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Upcoming Starlink launches in February 2024

Starlink Group 7-14: February 13, 2024, 2:17 p.m. PST (22:17 UTC – Feb. 14, 2:46 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | DATE/TIME MAY CHANGE

You can watch Starlink launches on SpaceX’s X account.

Expect more launches to be announced for the rest of the month. Watch this space for updates!

Successful Starlink launches in February 2024

Starlink Group 7-13: February 9, 2024, 4:34 p.m. PST (0:34 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

After launch, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

In this case, what you’re seeing is the satellites moving into a higher orbit. And more specifically, you can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Wikipedia, as of January 2024, Starlink consists of over 5,250 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than two million subscribers.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because the satellites are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX’s second Starlink launch for the month is currently scheduled from California between 22:17 UTC on February 13, 2024 and 2:46 UTC on February 14, 2024.

Read more: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Space Launch Schedule

The post List of SpaceX Starlink launches for February 2024 first appeared on EarthSky.

Successful Starlink launches in January 2024

Starlink Group 7-12: January 28, 2024, 9:57 p.m. PST (5:57 UTC on January 29)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-38: January 28, 2024, 8:10 p.m. EST (1:10 UTC on January 29)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-11: January 23, 2024, 4:35 p.m. PST (0:35 UTC on January 24)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-37: January 14, 2024, 8:52 p.m. EST (1:52 UTC on January 15)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-10: January 14, 2024, 12:59 a.m. PST (8:59 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-35: January 7, 2024, 5:35 p.m. EST (22:35 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-9: January 2, 2024, 7:44 p.m. PST (3:44 UTC on January 3)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

You can watch recorded livestreams of the Starlink launches on SpaceX’s X account.

The 2024 lunar calendars are here! Makes a great New Year’s gift. Check ’em out here.

After launch, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Wikipedia, as of January 2024, Starlink consists of over 5,250 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 2 million subscribers.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX’s seventh and final Starlink launch for the month took flight from California at 9:57 p.m. PST on January 28, 2024 (5:57 UTC on January 29).

Read more from EarthSky: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Space Launch Schedule

The post SpaceX wraps up Starlink launches for January 2024 first appeared on EarthSky.

X-59 set to roll out on Friday

NASA, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, plans to unveil the X-59, an innovative supersonic jet, on January 12, 2024. Its design eliminates the windshield in an effort to dampen the sonic booms that come with supersonic flight. The unveiling will happen live from Lockheed Martin’s “Skunk Works” facility in Palmdale, California.

Viewers can tune into NASA’s livestream of the event at 4:00 p.m. EST (21:00 UTC) on YouTube and through the agency’s NASA+ streaming service, NASA app, and website. You can also watch it here in the video above.

EarthSky lunar calendars are back in stock! And we’re guaranteed to sell out, so get one while you can. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep going. Purchase here.

Chasing the ‘sonic thump’

The concept for the X-59 came from NASA’s Quiet SuperSonic Technology (Quesst) mission. It’s been in development since 2019. Traditional supersonic jets produce sonic booms that can distress people and animals and even damage nearby buildings. But engineers planned the X-59 jet to generate a milder “sonic thump,” like the sound of a car door closing.

In order to build a quieter supersonic jet, engineers had to eliminate the windshield. More than one-third of the aircraft’s 99.7-foot (30 m) length consists of a 38-foot (11.5 m) nose section. And with a nose section that long, it would have blocked any view from a windshield anyway. So instead, pilots will rely on the X-59’s External Vision System (XVS), which uses forward-facing cameras and cockpit displays to navigate.

A single engine from General Electric Aviation provides the power to the X-59. It can reach a speed of Mach 1.4 (925 mph/ 1,500 km/h) at an altitude of 55,000 feet (16,800 m). The experimental jet will embark on a research campaign, flying over select residential areas to gather data on how the public experiences and reacts to the minimized sonic thumps.

Awaiting public opinion

According to NASA, the X-59 is scheduled to take flight this year. The next step would be to seek approval for commercial supersonic flights from regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Currently, there are restrictions for supersonic flights over land. A tamer sonic thump could pave the way for a new era of supersonic air travel. One of NASA’s goals is to make air travel over land faster, safer and quieter.

While the X-59 offers promising advancements, public reception is never certain. NASA will gather feedback from the public during test flights over U.S. cities in 2026, ensuring that the sonic thump meets expectations of being gentler than conventional sonic booms. Some people have raised concerns about the environmental impact and increased carbon emissions associated with hypersonic flights. NASA says it remains focused on addressing sonic booms with the X-59, and that other challenges of supersonic flight, such as emissions and fuel burn, are subjects of separate research initiatives.

Peter Coen, NASA’s Quesst Mission Integration Manager, said in a statement in April 2023:

We’re definitely ready to write a new chapter in the history of supersonic flight, making air travel over land twice as fast, but in a way that is safe, sustainable, and so much quieter than before.

Bottom line: NASA, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, plans to unveil the X-59 on January 12, 2024. The aircraft’s design aims to dampen the sonic booms associated with supersonic flight.

Via NASA

The post NASA to unveil the X-59, an experimental supersonic jet first appeared on EarthSky.

Successful Starlink launches in December 2023

Starlink Group 6-36: December 29, 2023, 7:01 a.m. EST
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-32: December 23, 2023, 12:33 a.m. EST
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-34: December 18, 2023, 11:01 p.m. EST
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-8: December 8, 2023, 12:03 a.m. PST
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-32: December 7, 2023, 12:07 a.m. EST
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-31: December 2, 2023, 11:00 p.m. EST
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida | SUCCESS

You can watch a recorded livestream of the Starlink launches on SpaceX’s X account.

EarthSky lunar calendars are back in stock! And we’re guaranteed to sell out, so get one while you can. Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep going. Purchase here.

After launch, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Wikipedia, as of November 2023, Starlink consists of over 5,500 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 2 million subscribers.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they interfere with the professional astronomical observations that bring us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX’s final Starlink launch for the year of 2023 successfully took flight on December 29.

Read more from EarthSky: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Space Launch Schedule

The post SpaceX wraps up Starlink launches for 2023 first appeared on EarthSky.

Unveiling Mars from ISS-like heights

NASA’s Odyssey orbiter treated space fans to a new perspective of Mars yesterday, November 28, 2023. The Odyssey team stitched 10 images end to end to create a panorama that showcases the Martian horizon from an altitude of approximately 250 miles (400 km). That’s the height of the International Space Station (ISS) above Earth. So this new view of Mars is the view ISS astronauts would get, if the space station orbited Mars instead of Earth.

In the new panorama (above), you can see Mars’s thin atmosphere above the planet. Beautiful!

Space engineer Jonathon Hill, who is operations lead for the THEMIS imaging system – which acquired the raw images last May – said:

No Mars spacecraft has ever had this kind of view before.

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A challenging feat of engineering

According to NASA, obtaining the image was a challenging feat. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin spent three months planning Odyssey’s maneuvers to capture the expansive view of Mars’ thin atmosphere.

To do it, they had to rotate THEMIS, which typically points straight down, nearly 90 degrees for an entire orbit. Before now, they had never attempted it, not in all Odyssey’s 22 years of orbiting Mars. In fact, this spacecraft – which entered Mars orbit in 2001 – is currently NASA’s longest-lasting spacecraft at Mars. Maybe the engineers felt they could take some risks?

And, though it might sound simple task to rotate the camera, in fact it wasn’t simple at all. The task required careful coordination to ensure the spacecraft’s sensitive equipment wouldn’t overheat while exposed to sunlight.

Also, communication with the orbiter was temporarily severed until the process was complete.

That must have caused some nail-biting!

Phobos’ enigmatic origin

The THEMIS imaging system didn’t just point downward at Mars. It also directed its focus toward Mars’ tiny moon, Phobos, providing insight into where it came from and what it’s made of. NASA said this new data might help settle the ongoing debate among scientists about Phobos’s origin: Is it a captured asteroid or an ejected fragment from Mars?

More than just pretty

Spacecraft images can be breathtaking. But they’re more than just pretty. In the case of Mars, especially, the images taken from orbit and from the ground serve as valuable assets for future space exploration efforts.

The team managing Odyssey already plans to replicate these observations in the future, capturing the Martian atmosphere across various seasons. That’ll be exciting!

Bottom line: What if the International Space Station orbited Mars? Space engineers took three months to plan this amazing new view of Mars, as ISS astronauts would see it.

Read more from EarthSky: Best places to find ice on Mars revealed in new NASA map

Via NASA

The post Wow! See Mars as ISS astronauts would see it first appeared on EarthSky.

Head over to SpaceX’s X for replays of last month’s launches, and read more about them here.

The 2024 lunar calendars are here! Best Christmas gifts in the universe! Check ’em out here.

