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Update: Liftoff! SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket launched the USSF-67 mission for the Space Force at 5:56 p.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 15. The rocket’s two facet boosters efficiently landed at Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zones 1 and a pair of shortly after liftoff, producing sonic booms on the way in which down. This marked the third launch of 2023 for the Space Coast.
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Follow reside as SpaceX targets 5:56 p.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 15, for the launch of a three-core Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and subsequent dual-booster touchdown at Cape Canaveral.
Teams at pad 39A have till 6:33 p.m. EST to launch the 230-foot rocket on a Space Force mission with a number of payloads, a few of that are experimental. About eight minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s two facet boosters will goal simultaneous landings at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zones 1 and a pair of, producing their signature sonic booms through the descent. The booms are largely innocent.
Weather for this night’s try is sort of 100% “go.” Sunset timing (5:48 p.m. EST) ought to make for ideally suited launch lighting circumstances as Falcon Heavy flies eastward.
See updates beneath (to observe real-time updates and ask questions, follow this link):
Liftoff!
On-time liftoff of Falcon Heavy at 5:56 p.m. EST! The rocket’s facet boosters additionally efficiently landed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zones 1 and a pair of.
T-minus 2 minutes!
5:54 p.m. EST: Two minutes to launch! At 2 minutes and 28 seconds into flight, Falcon Heavy’s facet boosters will separate, then return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Touchdown anticipated at 6:04 p.m. EST. This total course of must be seen to these on the Space Coast this night.
Falcon Heavy’s post-launch timeline:
5:46 p.m. EST: Weather appears to be like good. Range is inexperienced (away from hazards or malfunctions). All set for liftoff at 5:56 p.m. EST. Here’s the post-launch timeline:
- 00:01:11: Max Q (second of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
- 00:02:24: Side boosters engine cutoff (BECO)
- 00:02:28: Side boosters separate
- 00:02:43: Side boosters boostback burns start
- 00:03:52: Side boosters boostback burns finish
- 00:03:55: 1st stage foremost engine cutoff (MECO)
- 00:03:59: Center core 1st and 2nd levels separate
- 00:04:05: 2nd stage engine begins (SES)
- 00:04:22: Fairing deployment
- 00:06:32: Side boosters entry burns begin
- 00:06:44: Side boosters entry burns finish
- 00:07:42: Side boosters touchdown burns begin
- 00:08:00: Side boosters touchdown
Sonic growth reminder
Reminder: This night’s launch contains simultaneous booster landings at Landing Zones 1 and a pair of. Be ready for sonic booms generated by the incoming facet boosters, which could sound like as much as six rapid-fire booms, however extra possible two loud “thumps.”
Inside 20 minutes to launch
5:36 p.m. EST: Now inside 20 minutes to liftoff from pad 39A. Looking good for the Space Coast’s third launch of the 12 months.
Center core second stage fueling quickly
5:30 p.m. EST: Fueling of the middle core’s higher stage with liquid oxygen, one of many final steps within the pre-launch course of, will start in eight minutes. Then only a few extra steps earlier than liftoff at 5:56 p.m. EST sharp. Weather’s nonetheless practically 100% “go.”
Fifth flight on Falcon Heavy
5:25 p.m. EST: This night’s launch, nonetheless on observe for five:56 p.m. EST, will mark the fifth flight for Falcon Heavy because the debut mission practically 5 years in the past on Feb. 6, 2018. SpaceX says at least three extra FH missions are on faucet for this 12 months, however we’ll see the way it pans out. The launch schedule proper now could be fairly full with Falcon 9, ULA’s Atlas V and Vulcan Centaur, Relativity’s Terran 1, and extra.
Falcon Heavy’s flight profile:
Remainder of the countdown:
Here’s what’s left within the countdown for Falcon Heavy’s fifth flight since 2018:
- T-minus 00:45:00: 1st stage and facet boosters LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
- -00:35:00: 2nd stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
- -00:18:30: 2nd stage LOX loading begins
- -00:07:00: Falcon Heavy begins engine chill
- -00:00:59: Flight laptop commanded to start ultimate pre-launch checks
- -00:00:45: SpaceX launch director verifies go for launch
- -00:00:20: Propellant tanks pressurize for flight
- -00:00:06: Engine controller instructions engine ignition sequence to start out
- 5:56 p.m. EST: Falcon Heavy liftoff
Falcon Heavy fueling underway
5:10 p.m. EST: “Launch auto-sequence has started,” SpaceX’s launch director says. Fueling of the Falcon Heavy rocket’s facet boosters and core stage is now underway.
Inside an hour to liftoff
SpaceX nonetheless set for launch this night
Teams at pad 39A are nonetheless concentrating on 5:56 p.m. EST for liftoff of Falcon Heavy on the USSF-67 mission for the Space Force. SpcaeX is anticipated to start fueling the rocket at 5:21 p.m. EST.