9 Merlin Engines & 4 Landing Legs Up Close Fire & Fury spewing 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust from 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon 9 blasts off at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020 roaring past gripper arm. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – The 1st ever 6x recycled SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage radiated bountiful beauty at blastoff Tuesday morning, Aug. 18 as it soared to orbit under sunny Florida Space Coast skies and set a new record breaking reusability record.
Liftoff of the ‘flight-proven’ SpaceX Falcon 9 booster B1049.6 took place right on time Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 10:31 a.m. EDT on its eleventh Starlink mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The Falcon and the Dragonfly: Starlink stuns atop 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon 9 erupts with 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
Enjoy our photos of the Falcon 9 launch gallery taken by the Space UpClose team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright.
Check back as the gallery grows.
SpaceX Falcon 9 soars to orbit on 11th Starlink comsat mission from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on Aug. 18, 2020. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com
The now most experienced SpaceX rocket successfully deployed its packed payload of 58 SpaceX Starlink internet satellites and three of Planet’s Earth optical imaging SkySats as the third rideshare to low Earth orbit (LEO).
To top that off the SpaceX was able to successfully land the 6x flown 1st stage booster for a sixth time on the ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ (OCISLY) droneship – thereby setting up a 7th launch attempt at some point in the not too distant future.
SpaceX also successfully caught one of the payload fairing halves mid-air with the humongous net rigged on their ‘Go Ms Tree’ fairing catcher ship – while the other was scooped from the Atlantic Ocean by the SpaceX fleet.
Fire & Fury from 9 Merlin engines spewing 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust from 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon blasts off at 1031 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
Enjoy our photos of the Falcon 9 launch and prelaunch from Space Launch Complex-40 taken by the Space UpClose team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright.
SpaceX Falcon 9 soars to orbit on 11th Starlink comsat mission from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on Aug. 18, 2020. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com
Check back as the gallery grows.
Falcon 9 goes supersonic creating water vapor condensation shock wave cone. On historic 1st ever 6th launch of SpaceX recycled 1st stage at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comFalcon 9 goes supersonic creating water vapor condensation shock wave cone – with flames! On historic 1st ever 6th launch of SpaceX recycled 1st stage at 1031 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
Watch my post launch commentary about the Aug. 18 Starlink, SkySat launch at Wesh 2 NBC News Orlando and WFTV ABC Channel 9 TV News Orlando
Ken Kremer/Space UpClose SpaceX Starlink launch commentary featured on WESH 2 NBC News Orlando on Aug 18, 2020 – screenshot
Watch my Aug. 14 guest host and Aug 3 interview appearances at ‘Stay Curious’ show at the American Space Museum about successful Mars Perseverance launch, successful splashdown SpaceX Crew Dragon on Demo-2 1st commercial mission as well as upcoming Crew-1, Artemis Moon mission, SpaceX Starlink and more:
Fire & Fury from 9 Merlin engines spewing 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust from 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon blasts off at 1031 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
Watch Ken’s continuing reports about Commercial Crew and Artemis and onsite for live reporting of upcoming and recent SpaceX and ULA launches including Demo-2, Starlink, X-37B, Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020 and more at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com
Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics.
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Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events
9 Merlin Engines Up Close Fire & Fury spewing 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust from 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon 9 blasts off at 1031 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020 roaring past gripper arm. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
SpaceX Falcon 9 vents LOX moments before liftoff on 11th Starlink comsat mission from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on Aug. 18, 2020. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com
Fire & Fury from 9 Merlin engines spewing 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust from 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon blasts off at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comFire & Fury from 9 Merlin engines spewing 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust from 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon blasts off at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18, 2020. Delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comDaylight Steak with 1.7 million pounds liftoff thrust and exhaust roaring off Space Launch Complex-40 in this 30 sec exposure showing 1st ever 6th launched SpaceX Falcon 9 1st stage with glorious water reflection – delivered 11th set Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats to LEO from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comStarlink stuns atop 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon 9 erupts with 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comStarlink stuns atop 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon 9 erupts with 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comStarlink stuns atop 1st 6th launched 1st stage as SpaceX Falcon 9 erupts with 1.7 million pounds of liftoff thrust at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comSpaceX Falcon 9 set reusability record with 1st ever 6th launch of recycled Falcon 9 1st stage at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 with beautiful water reflection view from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 SkySats Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comSpaceX Falcon 9 set reusability record with 1st ever 6th launch of recycled Falcon 9 1st stage at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 with beautiful water reflection view from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.comSpaceX Falcon 9 for 11th Starlink comsat launch stands vertical at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida for launch targeted for Aug. 18, 2020. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com
6x recycled SpaceX Falcon 9 roars off Space Launch Complex-40 at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
6x recycled SpaceX Falcon 9 roars off Space Launch Complex-40 at 10:31 a.m. ET Aug. 18 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida carrying 11th batch Starlink broadband internet comsats and 3 rideshare SkySats. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and more space and mission reports direct from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news. Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics. Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – Everything had been looking good for a liftoff of the Axiom Mission 4 carrying 4 astronauts to the International Space Station at 8 AM ET on Wednesday, June 11, until SpaceX engineers discovered a LOX leak in the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket – upon further review of data from a static fire
PLAYALINDA BEACH/CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE, FL – A SpaceX Falcon 9 went vertical overnight Saturday night June 7 ahead of Tuesday morning launch of Axiom-4 commercial astronaut mission planned to liftoff at 822 AM ET pad 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, FL. See my photos of the integrated Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon – as seen from Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National
SpaceX Falcon 9 vents LOX moments before liftoff on 11th Starlink comsat mission from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on Aug. 18, 2020. Credit: Jean Wright/spaceupclose.com
