Space & rocket launch thread

[Baz]

Boeing forced to call off its first launch with NASA astronauts once again

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/boeing-launch-nasa-astronauts-starliner-called-off-rcna154666

smh.....

[Baz]

T minus 29 minutes......

Watch live coverage as SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket with 20 satellites for Elon Musk's Starlink internet service, including 13 with direct to cellphone capabilities. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is now scheduled for 10:16 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 4 (0216 UTC). The first-stage booster making its 20th flight will land on SpaceX's drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions', stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, about eight and a half minutes after leaving the launch pad.

The mission, designated Starlink 8-5, will be the 41st launch of Starlink satellites this year and the 58th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket in 2024. The rocket will take a north-easterly trajectory on departure from the space coast.

[Baz]

Last night's Falcon 9 launch was spectacular! The trajectory brought her right over my house more or less. Some clouds to provide contrast to the fiery orange flame trail....just spectacular!

Will post pics later. For now.....another try this morning by Starliner........

Watch live coverage as a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launches Boeing's Starliner capsule on a crucial test flight with NASA astronauts onboard for the very first time. Liftoff from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 UTC) on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. It will be the third launch attempt for the mission. The flight was delayed from May 6 due to trouble with a rocket valve and then a helium leak in the capsule's propulsion system. A launch attempt was scrubbed June 1 by a ground launch sequencer failure.

Aboard for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission are commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and pilot Sunita Williams. If all goes according to plan, the Starliner capsule will dock to the International Space Station on June 6 for a week-long stay.

Find out more about the Boeing Starliner test flight and its astronauts by watching our mission preview: https://youtu.be/TzVEdln_L8E

Commentary will be provided by Spaceflight Now's Will Robinson-Smith.

[flatbutt]

I thought they were launching today at 11:00?

[Baz]

View from Bazza's front drive..........

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Cool shot Baz

Cheers
JB

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

View from Bazza's front drive..........

Many years ago (1992 or 1993, I think) I was living in Tampa, and heard an announcement on the radio, probably between 7-9am. I ran outside and saw something similar. Obviously, I was MUCH farther away in Tampa than you are in NSB, but I thought that made it almost more amazing at how clearly I was able to see the shuttle from across the state.

I also got to see one of the last shuttle launches locally back in 2010. That was pretty amazing too.

I've got family in Vero Beach. Unfortunately, there's never been a night launch while I was visiting. I'd love to see one. I hear that even as far south as Vero the sky still lights up a surprising amount.

[red 928]

Voyager one was launched in 1977
and is now 15 billion miles away
after passing into interstellar space in 2012.
It also suddenly stopped working last year.

On Friday,
NASA announced it had mysteriously start working
and is again sending data back to earth.

It's almost as if someone or something repaired it.

[bmcuscgr94]

Having to close the County beach for this one:

https://www.noozhawk.com/spacex-launch-of-spy-satellites-to-prompt-jalama-beach-evacuation/

[Scott Douglas]

Let's hope the marine layer is late in forming tonight for this one. Could make for a Kodak moment or two.

[Baz]

Watch live coverage as SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket with Turksat 6A, Turkey's first domestically-produced communications satellite. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled during a launch window that opens at 6 p.m. EDT (2200 UTC) on Monday, July 8. The rocket's first-stage booster, which is making its 15th flight, will land on SpaceX's drone ship 'Just Read the Instructions', stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, about eight and a half minutes after leaving the launch pad.

The rocket will take an easterly trajectory after lifting off from Florida's space coast.

Commentary will be provided by Spaceflight Now's Will Robinson-Smith, starting approximately an hour prior to liftoff.



T minus 40 minutes....should be able to see it pretty good where I am........

[Baz]

Launch window pushed back 30 minutes......

EDIT: Pushed back again to 7pm.......sheesh........

[flatbutt]

Well maybe Wednesday will be better. The whole "I don't like Mondays" thing and all.

[bmcuscgr94]

Looks like multiple launches for West Coast this week.

https://www.edhat.com/news/spacex-launches-planned-at-vandenberg-this-week/

[bmcuscgr94]

https://www.edhat.com/news/vandenberg-space-force-base-initiates-new-rocket-launch-notification-system/

[Paul K]

Space-X launch over Magens Bay, St. Thomas a few months ago.



Cheers,

Paul.

[Baz]

^^^ great pic, Paul!

Watch live coverage as SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket with 23 Starlink satellites. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 10:59 a.m. EDT (1459 UTC) on Sunday, August 11. The first-stage booster making its 17th flight will land on SpaceX's drone ship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas'', stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, about eight and a half minutes after leaving the launch pad.

The mission, designated Starlink 10-7, will take a north-easterly trajectory on departure from Florida's Space Coast.



T-minus 3.5 minutes.....

[Baz]

Abort at 46 sec. mark......will try again tomorrow........

[flatbutt]

The EVA suits being tested on Polaris seem to be a huge jump ahead wrt mobility...so far.

[pmax]