Rocket Reaches Max Q

Max Q, or the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket, has been reached.

Liftoff! Crew-1 Astronauts on Their Way to the Space Station

Crew-1 liftoff
Above and below: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi aboard the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, blasts off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.

The Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience lit up the Florida Crew-1 liftoff from 39Aearly evening sky, lifting off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A at 7:27 p.m. EST! Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi have started their 27.5-hour journey to the International Space Station on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission.

Max Q (the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) will happen during the next minute.

Dragon is in Terminal Count

Two minutes to lifoff, and all looks good for the Crew-1 launch!

Commander Mike Hopkins: ‘Now it’s Time to do Our Part’

Crew-1 mission Commander Mike Hopkins just uttered the following words: “To all the people at NASA and SpaceX, by working together through these difficult times, you’ve inspired the nation, the world — and in no small part — the name of this incredible vehicle, Resilience. And now it’s time for us to do our part. Crew-1 for all.”

Crew-1 Remains on Schedule, Launch Less Than 15 Minutes Away

Crew-1 capsule
The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience sits on top of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.

Fuel loading is complete on the second stage, and liquid oxygen loading has begun. Everything remains on target for the 7:27 p.m. EST launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Weather conditions remain 80% favorable.

Propellant and Liquid Oxygen Loading Underway

Crew-1 propellant loading
The Crew-1 launch is targeted for 7:27 EST. tonight.

Right on schedule — at T-minus 35 minutes — RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading and first stage liquid oxygen loading has begun.

Liftoff is scheduled for 7:27 p.m. EST.

Resilience Launch Escape System Armed

Crew-1 on the pad
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, Resilience, stand tall on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The launch escape system for the Crew Dragon spacecraft, Resilience, is now armed. From liftoff until they reach orbit, roughly 12 minutes, the crew would be able to escape safely in the unlikely event of an anomaly.

Up next is propellant loading.

Crew Access Arm Retracted

The crew access arm has retracted. Coming up next, the Dragon launch escape system will be armed.

Weather Gets a Boost — Now 80% Chance of Favorable Conditions

Weather has been upgraded from 50% to 80% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission. Launch is slated for 7:27 p.m. EST.

Crew Dragon Spacecraft is ‘Go’ for Launch!

Crew-1 rocket on the pad
Launch of the Crew-1 mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida is set for 7:27 p.m. EST. Photo Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

Confirmation was received from Commander Mike Hopkins that Crew Dragon, named Resilience by the crew, is “go” for launch! The next call will come at T-mins 45 minutes from the launch director. Weather looks good and we remain on target for a 7:27 p.m. EST launch.

In about 50 minutes, Resilience, with Hopkins, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Shannon Walker and Soichi Noguchi aboard, will lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.