SpaceX to Launch Three Rockets in Five-Hour Span on March 30, 2024: Eutelsat Satellite and Starlink Missions

Vandenberg Space Force Base, California United States of America
SpaceX is planning to launch three rockets in a five-hour span on March 30, 2024.
The first mission is set to take off at approximately 7:30 p.m. PT on March 29th (10:30 a.m EDT). The second and third missions will launch within minutes of each other, with the second one taking off at approximately 8:45 p.m PT (12 hours after the first mission) and the third one following shortly thereafter.
The first mission will send the Eutelsat 36D telecommunications satellite to geostationary transfer orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a four-hour window that opens at 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT).
The launches are expected to be visible from Huntington Beach at dusk on March 30th.
The second and third missions will both be devoted to building out SpaceX's Starlink broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). One of these missions will send 39 Starlink satellites, while the other will launch 48. Both launches are scheduled for Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
SpaceX to Launch Three Rockets in Five-Hour Span on March 30, 2024: Eutelsat Satellite and Starlink Missions

SpaceX is planning to launch three rockets in a five-hour span on March 30, 2024. The first mission will send the Eutelsat 36D telecommunications satellite to geostationary transfer orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a four-hour window that opens at 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT). The second and third missions will both be devoted to building out SpaceX's Starlink broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). One of these missions will send 39 Starlink satellites, while the other will launch 48. Both launches are scheduled for Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The first mission is set to take off at approximately 7:30 p.m. PT on March 29th (10:30 a.m EDT). The second and third missions will launch within minutes of each other, with the second one taking off at approximately 8:45 p.m PT (12 hours after the first mission) and the third one following shortly thereafter. The launches are expected to be visible from Huntington Beach at dusk on March 30th.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if there are any potential issues with the Eutelsat satellite or its launch.
  • There may be concerns about the impact of Starlink's megaconstellation on other space activities and wildlife.

Sources

70%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Spaceflight tripleheader! SpaceX planning 3 launches in 5-hour span today

Space.com Mike Wall Saturday, 30 March 2024 13:00
  • Unique Points
    • The launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is visible from Huntington Beach at dusk on March 18. The rocket, carrying 22 Starlink satellites, took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
    • SpaceX announced that the private spacecraft manufacturer headquartered in Hawthorne would attempt a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit no earlier than 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
    • The launch was originally scheduled for Thursday and has been delayed twice.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that SpaceX has a very busy evening planned when in fact they have three launches scheduled over the course of five hours. This implies that there will be no other space activities during this time period which is not true as NASA's Kennedy Space Center also has a launch window opening at 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT). Secondly, the article states that one of the rockets is scheduled to launch the Eutelsat 36D telecommunications satellite to geostationary transfer orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a four-hour window that opens at 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT). However, this statement is misleading as the launch site for the Eutelsat 36D mission is Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and not NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Lastly, the article states that all three launches will feature rocket landings on ships at sea which implies that these are separate events when in fact they are part of the same launch sequence.
    • The statement 'All three launches will feature rocket landings on ships at sea' implies that these are separate events when in fact they are part of the same launch sequence.
    • The statement 'One of the rockets is scheduled to launch the Eutelsat 36D telecommunications satellite to geostationary transfer orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a four-hour window that opens at 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT)' is misleading as the launch site for the Eutelsat 36D mission is Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and not NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
    • The statement 'SpaceX has a very busy evening planned' is deceptive as it implies there will be no other space activities during this time period. However, NASA's Kennedy Space Center also has a launch window opening at 5:52 p.m. EDT (2152 GMT).
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Eutelsat 36D will provide TV broadcasting services to customers in Europe, Russia and Africa according to EverydayAstronaut.com without providing any evidence or citation for this claim.
    • Eutelsat 36D will provide TV broadcasting services to customers in Europe, Russia and Africa
    • according to EverydayAstronaut.com
  • Bias (80%)
    The article is biased towards SpaceX and its upcoming launches. The author uses language that portrays the company in a positive light, such as calling it 'very busy' and highlighting its successes with previous launches. Additionally, the article mentions Elon Musk by name, further emphasizing his involvement with SpaceX.
    • SpaceX has a very busy evening planned.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      Mike Wall has a conflict of interest with SpaceX as he is reporting on their launches and Starlink broadband megaconstellation in low Earth orbit (LEO). He also mentions Elon Musk who is the CEO of SpaceX.
      • [10:30 p.m. EDT (7:30 p.m. California time; 2230 GMT on March 31)]
        • [9:02 p.m. EDT (15 minutes before the window opens) ]
          • Spaceflight tripleheader!
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            Mike Wall has a conflict of interest on the topic of SpaceX as he is an author for space.com which covers news related to SpaceX.
            • The article mentions Mike Wall as the author.

            71%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Look to the skies this weekend for another SpaceX rocket launch

            The Los Angeles Times Terry Castleman Thursday, 28 March 2024 18:50
            • Unique Points
              • The launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is visible from Huntington Beach at dusk on March 18. The rocket, carrying 22 Starlink satellites, took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
              • SpaceX announced that the private spacecraft manufacturer headquartered in Hawthorne would attempt a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit no earlier than 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
              • The launch was originally scheduled for Thursday and has been delayed twice.
            • Accuracy
              No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
            • Deception (30%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it uses sensationalism by stating that the launch of a SpaceX rocket will light up the night sky and be visible from Huntington Beach at dusk on March 18. This statement exaggerates the event and creates a sense of urgency for readers to watch it.
              • The article states that 'Another SpaceX rocket launch is scheduled to light up the night sky this weekend.'
              • The article uses sensationalism by stating that 'the streak of light above Los Angeles at sunset' was a UFO, missile or space laser. This statement exaggerates the event and creates a sense of urgency for readers to watch it.
            • Fallacies (85%)
              The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that SpaceX is a private spacecraft manufacturer headquartered in Hawthorne. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the launch as 'another SpaceX rocket launch' and 'a celestial show'. Additionally, there are dichotomous depictions of the light from last week's launch being described as a UFO or a space laser, which is not supported by any evidence. The article also contains an informal fallacy when stating that viewers on social media posted videos and offered guesses of what the light might be.
              • SpaceX is a private spacecraft manufacturer headquartered in Hawthorne.
            • Bias (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            75%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            SpaceX rocket set to launch this weekend from the California coast

            NBC Los Angeles Media Inc. Jonathan Lloyd Sunday, 31 March 2024 00:32
            • Unique Points
              • A SpaceX rocket might be visible for hundreds of miles around after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base about 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
              • The Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch Saturday evening from Vandenberg Space Force Base northwest of Santa Barbara and soar along the coastline. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 p.m. PT.
              • Cloudy conditions are in the forecast this weekend with rain arriving late Friday and continuing through Sunday, which will likely spoil viewing conditions if the launch moves forward.
            • Accuracy
              No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
            • Deception (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Fallacies (85%)
              The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that SpaceX has a Starlink constellation of satellites orbiting Earth about 340 miles up and that these satellites are designed to deliver high-speed internet anywhere around the globe. However, this statement is not supported with any evidence or sources. Secondly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that if light conditions are right, the satellites appear in a train as they parade across the night sky and that these satellites can be visible for hundreds of miles around after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base about 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles. This statement is exaggerated and not supported with any evidence or sources.
              • SpaceX has a Starlink constellation of satellites orbiting Earth about 340 miles up
              • these satellites are designed to deliver high-speed internet anywhere around the globe
              • if light conditions are right, the satellites appear in a train as they parade across the night sky
            • Bias (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication