SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

EarthCARE

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | EarthCARE
Start: 2024-05-28T22:20:10Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Tue, May 28 · 10:20:10 PM UTC2024-05-28 22:20:10 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:41 and released the payload at T+10:42.

Landed

B1081 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 7th flight.

Worldwide

103rd

orbital launch attempt in 2024

SpaceX

57th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

18th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

6 d 14 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX EarthCARE

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 10:20 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:009:42 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:009:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:009:45 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:0010:04 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:13 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:19 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:19 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:19 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:20 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:009:42 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:009:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:009:45 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:0010:04 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:13 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:19 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:19 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:19 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:20 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:0010:20 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:0710:21 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:1910:22 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2310:22 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:2410:22 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+2:4610:22 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return7

T+2:2410:22 PMFlip maneuver of the first stage
T+2:3610:22 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:1910:23 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:1910:26 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:3810:26 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:3010:27 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+7:4610:27 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload2

T+8:4110:28 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+10:4210:30 PMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) is a joint mission of ESA and JAXA. The main goal of the mission is the observation and characterization of clouds and aerosols as well as measuring the reflected solar radiation and the infrared radiation emitted from Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

May 28 · 11:15 PM
Satellite signal acquisition confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 28 · 10:33 PM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 28 · 10:20 PM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 17 · 10:01 AM
Added launch date and time.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 28 · 12:27 AM
NET May 2024.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Jul 2 · 12:52 AM
NET 2Q 2024.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 29 · 12:34 PM
Moved to Falcon 9 from Vega-C due to a delayed return to flight after a launch failure and the larger than expected spacecraft size requiring cutouts in the Vega-C fairing.
Nosu
Oct 20 · 12:23 PM
Updating launch vehicle to Vega-C
Nosu

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

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SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

EarthCARE

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Tue, May 28 · 10:20:10 PM UTC2024-05-28 22:20:10 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:41 and released the payload at T+10:42.

Landed

B1081 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 7th flight.

Worldwide

103rd

orbital launch attempt in 2024

SpaceX

57th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

18th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

6 d 14 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX EarthCARE

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 10:20 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:009:42 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:009:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:009:45 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:0010:04 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:13 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:19 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:19 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:19 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:20 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:009:42 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:009:45 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:009:45 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:0010:04 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:0010:13 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:0010:19 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:0010:19 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:4510:19 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:0310:20 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:0010:20 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:0710:21 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:1910:22 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:2310:22 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:2410:22 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+2:4610:22 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return7

T+2:2410:22 PMFlip maneuver of the first stage
T+2:3610:22 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:1910:23 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:1910:26 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:3810:26 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:3010:27 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+7:4610:27 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload2

T+8:4110:28 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+10:4210:30 PMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

May 28 · 11:15 PM
Satellite signal acquisition confirmed.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 28 · 10:33 PM
Spacecraft separation.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 28 · 10:20 PM
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin
May 17 · 10:01 AM
Added launch date and time.
Cosmic_Penguin
Oct 28 · 12:27 AM
NET May 2024.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Jul 2 · 12:52 AM
NET 2Q 2024.
Cosmic_Penguin
Jun 29 · 12:34 PM
Moved to Falcon 9 from Vega-C due to a delayed return to flight after a launch failure and the larger than expected spacecraft size requiring cutouts in the Vega-C fairing.
Nosu
Oct 20 · 12:23 PM
Updating launch vehicle to Vega-C
Nosu

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Vandenberg SFB schedule

Oct30Fri

Starlink Group 15-18SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch4:02 AM UTC Nov2Mon

USSF-432SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch1:56 AM UTC

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

EarthCARE

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

EarthCARE

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Next From Vandenberg SFB

EarthCARE

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

EarthCARE

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return7

Second Stage and Payload2

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Vandenberg SFB