Have you ever wondered what astronauts listen to on their way to the launch pad as they prepare to launch on the ride of a lifetime? Riding in one car together are Commander Raja Chari and Pilot Tom Marshburn. Here’s a look at a few songs on their playlist:
“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses
“Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue
“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
The Tesla Model X vehicles carrying Chari, Marshburn, NASA astronaut Kayla Barron, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer are traveling to the pad in the middle of a convoy that includes support team members and security personnel. Waiting for the crew’s arrival at the launch pad is the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft that will send the four-member crew to the International Space Station.
The SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts walk out through the double doors below the Neil A. Armstrong Building’s Astronaut Crew Quarters at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 10, 2021. Photo credit: NASA
The astronauts who will soon fly to the International Space Station on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission just walked out of the double doors below the Neil A. Armstrong Building’s Astronaut Crew Quarters and made their way to the Tesla Model X cars that will take them to Launch Complex 39A.
Since the late 1960s, Pads A and B at Launch Complex 39 have supported America’s major space programs, with Pad A used most frequently for launches under the Space Shuttle Program. After the retirement of the shuttle program in 2011, Pad A helped usher in a new era of spaceflight with the historic Demo-1 launch for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, which returned human spaceflight capability to the U.S.
Crew-3 astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and Matthias Maurer have finished putting on their SpaceX spacesuits and will soon depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for the short journey to Launch Complex 39A. At the pad, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endurance by the crew, stand ready for liftoff.
NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission astronauts are in the suit-up room in the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building on Nov. 10, 2021. A team of SpaceX suit technicians are helping them as they put on their custom-fitted spacesuits and check the suits for leaks. At right is NASA astronaut and Mission Specialist Kayla Barron. Photo credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, are inside the Astronaut Crew Quarters at Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, suiting up for tonight’s launch to the International Space Station.
A team of SpaceX suit technicians are helping them put on their custom-fitted spacesuits, while checking the suits for leaks. Designed for safety and functionality, the spacesuits also provide modern comfort and style. They supply pressurization, protecting the crew from potential depressurization, and a port located on the thigh connects to life support systems, including air and power. Also included in the suits are touchscreen-compatible gloves and a flame-resistant outer layer.
The official crew portrait of the SpaceX Crew-3 mission with (from left) Commander Raja Chari and Pilot Thomas Mashburn, both NASA astronauts; Mission Specialist Matthias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency); and Mission Specialist Kayla Barron of NASA. Photo credit: NASA
Below are some of the key milestones leading up to the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission, as well as some critical events that occur after liftoff. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off just a little more than four hours from now at 9:03 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A in Florida.
5:01 p.m. Crew-3 weather briefing
5:06 p.m. Launch Director countdown briefing and readiness poll; crew suit donning
5:40 p.m. Crew walkout from Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building
6:04 p.m. Crew arrival at Launch Complex 39A
6:28 p.m. Crew ingress into Endurance
7:08 p.m. Endurance hatch closure
8:08 p.m. Mission Director Go/No-Go poll for propellant loading
8:13 p.m. Final Go/No-Go for propellant loading
8:21 p.m. Crew access arm retracts
8:25 p.m. Dragon launch escape system is armed
8:28 p.m. Falcon 9 propellant loading begins
8:59 p.m. Strongback retraction
9:01 p.m. Falcon 9 propellant load complete and vehicle transitions to internal power
9:03 p.m. Liftoff!
9:12 p.m. Falcon 9 second stage engine cutoff (SECO)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-3 mission, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Hello, and welcome to live launch coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station! Here at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endurance by the crew, stand ready for launch. Liftoff is targeted for 9:03 p.m. EST from Kennedy’s historic Launch Complex 39A.
The countdown is proceeding according to schedule, and about 15 minutes from now, the crew will receive a weather briefing, followed by a countdown briefing from the launch director inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. After that, the Crew-3 astronauts will don their SpaceX spacesuits before exiting the building and heading out to the launch pad – this coming up in just about an hour.
Stay with us here on the blog as the countdown continues; we’ll keep you updated as we reach key milestones leading up to and through launch. Or, watch live now on NASA Television or the agency’s website.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts participate in a countdown dress rehearsal at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 28, 2021, to prepare for the upcoming Crew-3 launch. The astronauts are at Launch Pad 39A with the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon behind them during the rehearsal. Photo credit: SpaceX
Tonight, Nov. 10, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, carrying NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer to the International Space Station for the third crew rotation mission under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Liftoff is targeted for 9:03 p.m. EST – an instantaneous launch window – and launch weather officers with the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are predicting a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The primary weather concerns are cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation. Teams also continue to monitor the weather conditions along in Crew Dragon’s flight path, which is expected to be favorable for launch. Live countdown coverage will begin at 4:45 p.m. on NASA Television and the agency’s website, as well as right here on the blog.
