With about an hour and five minutes remaining until today’s 3:22 p.m. EDT liftoff time, SpaceX Demo-2 launch countdown is proceeding according to schedule at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A weather update is coming up; although rain in the launch area has let up, some conditions are still “no go,” including lightning, cumulus clouds and electric fields.
Here’s a look at some of the major milestones still to come. (Times are shown in “L-time” – minutes and seconds prior to launch time.)
-45:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies “go” for propellant load
-42:00 Crew access arm retracts
-37:00 Dragon launch escape system is armed
-35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
-35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
-16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins
-07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
-05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power
-01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
-01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
-00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies “go” for launch
-00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
-00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff