SpaceX Successfully Launches EarthCARE Mission on Tuesday

Update by the edhat staff

SpaceX successfully launched Falcon 9 for the ESA EarthCARE mission at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Watch the launch below:

Watch Falcon 9 launch the @ESA_EO EarthCARE mission to orbit https://t.co/ox9q34qma3

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 28, 2024

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, May 28, for Falcon 9’s launch of the ESA EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Liftoff is targeted for 3:20 p.m. PT. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Wednesday, May 29 at the same time.

About eight minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4. There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the landing, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about 15 minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This will be the seventh flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, and two Starlink missions. After stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.