Maxar WorldView Legion satellites from Cape Canaveral
Launch Recap: Scroll down to read the updates from the Falcon 9 rocket launch which occurred on Thursday, August 15, at 9 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral.
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Thursday morning, SpaceX launched a pair of WorldView Legion imaging satellites for Maxar, a space technology company, and gave the Space Coast the thrill of a booster landing with an accompanying sonic boom.
The satellites launched exactly at 9 a.m. atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex – 40, which is located just south of Kennedy Space Center. The launch traveled in a northeast trajectory.
The Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 80% chance of favorable weather during the launch window, however that chance dropped to 70% just before liftoff. SpaceX managed to launch anyway.
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Eight and a half minutes after lift off, the Falcon 9 first stage landed back at Cape Canaveral on Landing Zone 1, causing a sonic boom which rattled windows. That sound wave is generated when the Falcon 9 falls faster than the speed of sound.
Not to worry, as the landing burn and grid fins slow the booster down and direct it before landing.
This is where it gets interesting −spectators saw the Falcon 9 come down before the sonic boom was heard. This is simply due to physics, as light travels faster than sound.
The satellites are the third and fourth in the Maxar series, which is set to consist of six satellites in total.
Maxar states that all six will be in orbit by the end of 2024, with the last pair launching later this year.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 9:08 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed at Landing Zone 1!
SpaceX Liftoff!
Update 9:00 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying Maxar satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 8:48 a.m.: SpaceX’s launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter)has begun!
Liftoff is scheduled in 12 minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX launch countdown timeline
Update 8:38 a.m.: Here’s a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s countdown timeline. T-minus:
- 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.
- 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
- 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
- 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
- 0 seconds: Liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway
Update 8:26 a.m.: SpaceX has confirmed fueling has begun for a 9 a.m. liftoff!
SpaceX booster will land at Cape Canaveral!
Update 8:15 a.m.: Today’s Falcon 9 first stage will see its 16th flight. It has seen eight Starlink missions, CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, and Turksat 6A.
Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster will land back at Cape Canaveral − allowing the Cape area to hear the sonic boom!
Brevard EOC activates ahead of SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral
Update 8:05 a.m.: Things are moving along in Brevard! The Brevard EOC has been activated ahead of this morning’s liftoff.
SpaceX Launch: Check out these images from the Paris Olympics
Update 7:55 a.m.: While not from Florida, SpaceX launched the first two satellites in the WorldView Legion series in May. Check out the images those first two got of the Paris Olympics preparations!
Maxar reveals mission patch
Update 7:43 a.m.: Maxar has posted the mission patch for this launch on X. The two gold stars symbolize that this is the third and fourth satellite in the series of six.
SpaceX launch from Florida weather outlook
Update 7:33 a.m.: The 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 80% chance of favorable weather for this morning’s launch window. Skies are currently clear in Brevard County, but weather activity lurks offshore.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @brookeofstars.
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