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SpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

BlueBird Block 1

Launched

September 12, 2024 · 08:52 UTC

Launch SuccessfulWeather 30% go
BlueBird-1

Image: SpaceX

Summary

BlueBird Block 1 launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on September 12, 2024 at 08:52 UTC. The launch window ran from 08:52 to 12:52 UTC. It was SpaceX's 402nd launch, 91st this year and humanity's 6,756th orbital launch attempt. It was the 317th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight and the 88th this year. Booster B1078 flew for the 13th time and landed at Landing Zone 1. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). SpaceMobile-003, one of 10 catalogued objects, reached a 514 × 530 km orbit inclined 53.0°. 10 objects from this launch are catalogued, 5 of them payloads.

Watch
Vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5 · SpaceX
Booster
  • B1078 · flight 13 · Return to Launch Site at Landing Zone 1 · landed53/54 landed here · 41 days after its previous flight, Starlink Group 10-6 · 9 km downrange
Mission
Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
317th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight · 88th this yearSpaceX's 402nd launch91st this yearhumanity's 6,756th orbital launch attempt167th orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay
Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Simulate in Flight Club

Orbit: as tracked

53.0°Inclination
514 × 530 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
94.9 minPeriodfrom mean elements
21.2°Ascending node
764 d agoElement epoch2024-09-12 12:22 UTC · stale

SpaceMobile-003 · NORAD 61045 · 2024-163 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 10 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2024-163A
Epoch
2024-09-12 12:22:53 UTC
Mean motion
15.16983313 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0012011
Inclination
52.978°
Ascending node
21.172°
Arg. of perigee
319.8387°
Mean anomaly
143.4316°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
2
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile. Booster return drawn from padside's representative arc.

Flight timeline

28 steps, T−38 min to T+1 h 7 min
  1. T−38MGO for Prop Load
  2. T−35MStage 1 LOX Load
  3. T−35MProp Load
  4. T−16MStage 2 LOX Load
  5. T−7MEngine Chill
  6. T−1MStartup
  7. T−1MTank Press
  8. T−45SGO for Launch
  9. T−3SIgnition
  10. T−0Liftoff
  11. T+1M10SMax-Q
  12. T+2M18SMECO
  13. T+2M22SStage 2 Separation
  14. T+2M26SStage 1 Flip
  15. T+2M29SSES-1
  16. T+2M34SBooster Boostback Burn Startup
  17. T+3M11SFairing Separation
  18. T+3M29SBooster Boostback Burn Shutdown
  19. T+6M4SEntry Burn Startup
  20. T+6M17SEntry Burn Shutdown
  21. T+7M8SStage 1 Landing Burn
  22. T+7M32SStage 1 Landing
  23. T+8M23SSECO-1
  24. T+53M57SPayload Separation
  25. T+55M32SPayload Separation
  26. T+58M37SPayload Separation
  27. T+1H2M22SPayload Separation
  28. T+1H7M53SPayload Separation

Catalogued objects

10 catalogued: 5 payloads, 5 components; 10 still in orbit

  • SpaceMobile-003 · NORAD 61045 · in orbit
  • SpaceMobile-005 · NORAD 61046 · in orbit
  • SpaceMobile-001 · NORAD 61047 · in orbit
  • SpaceMobile-002 · NORAD 61048 · in orbit
  • SpaceMobile-004 · NORAD 61049 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

First five satellites for SpaceMobile’s cellphone-compatible broadband constellation.

Official page: SpaceX

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 40

Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

261st launch from Space Launch Complex 40, 43rd this year · 974th from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Sep 12, 4:52 AM EDT, at night

403 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

6 days 17 hours after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAOpen in maps

Updates

Signal acquired with all 5 satellites

Nosu · Sep 12, 2024 · source

Show 9 earlier updates

  • All 5 satellites have been deployed.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 9/12/2024 · source

  • Liftoff!

    hitura-nobad · 9/12/2024 · source

  • Official Webcast by AST SpaceMobile has started

    LL2 · 9/12/2024 · source

  • Tweaked launch window.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 9/12/2024 · source

  • Weather is 30% favorable for launch.

    Nosu · 9/11/2024 · source

  • Tweaked launch window per marine navigation warnings.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 9/8/2024 · source

  • Adding launch date and time.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 9/4/2024 · source

  • Changed launch pad - NET mid-September.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 9/1/2024 · source

  • NET September.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 7/26/2024 · source

Questions

When did BlueBird Block 1 launch?

BlueBird Block 1 launched on September 12, 2024 at 08:52 UTC. The launch window ran from 08:52 to 12:52 UTC.

Where can I watch BlueBird Block 1?

Coverage: YouTube; YouTube; YouTube. Watch the replay

What rocket launched BlueBird Block 1?

Falcon 9 Block 5, flown by SpaceX. Falcon 9 Block 5 spec sheet

Where did BlueBird Block 1 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Liftoff was Sep 12, 4:52 AM EDT local time at the pad.

Did the booster land?

Booster B1078 flew for the 13th time and landed at Landing Zone 1.

What orbit did BlueBird Block 1 reach?

SpaceMobile-003, one of 10 catalogued objects, reached a 514 × 530 km orbit inclined 53.0°.

How many satellites did BlueBird Block 1 launch?

5 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 5 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).