SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulEarth Science

USSF‑62

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | USSF-62
Start: 2024-04-11T14:25:00Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Thu, Apr 11 · 2:25 PM UTC2024-04-11 14:25 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Polar Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:27 and released the payload at T+54:57.

Landed

B1082 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 3rd flight.

Worldwide

71st

orbital launch attempt in 2024

SpaceX

38th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

13th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

4 d 12 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX USSF-62

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 2:25 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:001:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:001:50 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:001:50 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:002:09 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:18 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:24 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:002:24 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:452:24 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:24 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:001:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:001:50 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:001:50 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:002:09 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:18 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:24 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:002:24 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:452:24 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:24 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:002:25 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:122:26 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:192:27 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:232:27 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:302:27 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:012:28 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return6

T+2:362:27 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:302:28 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:072:31 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:252:31 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:242:32 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+7:522:32 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload4

T+8:272:33 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+49:513:14 PMSecond start of the second engine
T+49:563:14 PMSecond cut-off of the second engine
T+54:573:19 PMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

First Weather System Follow-on (WSF) satellite.

WSF-M (Weather System Follow-on - Microwave) is the next-generation operational environmental satellite system for the Department of Defense (DoD), to replace the microwave wavelength weather forecasting capabilities of the DMSP satellites.

Ball Aerospace has been selected in late November 2017 to be the prime contractor for 2 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather satellites with a passive microwave imaging radiometer instrument and hosted Government furnished energetic charged particle (ECP) sensor space weather payload developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The radiometer leverages the Ball-built Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument.

This mission will improve weather forecasting over maritime regions by taking global measurements of the atmosphere and ocean surface.

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

Apr 12 · 2:45 AM
Satellite confirmed in operation.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 11 · 3:20 PM
Payload deployed
Nosu
Apr 11 · 2:25 PM
Liftoff
Nosu
Apr 11 · 2:04 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Apr 11 · 1:56 PM
Weather 95%
Nosu

Show earlier updates

Apr 11 · 12:49 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 7 · 10:55 PM
NET April 11.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 19 · 2:49 PM
Delayed to April
Nosu
May 27 · 10:19 AM
Adding launch
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

USSF‑62

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Thu, Apr 11 · 2:25 PM UTC2024-04-11 14:25 UTCSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Polar Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:27 and released the payload at T+54:57.

Landed

B1082 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 4, on its 3rd flight.

Worldwide

71st

orbital launch attempt in 2024

SpaceX

38th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 4E

13th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

4 d 12 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX USSF-62

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 2:25 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:001:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:001:50 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:001:50 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:002:09 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:18 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:24 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:002:24 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:452:24 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:24 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:001:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:001:50 PMStart of propelland loading
T−35:001:50 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−16:002:09 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:002:18 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:002:24 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−1:002:24 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−0:452:24 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:032:24 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:002:25 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:122:26 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:192:27 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:232:27 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:302:27 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:012:28 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return6

T+2:362:27 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:302:28 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:072:31 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:252:31 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:242:32 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+7:522:32 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload4

T+8:272:33 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+49:513:14 PMSecond start of the second engine
T+49:563:14 PMSecond cut-off of the second engine
T+54:573:19 PMFinal deployment of the payload from the rocket

Mission

First Weather System Follow-on (WSF) satellite.

This mission will improve weather forecasting over maritime regions by taking global measurements of the atmosphere and ocean surface.

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

Apr 12 · 2:45 AM
Satellite confirmed in operation.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 11 · 3:20 PM
Payload deployed
Nosu
Apr 11 · 2:25 PM
Liftoff
Nosu
Apr 11 · 2:04 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Apr 11 · 1:56 PM
Weather 95%
Nosu

Show earlier updates

Apr 11 · 12:49 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin
Apr 7 · 10:55 PM
NET April 11.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 19 · 2:49 PM
Delayed to April
Nosu
May 27 · 10:19 AM
Adding launch
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

Oct31Sat

Starlink Group 15-18SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch3:48 AM UTC Nov3Tue

USSF-432SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USALow Earth OrbitGo for launch1:42 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

USSF‑62

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

USSF‑62

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Next From Vandenberg SFB

USSF‑62

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

USSF‑62

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload4

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Vandenberg SFB

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Vandenberg SFB