Falcon 9 Block 5, launch vehicle, SpaceX, Hawthorne, California, USA

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Starlink mission

Streamed live Oct 24, 2020

On Saturday, October 24 at 11:31 a.m. EDT, 11:31 UTC, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported the GPS III Space Vehicle 03 mission in June 2020 and a Starlink mission in September 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The Starlink satellites deployed approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes after liftoff.

 

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SpaceX Starlink 15 launch & Falcon 9 first stage landing, 24 October 2020

Oct 24, 2020

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites (Starlink-15) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, on 24 October 2020, at 15:31 UTC (11:31 EDT). Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1060) landed on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported the GPS III Space Vehicle 03 mission in June 2020 and a Starlink mission in September 2020.
Credit: SpaceX

 

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GPS III space vehicle 04 mission

Nov 5, 2020

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, November 5 for a Falcon 9 launch of the United States Space Force’s GPS III Space Vehicle 04 from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The 15-minute launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. EST, 23:24 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Friday, November 6 with a 15-minute backup window opening at 6:20 p.m. EST, 23:20 UTC.

Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The spacecraft will deploy approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes after liftoff.

 

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Falcon 9 launches GPS III SV04 and Falcon 9 first stage landing

Nov 5, 2020

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 mission (GPS III SV04) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on 5 November 2020, at 23:24 UTC (18:24 EST). GPS III SV04 is the United States Space Force’s fourth Global Positioning System III space vehicle (SV). Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (Block 5 B1062) landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone-ship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Credit: SpaceX

 

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Crew-1 Mission

Nov 15, 2020

SpaceX and NASA are targeting Sunday, November 15 for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s first operational crew mission (Crew-1) to the International Space Station (ISS) from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous launch window opens at 7:27 p.m. EST on November 15, 00:27 UTC on November 16. Following stage separation, SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The launch webcast will go live about 4 hours before liftoff. Tune in here to watch live.

 

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Launch of SpaceX Crew-1 Mission on Falcon 9 with 4 Astronauts

Nov 15, 2020

SpaceX have successfully launched the first operational crewed mission for NASA, the 2nd crewed flight if you include Demo-2, on November 16th at 00:27 UTC, November 15th 19:27 Local time from Launch Pad 39A of Kennedy Space Center.

The Falcon 9 rocket carried the Dragon capsule 'Resilience' carrying NASA and Spacecraft commander Michael S. Hopkins, NASA astronaut and pilot Victor J. Glover, JAXA astronaut and Mission Specialist 1 Soichi Noguchi and NASA astronaut and Mission Specialist 2 Shannon Walker.

This was the first time Dragon carries 4 astronauts into orbit and onwards to the International Space Station.

Docking to the Space Station is set for 04:00 UTC on November 16th 2020.

 

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Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing

Nov 21, 2020

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite was launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, on 21 November 2020, at 17:17 UTC (09:17 PST). The Sentinel-6 mission is part of the European Union’s family of Copernicus satellite missions and consists of two satellites: Copernicus Sentinel-6A and Copernicus Sentinel-6B, scheduled to launch in 2025. The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission aims to provide the most accurate data yet on sea level and how it changes over time. NASA’s contribution to the mission are three science instruments for each of the two satellites, the Advanced Microwave Radiometer, the Global Navigation Satellite System – Radio Occultation, and the Laser Retroreflector Array, as well as launch services, awarded for Sentinel-6A to SpaceX for approximately 97 million USD, and supporting operations of the NASA science instruments. The Sentinel-6A satellite was renamed in honor of Dr. Michael H. Freilich, the former director of NASA’s Earth Science Division. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

 

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Starlink mission

Nov 24, 2020

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, November 24 for launch of its sixteenth Starlink mission, which will launch 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The instantaneous launch window is at 9:13 p.m. EST, or 02:13 UTC on Wednesday, November 25.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously flew on six other missions: the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission in September 2018, the Iridium-8 mission in January 2019, and four Starlink missions in May 2019, January 2020, June 2020, and August 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported a mission, and the other half previously two.

 

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SpaceX Starlink 16 launch & Falcon 9 first stage landing, 25 November 2020

Nov 24, 2020

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites (Starlink-16) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, on 25 November 2020, at 02:13 UTC (24 November, 21:13 EDT). Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1049) landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported six other missions: the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission in September 2018, the Iridium-8 mission in January 2019, and four Starlink missions in May 2019, January 2020, June 2020, and August 2020.

 

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CRS-21 mission

Dec 6, 2020

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, December 6 for launch of its twenty-first Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-21), which will launch from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. L is targeted for 11:17 a.m. EST, or 16:17 UTC. Dragon will separate from Falcon 9’s second stage about eleven minutes after liftoff and autonomously dock to the space station on Monday, December 7.

This is the first flight of the updated cargo version of Dragon, which is capable of carrying about 20 percent more volume than the previous version of Dragon and has double the amount of powered locker cargo capability. Dragon is now designed for up to five flights to and from the space station, and this cargo version of the spacecraft can stay on station for a duration more than twice as long as the previous version of Dragon.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this launch previously supported launch of Dragon’s first flight with NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (Demo-2), the ANASIS-II mission, and a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

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SpaceX CRS-21 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing

Dec 6, 2020

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the CRS-21 Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 6 December 2020 at 16:17 UTC (11:17 EST). The CRS-21 spacecraft is the first Dragon expected to autonomously dock to the International Space Station, on 6 December 2020. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, located in the Atlantic Ocean. The first stage booster (Block 5 B1058) previously supported launch of Dragon’s first flight with NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (Demo-2), the ANASIS-II mission, and a Starlink mission.

 

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SXM-7 mission

Dec 13

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, December 13 at 12:30 p.m. EST, or 17:30 UTC, for the launch of the SXM-7 mission, which will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The launch window closes at 1:21 p.m. EST, or 17:21 UTC, and a backup launch opportunity is available on Monday, December 14 with a one-hour and 59-minute launch window opening at 11:22 a.m. EST, or 16:22 UTC.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this launch previously supported Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station (Demo-1), launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, and four Starlink launches in 2020. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported the ANASIS-II mission in July 2020.

 

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NROL-108 mission

Dec 19, 2020

SpaceX is now targeting Saturday, December 19 for launch of the NROL-108 mission from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Saturday’s three-hour launch window opens at 9:00 a.m. EST, or 14:00 UTC, and closes at 12:00 p.m. EST, or 17:00 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported launch of SpaceX’s 19th and 20th cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station, a Starlink mission, and the SAOCOM 1B mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

 

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Turksat 5A mission

Jan 7, 2021

SpaceX is targeting 9:15 p.m. EST on Thursday, January 7 for launch of the Turksat 5A mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. There is a back-up opportunity available on Friday, January 8, with a four-hour launch window opening at 8:28 p.m. EST, or 01:28 UTC on January 9.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported launch of GPS III Space Vehicle 03 and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s fairing is also flight-proven: one half previously supported the GPS III Space Vehicle 03 mission and the other flew aboard the ANASIS-II mission.

 

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Starlink mission

Streamed live Jan 20, 2021

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, January 20 for its seventeenth Starlink mission, which will launch 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center. The instantaneous window is at 8:02 a.m. EST, or 13:02 UTC.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously flew on seven other missions: the SXM-7 mission in December 2020, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission in June 2019, launch of Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission in March 2019, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported a Starlink mission and the other previously supported two.

 

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SpaceX Starlink 17 launch & Falcon 9 first stage landing, 20 January 2021

Jan 20, 2021

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites (Starlink-17) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, on 20 January 2021, at 13:02 UTC (08:02 EST). Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1051) landed on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported seven other missions: the SXM-7 mission in December 2020, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission in June 2019, launch of Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission in March 2019, and four Starlink missions.

 

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Transporter-1 mission

Jan 24, 2021

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, January 24 for launch of Transporter-1, SpaceX’s first dedicated SmallSat Rideshare Program mission, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 22-minute launch window opens at 10:00 a.m. EST, or 15:00 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported launch of Crew Dragon’s second demonstration mission, the ANASIS-II mission, a Starlink mission, and launch of Dragon’s 21st cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

On board this launch are 133 commercial and government spacecraft (including CubeSats, microsats, and orbital transfer vehicles) and 10 Starlink satellites – the most spacecraft ever deployed on a single mission. The Starlink satellites aboard this mission will be the first in the constellation to deploy to a polar orbit.

 

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Starlink Mission

Streamed live Feb 4, 2021

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, February 4 for launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 1:19 a.m. EST, or 6:19​ UTC.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously flew on four missions: the launches of GPS III Space Vehicle 03 and Turksat 5A and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously flew on the SAOCOM-1B mission, and the other previously flew in support of the GPS III Space Vehicle 03 mission.

 

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SpaceX Starlink 19 launch & Falcon 9 first stage failed landing, 16 February 2021

Feb 16, 2021

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites (Starlink-18) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, on 16 February 2021, at 03:59 UTC (15 February, at 22:59 EST). Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1059) failed to land on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported five other missions: Dragon’s 19th and 20th commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station, a Starlink mission, the SAOCOM 1B mission, and the NROL-108 mission.
Credit: SpaceX

 

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SpaceX Starlink 20 launch & Falcon 9 first stage landing, 4 March 2021

Mar 4, 2021

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 Starlink satellites (Starlink-20) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, on 4 March 2021, at 08:24 UTC (03:24 EST). Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage (B1049) landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported seven missions: the Iridium-8 mission, the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission, and five Starlink missions.
Credit: SpaceX