Expedition 72 – Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 News Conference at 3 p.m. EDT

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. — SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: NASA

The SpaceX spacecraft carrying Crew-9 members NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, to the International Space Station has safely reached orbit, and the nosecone has opened.

A postlaunch news conference will be held at 3 p.m. EDT at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with the following participants:

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy
Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
Dana Hutcherson, deputy program manager, Commercial Crew Program, NASA Kennedy
Dina Contella, deputy manager, International Space Station Program, NASA Johnson
Sarah Walker, director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

NASA will air the postlaunch news conference on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Falcon 9 First Stage Sticks Landing

Image shows first-stage booster from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket comes in for a successful landing at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, just minutes after NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 launch from Space Launch Complex-40. — A first-stage booster from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket comes in for a successful landing at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, just minutes after NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 launch from Space Launch Complex-40. Photo credit: NASA

The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has completed its descent and landed at the company’s Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Next, the Dragon spacecraft will separate from the rocket’s second stage to continue its journey to the International Space Station.

Falcon 9 Max Q, Main Engine Cutoff, Stage Separation

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has reached Max-Q, the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket. Following this, first stage main engine cutoff occurred, and the first and second stages have separated from each other.

The rocket’s first stage booster is scheduled to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Next, the Falcon 9’s second-stage engine will ignite to carry Crew-9 and the Dragon spacecraft closer to orbit.

Propellant and Liquid Oxygen Loading Begins

The SpaceX launch director polled NASA and SpaceX managers in Hangar X at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and gave a 'go’ for fueling for the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft that will carry NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov for a science expedition mission aboard the International Space — Propellant loading is underway for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ahead of lift off to the International Space Station for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Photo credit: NASA

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fueling is underway with rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) and first-stage liquid oxygen. About 16 minutes before liftoff, liquid oxygen fueling will begin for the second stage.

Liftoff is the next big milestone! Launch weather officers with the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predict a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.

Liftoff remains scheduled for 1:17 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Crew Access Arm Retracts

The launch director just gave a “go” for the crew access arm to retract away from SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

A few minutes later, Dragon’s launch escape system will be armed to allow the Crew-9 crew members to escape safely in the unlikely event of an anomaly from the moment the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off until the Dragon spacecraft reaches orbit.

Propellant loading is coming up next.

Liftoff One Hour Away for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Launch

Image shows a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for NASA's Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. — A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket is vertical at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for NASA’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: NASA

The SpaceX closeout team has left the crew access arm, which will soon retract from the Dragon spacecraft. Launch, set for 1:17 p.m. EDT, is now less than an hour away.

Launch weather officers with the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron are watching lightning, rain, and wind in the area, but launch currently remains a “go” for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

It will take 28.5 hours for NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, to reach the International Space Station and dock to the Harmony module’s forward port. Once there, they’ll be greeted by nine members of the Expedition 72 crew. There will be a brief handover period before NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 members, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin return to Earth. The four-person crew has been at the orbiting laboratory since March 5, when they docked to the orbital outpost aboard the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft.

The space station will be traveling over northeast Bulgaria during liftoff.

NASA’s live coverage of the Crew-9 mission continues on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Also, check back for updates on the mission blog, @commercial_crew on X, or commercial crew on Facebook.

Hatch Closed on SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft

Image shows Hatch closure on SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. — Hatch closure on SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of launch to the International Space Station on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: NASA

The Dragon spacecraft’s hatch is now closed. Liftoff of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket remains on track for 1:17 p.m. EDT.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, will spend about five months at the International Space Station. This is Hague’s second spaceflight to the orbiting laboratory and Gorbunov’s first time.

Crew-9 is the ninth crew rotation mission with SpaceX to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA’s live coverage of the Crew-9 mission continues on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Also, check back for updates on the mission blog, @commercial_crew on X, or commercial crew on Facebook.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Secured in Spacecraft

Image shows NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 members secured inside Dragon spacecraft. — NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members secured inside Dragon spacecraft at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: NASA

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are strapped in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.

Hague and Gorbunov soon will go through another round of spacesuit pressurization and communication checks with NASA and SpaceX launch and mission teams.

In addition to the two crew members, the spacecraft will carry cargo, science experiments, and personal items for the five-month mission. Hague and Gorbunov will join NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the station in June, before returning to Earth in February 2025 as a crew of four.

Liftoff to the International Space Station remains at 1:17 p.m. EDT. At the moment of launch, the space station will be traveling over northeast Bulgaria.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Boards Spacecraft

Image shows NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 members board SpaceX Dragon spacecraft — NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members board SpaceX Dragon spacecraft ahead of liftoff to the International Space Station on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: NASA

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov are climbing into SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Just moments ago, the pair entered the White Room and continued the tradition of signing their names on the NASA meatball logo on the wall. Hague and Gorbunov will be the first names on the wall since this is the first human spaceflight mission from Space Launch Complex-40. The White Room is an area at the end of the crew access arm that connects to the spacecraft – the term dates to the Gemini program and the white paint used on the room.

As the crew enters the Dragon spacecraft, their seats are in the upright position. Once the crew is securely inside, the seats rotate into a reclined position for launch just before launch teams close Dragon’s side hatch.

Liftoff remains at 1:17 p.m. EDT.

NASA’s live coverage of the Crew-9 mission continues on NASA+ and the agency’s website. Also check back for updates on the mission blog, @commercial_crew on X, or commercial crew on Facebook.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Arrives at Launch Pad

Image shows NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 crewmembers arrive at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. — NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 crewmembers arrive at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo credit: NASA

Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 are about two hours away from launch!

NASA astronaut Nick Hague, commander, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission specialist, arrived at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, where a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will launch them to the International Space Station.

Space Launch Complex-40 carries decades of history dating back to the 1960s when Titan rockets launched from the pad for the United States Air Force. SpaceX leased the launch site in 2007 for the company’s Falcon 9 rockets, but this is the first time a human spaceflight mission will launch from the pad. In 2023, teams at SpaceX built a tower, a crew access arm, and an emergency escape system for future crewed missions. The emergency system involves chutes instead of egress baskets like those used at Launch Complex 39A and B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Hague and Gorbunov will soon board an elevator to the crew access arm, where they will walk across to the White Room for last-minute preparations before entering the spacecraft.

Liftoff remains scheduled for 1:17 p.m. EDT.