Back to photo homeView this gallery in a slideshowStatic thumbnail page

SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink Group 7-18 launch
Vandenberg SLC4E : April 1, 2024

Falcon 9 launch carrying 22 Starlink satellites - Another twilight launch viewed from San Diego.

This was the 15th flight of B1071, whose previous flight was the Starlink 7-13 mission February 9.

Launch time approximately 02:30:00 UTC (April 2). Sunset was 02:09 UTC. Image times approximate.

02:31:53Z Max Q contrail
02:32:09Z Into the sunlight
02:32:31Z MECO
02:32:47Z Second stage ignition

02:33:06Z
02:33:18Z
02:33:24Z Some first stage thruster activity
02:33:33Z

02:33:39Z Fairings visible in main plume
02:33:42Z Passing Jupiter
02:33:43Z Second stage, Jupiter, and fairings
02:33:45Z

02:33:49Z First stage and Jupiter
02:33:57Z
02:34:19Z
02:34:28Z

02:34:47Z
02:34:51Z
02:35:23Z
02:35:31Z First stage

02:35:42Z
02:35:45Z Plume twisting with the upper level winds
02:36:04Z
02:36:16Z Entry burn

02:36:25Z Second stage and entry burn
02:38:08Z
02:38:18Z Jupiter and its moons through the rocket plume (Io, Europa, Callisto visible)
02:46:21Z

Evil-eyed bunny
02:52:43Z
02:36:10Z 293s time exposure with 10 stop ND filter