Successful Starlink launches in November 2023

Starlink Group 6-30: November 27, 2023, 11:20 p.m. EST (4:20 UTC November 28)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-29: November 21, 2023, 10:47 p.m. EST (3:47 UTC November 22)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-7: November 20, 2023, 2:30 a.m. PST (10:30 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-28: November 18, 2023, 12:05 a.m. (5:05 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-27: November 8, 2023, 12:05 a.m. EDT (4:05 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-26: November 3, 2023, 8:37 p.m. EDT (0:37 UTC November 4)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

After launch, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Wikipedia, as of November 2023, Starlink consists of over 5,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 2 million subscribers.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX successfully launched six batches of Starlink satellites in November. Learn more about the launches and Starlink here.

Read more from EarthSky: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Space Launch Schedule

The post SpaceX Starlink launches for November first appeared on EarthSky.

UPDATE: The CRS-29 Dragon has now docked with ISS. NASA said early on November 11, 2023:

While the International Space Station was traveling more than 262 miles [422 km] over central Brazil, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft autonomously docked to station’s Harmony module at 5:07 a.m. EST, with NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara monitoring operations from the station.

CRS-29: SpaceX resupply mission to the ISS

SpaceX successfully launched its 29th cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, November 9, 2023. The CRS-29 mission lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:28 p.m. EST on November 9 (1:28 UTC on November 10). Dragon delivered over 6,500 pounds (3,000 kg) of supplies and scientific hardware to the ISS, including seasonal treats like chocolate, pumpkin spice coffee, and cranberry sauce.

NASA astronauts and Expedition 70 Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara monitored the CRS-29 Dragon capsule’s docking with the ISS on Saturday, November 11. NASA TV began its docking coverage at 3:45 a.m. EST (8:45 UTC) on Saturday. The docking itself took place at 5:21 a.m. EST (10:21 UTC).

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See the launch in the video below

You can watch a recorded livestream of the launch in the video below, or on SpaceX’s X account.

AWE and ILLUMA-T

Among the cargo are two distinguished experiments, AWE (Atmospheric Waves Experiment) and ILLUMA-T (Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal). Both are funded by NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Program.

The AWE experiment seeks to determine the forces driving space weather, challenging the previous belief that only the sun’s solar wind influences the upper atmosphere. Specifically, it will help scientists study airglow patterns. Airglow refers to the faint, predominantly greenish or reddish glow of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, particularly in the night sky.

ILLUMA-T, on the other hand, is poised to revolutionize space communications. The experiment will test high-speed laser communications, working in tandem with NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration mission. By creating NASA’s first two-way laser communications relay system, ILLUMA-T opens the door to improving how we send data in space, adding to the existing radio systems and preparing scientists for more advanced exploration in outer space.

After CRS-29, more spaceflight to come

After Thursday night’s launch, the Falcon 9’s first stage landed back on Earth at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. The November 10 launch marked the 9th flight on the Commercial Resupply Services-2 SpaceX contract and the 2nd flight of this Dragon spacecraft, which previously flew on NASA’s SpaceX 26th resupply services mission. Previously, this Dragon supported the Crew-7 mission.

The ISS is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. With 273 individuals from 21 countries having visited the ISS, the orbiting laboratory continues to symbolize global collaboration: not a bad message for these trying times.

Bottom line: SpaceX launched its 29th cargo mission to the ISS atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida at 8:28 p.m. EST (01:28 UTC on November 10). The cargo arrived at the ISS at 5:21 a.m. EST (10:21 UTC) on November 11.

Via NASA: NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 Mission Overview

The post SpaceX CRS-29 Dragon has docked with ISS first appeared on EarthSky.

You can watch a recorded livestream of the Starlink launches on SpaceX’s feed, on the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Successful Starlink launches in October 2023

Starlink Group 6-21: October 5, 2023, 1:36 a.m. EDT (5:36 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-4: October 9, 2023, 12:23 p.m. PDT (7:23 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-22: October 13, 2023, 7 p.m. EDT  (23 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-23: October 17, 2023, 8:36 p.m. EDT (0:36 UTC October 18)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-5: October 21, 2023, 1:23 a.m. PDT (8:23 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-24: October 21, 2023, 10:17 p.m. EDT (2:17 UTC October 22)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-6: October 29, 2023, 2 a.m. PDT (9 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-25: October 30, 2023, 7:20 p.m. EDT (23:20 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | SUCCESS

After launch, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Wikipedia, as of August 2023, Starlink consists of over 5,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 2 million subscribers.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX’s final Starlink launch for the month took flight from Florida at 6:20 p.m. EDT (23:20 UTC) on October 30, 2023.

