Confirmed: SpaceX plans two launches for tomorrow
Capitalism in space: SpaceX has now confirmed that it will attempt two Falcon 9 launches tomorrow at its launch facility at Cape Canaveral, the first to launch 60 Starlink satellites at 10:12 am (Eastern) and the second to launch an Argentinian radar satellite at 7:18 pm (Eastern).
In the first launch the first stage, used once before, will attempt to land on the drone ship in the Atlantic. On the second launch the first stage, used three times previously, will return to Cape Canaveral for its landing attempt.
The live stream for both will be available here.
SpaceX will also tomorrow attempt a 500 meter hop of its sixth Starship prototype. The live stream of that can be seen here.
Meanwhile Rocket Lab has shifted its launch this weekend in New Zealand from tonight to tomorrow night at 11:05 pm (Eastern). The live stream will be aired here.
That means on August 30, 2020 there could be three American launches as well as another test flight of a new reusable rocket.
Note: Astra has delayed the first orbital test flight of its rocket to no early than September 10th due to poor weather in Kodiak, Alaska.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in this year has the propaganda mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuse to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
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Capitalism in space: SpaceX has now confirmed that it will attempt two Falcon 9 launches tomorrow at its launch facility at Cape Canaveral, the first to launch 60 Starlink satellites at 10:12 am (Eastern) and the second to launch an Argentinian radar satellite at 7:18 pm (Eastern).
In the first launch the first stage, used once before, will attempt to land on the drone ship in the Atlantic. On the second launch the first stage, used three times previously, will return to Cape Canaveral for its landing attempt.
The live stream for both will be available here.
SpaceX will also tomorrow attempt a 500 meter hop of its sixth Starship prototype. The live stream of that can be seen here.
Meanwhile Rocket Lab has shifted its launch this weekend in New Zealand from tonight to tomorrow night at 11:05 pm (Eastern). The live stream will be aired here.
That means on August 30, 2020 there could be three American launches as well as another test flight of a new reusable rocket.
Note: Astra has delayed the first orbital test flight of its rocket to no early than September 10th due to poor weather in Kodiak, Alaska.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in this year has the propaganda mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuse to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
NASA would never attempt more than 1 flight/hop in the same trimester
On the August 4 John Batchelor show, Mr. Zimmerman will probably mention that the only thing about SLS that consistently rises is the price:
https://spacenews.com/nasa-increases-cost-estimate-for-sls-development/
Sorry – SEPTEMBER 1 . . .
Bob, I have searched, but I cannot find any information on why the SAOCOM launch is going ahead despite earlier indications that its southerly launch azimuth would be prohibited by the NROL-44 DIVH still being on the launchpad. Did they put the DIVH away in its shelter? Is that really protection against a falling F9?
Ray Van Dune: I have been assuming that the Delta rocket was going to moved back into its assembly building in order to properly figure out what went wrong. In that case I also assume they consider that safe enough for SpaceX to launch.
This is all a guess, but I think a reasonable one. SpaceX might say something about this on its live stream tomorrow evening. So might Stephen Clark at SpaceFlightNow during his coverage. Both are closer to the situation than I am.
” Is that really protection against a falling F9?”
I think the only folks who have to worry about falling boosters are the Chinese.
The Starlink mission at 10:12 EST will be launching from pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center and the SAOCOM Argentine mission at 7:19 EST will be launching from pad SLC-40 at Canaveral Air Force Station the two pads though are only a few miles apart.
Absolutely stunning…. SpaceX is kicking NASA’s butt . And I’m sure that is part of conducting 3 rocket flights in such a small window… My love for NASA remains… But the sooner the wasted money for their manned flight program gets given over to their unmanned exploration protects , the sooner we genuinely get to learn more about our solar system!
SpaceX Starlink launch pushed for weather.
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1300037857793290243
SAOCOM mission still on.. 40% favorable at the time of this writing.