaceX is planning to launch the Starlink 12-5 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral. The launch window opens at 12:10 AM EST and closes at 4:10 AM the same day. Effectively, the launch is late Saturday evening, so include that into any plans you may be making to attend or view the launch.
- Date: NET December 8, 2024
- Organization: SpaceX
- Mission: Starlink 12-5
- Rocket: Falcon 9
- Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, CCSFS
- Launch Window: 12:10 – 4:10 AM EST
- Payload: Starlink satellites
Keep in mind that launch dates and times change often. Launch attempts can be scrubbed anytime due to weather, technical reasons, or range conditions.
Author: Charles Boyer
NASA kid from Cocoa Beach, FL, born of Project Apollo parents and family. I’m a writer and photographer sharing the story of spaceflight from the Eastern Range here in Florida.
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