Following liftoff, the Crew-3 astronauts will have a 22-hour journey to the space station, where they will be greeted by NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov – the Expedition 66 crew already on board. Crew-3 astronauts will remain at the station for a six-month science mission, living and working as part of a seven-member crew.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen at sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-3 mission, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission is the third crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer are scheduled to launch no earlier than Nov. 10 at 9:03 p.m. EST, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA and SpaceX have completed the Delta Launch Readiness Review for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. The launch now is targeted no earlier than 9:03 p.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 10, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A prelaunch news teleconference will begin at 11:00 p.m., Nov. 9. Listen live on the agency’s website. Participants include:
Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston
Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Johnson
Holly Ridings, chief flight director, Flight Operations Directorate, Johnson
William Gerstenmaier, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
Weather officials with the 45th Weather Squadron are predicting an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch, with the primary concerns will be onshore moving Cumulus Clouds. Weather conditions along the ascent flight path also are predicted to be favorable.
The official crew portrait of the SpaceX Crew-3 mission with (from left) Commander Raja Chari and Pilot Thomas Mashburn, both NASA astronauts; Mission Specialist Matthias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency); and Mission Specialist Kayla Barron of NASA. Photo credit: NASA
The Crew-3 prelaunch news teleconference now is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST. Listen live on the agency’s website.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-3 mission, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
NASA will provide updated coverage of the upcoming launch and docking activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission, which will carry astronauts to the International Space Station.
This mission marks the third time the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft has transported a crew rotation of astronauts to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. It will be the spacecraft’s fourth flight for the program with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight.
The launch now is targeted for no earlier than 9:03 p.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 10, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch follows a successful return of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission.
The Crew Dragon Endurance is scheduled to dock to the space station at 7:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11. Launch and docking coverage will air live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.
The Crew-3 flight will carry NASA astronauts Raja Chari, mission commander; Tom Marshburn, pilot; and Kayla Barron, mission specialist; as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who will serve as a mission specialist, to the space station for a six-month science mission.
The deadline has passed for media accreditation for in-person coverage of this launch. Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Kennedy Press Site facilities remains closed for the protection of Kennedy employees and journalists except for limited number of media who have already been notified. More information about media accreditation is available by emailing: ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.
All media participation in the following news conference will be remote.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern):
Today, Tuesday, Nov. 9
9:30 p.m. – Crew-3 Prelaunch News Teleconference with the following participants:
Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston
Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Johnson
Holly Ridings, chief flight director, Flight Operations Directorate, Johnson
SpaceX Representative
ESA Representative
Media wishing to participate in the preview briefing by telephone must contact ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov to RSVP by 4:30 p.m. EST today, Tuesday, Nov. 9. Those following the briefing on social media may ask questions using #AskNASA.
Wednesday, Nov. 10
4:45 p.m. – NASA TV coverage begins
9:03 p.m. – Launch
NASA TV coverage continues through docking, arrival, and the welcome ceremony. In lieu of a postlaunch news conference, NASA leadership will provide comments during the broadcast.
Thursday, Nov. 11
7:10 p.m. – Docking
8:45 p.m. – Hatch Opening
9:20 p.m. – Welcoming Ceremony
NASA TV Launch Coverage
NASA TV live coverage will begin at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit:
Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135.
Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.
NASA Website Launch Coverage
Launch day coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission will be available on the agency’s website. Coverage will include livestreaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at: 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on the launch blog at:
On launch day, a “clean feed” of the launch without NASA TV commentary will air on the NASA TV media channel. NASA will provide a live video feed of Launch Complex 39A approximately 48 hours prior to the planned liftoff of the Crew-3 mission. Pending unlikely technical issues, the feed will be uninterrupted through launch.
Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually or join the Facebook event. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities, as well as a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport (for those registered via Eventbrite) following a successful launch.
Watch, Engage on Social Media
Let people know you’re following the mission on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtag #Crew3. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts:
Did you know NASA has a Spanish section called NASA en Espanol? Make sure to check out NASA en Espanol on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more coverage on Crew-3.
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo 321-501-8425 antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program has delivered on its goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station from the United States through a partnership with American private industry. This partnership is changing the arc of human spaceflight history by opening access to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station to more people, more science, and more commercial opportunities. The space station remains the springboard to NASA’s next great leap in space exploration, including future missions to the Moon and, ultimately, to Mars.
For NASA’s launch blog and more information about the mission, visit:
Have you ever wondered what astronauts listen to on their way to the launch pad as they prepare to launch on the ride of a lifetime? Riding in one car together are Commander Raja Chari and Pilot Tom Marshburn. Here’s a look at a few songs on their playlist:
