The SpaceX Starlink launch from the Cape last night set a new record. It was the 19th flight of that booster.
Coming up this morning, SpaceX will launch the SARah-2 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 83-minute launch window opens at 5:11 a.m. PT. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Sunday, December 24 with the same window.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on about 15 minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live on TwitteX or Youtube.
This is the eighth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA-0A and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Update: Now looking at launch at about 6:10 a.m. Slipping for weather, I think.
Update: Sadly, while the booster was being towed back to Port Canaveral on the landing barge, high winds and waves resulted in the booster tipping over and falling into the ocean. SpaceX says they may try to tow it back to land to get it out of the shipping lanes, but it will never fly again. The current allowable lifetime for a booster is 20 flights, so this booster was destined to be retired after one more flight anyway. SpaceX uses older boosters only for their own Starlink launches. Paying customers get much newer boosters.
