SpaceX Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Falcon 9 Block 5
Rocket Launch Video Streams
Weather Forecast During Launch
According to weather officials, there's a 80% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch.
About the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) Mission
| Type | Earth Science |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
| Launch Cost | $52,000,000 |
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and Sentinel-6B make up the Sentinel-6 mission, also known as Jason Continuity of Service (Jason-CS), which is a partnership between NASA, NOAA, ESA, and EUMETSAT. This mission continues the long-term global sea surface height data record begun by first Jason satellites in 1992.
Named after former NASA Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich, Sentinel-6 Michail Freilich will provide altimeter data necessary for ocean climate monitoring, ocean modelling and numerical ocean prediction, weather forecasting, marine meteorology, coastal altimetry and modelling. A secondary objective of the mission is to collect high-resolution vertical profiles of temperature, using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio-Occultation sounding technique, to assess temperature changes in the troposphere and stratosphere and to support numerical weather prediction.
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is to operate in a highly-inclined circular orbit at an altitude of 1336 km, with an operational mission lasting 5 years. Near-identical Sentinel-6B is planned to follow-up shortly after.
Launch Pad & Location
Space Launch Complex 4E
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
| Launches | 300 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 300 |
| Total Launches | 916 |
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 Rocket
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
| Length | 70.0 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 3.7 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 549.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 7,607.0 kN |
| Apogee | 200.0 km |
| LEO Capacity | 22,800 kg |
| GTO Capacity | 8,300 kg |
| Launch Cost | $52,000,000 |
| Maiden Flight | 5/11/2018 |
Booster Landing & Recovery
Core B1063
| Serial Number | B1063 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 09/02/2026 |
| Successful Landings | 35 |
Notable launches include Sentinel-6 and Dart. B1063 successfully landed after its first launch.
Landing Zone 4 - LZ-4
LZ at Vandenberg
Return to Launch Site - RTLS
A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.
A sonic boom may occur during booster recovery as the first stage returns to the landing zone. This atmospheric phenomenon creates a loud sound as the rocket breaks the sound barrier during its descent.
Understand rocket booster landing sonic booms (opens in a new tab)
About SpaceX
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.
| Total Launches | 735 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 720 |
| Failed | 15 |
| Pending | 131 |
| Consecutive Success | 220 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) launch scheduled?
The SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) launch was scheduled for:
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Where can I watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) launch video?
You can watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) mission launch from?
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
What rocket was used for the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) mission?
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
Did the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster for Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) attempt a landing?
Yes, the Falcon 9 first stage booster attempted a Return to Launch Site at a designated landing zone. Booster recovery allows SpaceX to reuse rocket components, significantly reducing launch costs. Learn more about the landing details.
What weather conditions could have delayed the SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) launch?
The SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the SpaceX Falcon 9 Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest SpaceX Falcon 9 launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A; Jason-CS) mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official SpaceX live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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