Read more from EarthSky: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Next Spaceflight

The post SpaceX wraps up Starlink launches for October first appeared on EarthSky.

Upcoming Starlink launches in September 2023

Starlink Group 6-19: September 28, 2023, 6:53 – 11:24 p.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | DATE/TIME MAY CHANGE

Upcoming launches will most likely be livestreamed exclusively on X/ Twitter. SpaceX has recently discontinued using YouTube for its broadcasts.

Looks like SpaceX is going all in on X. YouTube streams for Crew 6 splashdown and Starlink 6-12 webcasts have been removed and will now be streamed on X. Also links to all social media networks deleted from the SpaceX website menu.

— Steven Young (@stevenyoungsfn) September 3, 2023

Previous Starlink launches in September 2023

Starlink Group 7-3: September 25, 2023, 1:48 a.m. PDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-18: September 23, 2023, 11:38 p.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-17: September 19, 2023, 11:38 p.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-16: September 15, 2023, 11:38 p.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-2: September 11, 2023, 11:57 p.m. PDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg SFB, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-14: September 8, 2023, 11:12 p.m. EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-12: September 3, 2023, 10:47 p.m. EDT (2:47 UTC September 4)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-13: August 31, 2023, 10:21 p.m. EDT (2:21 UTC September 1)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Stats Pages https://t.co/xcBLHG65pn updated: 5070 launched, 4724 in orbit https://t.co/SzCNHlnfuH

— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) September 9, 2023

On September 6, a Starlink satellite that launched in July and failed to make orbit burned up in spectacular fashion over the Caribbean.

After launch, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. You can check to see if they will pass over your area using the Find Starlink website.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Spaceflight Now, Starlink now consists of over 5,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit. They communicate with designated ground transceivers and provide internet access to more than 1.5 million subscribers.

Starlink, as of now

?? for animations of each group individually#Starlink #SpaceX ?????? pic.twitter.com/XrvTgG1Lpu

— Flight Club (@flightclubio) September 18, 2023

Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. The private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX’s ninth and final Starlink launch for the month is currently scheduled from Florida at 6:53 – 11:24 p.m. EDT on September 28, 2023.

Read more from EarthSky: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Space Launch Schedule

The post SpaceX Starlink launches for September first appeared on EarthSky.

Successful Starlink launches in August 2023

Starlink Group 6-8: August 6, 2023, 10:41 p.m. EDT (2:41 UTC August 7)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-20: August 7, 2023, 8:57 p.m. PDT (3:57 UTC August 8)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg SFB, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-9: August 11, 2023, 1:17 a.m. EDT (5:17 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-10: August 16, 2023, 11:36 p.m. EDT (3:36 UTC August 17)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 7-1: August 22, 2023, 2:37 a.m. PDT (9:37 UTC)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg SFB, California | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-11: August 26, 2023, 9:05 p.m. EDT (1:05 UTC August 27)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | SUCCESS

Starlink Group 6-13: August 31, 2023, 10:21 p.m. EDT (2:21 UTC September 1)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral, Florida | SUCCESS

You can watch a recorded livestream of the Starlink launches on SpaceX’s YouTube channel.

After launches, look for a train of lights

Following every Starlink launch, the internet buzzes with people asking:

What’s that long line of lights in the sky that looks like a train?

What you’re seeing is the Starlink satellites moving into a higher orbit. Using the Find Starlink website, you can check to see if they will pass over your area.

Growing numbers amid controversy

According to Wikipedia, as of August 2023, Starlink consists of over 5,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit that communicate with designated ground transceivers. They provide internet access to more than 1.5 million subscribers.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX’s vision for a global internet communication satellite constellation. They deliver high-speed internet service worldwide, mainly to locations where ground-based internet is unreliable, unavailable, or expensive. So, the private company is well-known for launching batches back-to-back, several times a month, regularly lofting 60 satellites at a time. And SpaceX plans to build up to perhaps as many as 30,000 eventually.

Most thought it was exciting to see the first few Starlink satellites traveling together in the night sky. But then more were launched, and then more. And astronomers began to worry.

Because Starlinks are bright, astronomers say they’re photobombing astronomical images. Therefore, they have the potential to interfere with the professional astronomical observations that have brought us our modern-day view of the cosmos. And although SpaceX has tried to address the issue, they remain far from what astronomers say is acceptable.

Bottom line: SpaceX’s seventh and final Starlink launch for the month took flight from Florida at 10:21 p.m. EDT on August 31, 2023.

Read more from EarthSky: Starlink satellites can look like a plume or train of light

Via Next Spaceflight

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