Update by the edhat staff
June 19, 2024

On Tuesday, June 18 at 8:40 p.m., Falcon 9 launched 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Station in California.

This was the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched USSF-62 and now four Starlink missions.

SpaceX Launch Scheduled for Tuesday, Separate Test Launch Successful on Monday Evening

By the edhat staff
June 18, 2024

A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for launch Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Liftoff is targeted for 8:00 p.m., with backup opportunities available until 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Thursday, June 19 starting at 8:00 p.m.

SpaceX will send 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East. The Falcon 9 will likely fly towards the southeast and along the coast.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched USSF-62 and three Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Additionally, there was an unannounced launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday evening. An operational test launch of an unarmed Mk21A reentry vehicle was launched at 11:01 p.m.

The Mk21A RV is currently under contract with Lockheed Martin for its engineering and manufacturing development phase. After attaining full operational capability, the Mk21A RV will be integrated on the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile weapon system. The Mk21A program is currently in early development and overseen by the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.

The Minotaur family of launch vehicles is based on government-furnished Peacekeeper and Minuteman rocket motors that Northrop Grumman has integrated with modern flight proven avionics and other subsystems to produce cost-effective, responsive launch vehicles to support missile defense testing and other suborbital applications, according to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

“Test launches like these are crucial for protecting our nation’s defense,” stated Col. Mark Shoemaker, Commander of Space Launch Delta 30. “As global threats evolve, it’s essential to support these launches and maintain access to space to safeguard our nation.”

Vandenberg Space Force Base is the United States Space Force’s West Coast Spaceport and Test Range, and one of only two high-capacity spaceports for the United States. Vandenberg plays a pivotal role in maintaining our national security posture by leveraging advanced space launch and test range capabilities to deter and defend against emerging threats in the global theatre, according to the base.