NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Suits Up for Launch

NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 crew members suit up ahead of launch on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 crew members suit up ahead of launch on Sunday, March 3, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

For the second time in two days, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and mission specialist Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin, are suiting up in the astronaut crew quarters inside Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.

A team of SpaceX suit technicians will help them as they put on their custom-fitted spacesuits and check for leaks. Designed for safety and functionality, the spacesuits 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.

Watch now on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website, where NASA is providing live coverage of key milestones leading up to launch and through ascent following liftoff.

A Look at Tonight’s Key Launch Milestones

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Dragon spacecraft on top is seen during sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-8 mission, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top is seen during sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Crew-8 mission at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

We’re just about four hours away from the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission and weather continues to look great for launch, with the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicting an 75% chance of favorable weather conditions at launch.

NASA’s live coverage of the Crew-8 launch is airing now on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website, and you can follow along on the mission blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook for continuous coverage of important Crew-8 launch activities.

Here’s a look at some of the key milestones and critical events leading up to tonight’s launch and occurring after liftoff. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off at 10:53 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

Time              Event (All times approximate)
6:48 p.m.     Crew handoff to SpaceX
6:53 p.m.      Suit donning and checkouts
7:33 p.m.      Crew walkout from Neil A. Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building
7:38 p.m.      Crew transportation to Launch Complex 39A
7:58 p.m.      Crew arrives at pad and ascends tower
8:18 p.m.      Crew ingress
8:23 p.m.      Communication check
8:24 p.m.      Seat rotation
8:25 p.m.      Suit leak checks
8:58 p.m.      Hatch close
10:08 p.m.    SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
10:11 p.m.    Crew access arm retracts
10:14 p.m.    Dragon’s launch escape system is armed
10:18 p.m.    RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
10:18 p.m.    1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
10:37 p.m.    2nd stage LOX loading begins
10:46 p.m.    Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
10:48 p.m.    Dragon transitions to internal power
10:52 p.m.    Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
10:52 p.m.    Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
10:52 p.m.    SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
10:53 p.m.    Falcon 9 liftoff
10:54 p.m.    Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
10:55 p.m.    1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
10:55 p.m.    1st and 2nd stages separate
10:55 p.m.    2nd stage engine starts
10:56 p.m.    Boostback Burn Starts
10:59 p.m.    Boostback Burn Ends
10:59 p.m.    1st stage entry burn starts
11:00 p.m.    1st stage entry burn ends
11:00 p.m.    1st stage landing burn starts
11:00 p.m.    1st stage landing
11:02 p.m.    2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
11:05 p.m.    Dragon separates from 2nd stage
11:06 p.m.    Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

Weather Forecast at 75% ‘Go’ for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Launch

The Crew-8 and American flags fly over the iconic countdown clock near the NASA News Center at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 launch, Sunday, March 3, 2024.
The Crew-8 and American flags fly over the iconic countdown clock near the NASA News Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 launch, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

For NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 launch, targeted at 10:53 p.m. EST tonight, the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 75% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff. The primary weather concerns for the launch area are flight through precipitation and the anvil cloud rule.

The Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin, will launch to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA’s live coverage of Crew-8 activities begins at 6:45 p.m. EST on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Follow along for details about the mission and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program on the Crew-8 blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook.

NASA, SpaceX Target Crew-8 Launch for Sunday, March 3 on Weather Concerns

NASA and SpaceX now are targeting 10:53 p.m. EST Sunday, March 3, for the launch of the agency’s Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch attempt March 2 was postponed due to unfavorable conditions in the flight path of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

NASA will provide coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m., March 3, of the upcoming launch activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission with astronauts to the International Space Station.

The Crew-8 launch will carry NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin to the orbital laboratory. The targeted docking time is about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5.

NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):

Sunday, March 3:
6:45 p.m. – Launch coverage begins
10:53 p.m. – Launch

Following conclusion of launch and ascent coverage, NASA coverage will continue with audio only, with full coverage resuming at the start of the rendezvous and docking broadcast.

NASA Television will resume continuous mission coverage prior to docking and continue through hatch open and the welcome ceremony. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv/

12:30 a.m. (approximately) – Postlaunch news conference on NASA TV

  • Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program
  • Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station Program
  • Sarah Walker, director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

Tuesday, March 5:
1 a.m. – NASA TV arrival coverage begins
3 a.m. – Targeted docking to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module

Hatch opening will be approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after docking followed by welcome remarks aboard station. All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information.

More details about the Crew-8 mission can be found by following the Crew-8 blog, the commercial crew blog@commercial_crew on X, and commercial crew on Facebook.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Suits Up for Launch

One Russian cosmonaust and three astronauts, three men and one woman, stand next to each other to pose for a photo.
Members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 from right to left, NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist. Photo credit: SpaceX

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; and mission specialist Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin, are in the suit room in the astronaut crew quarters inside Kennedy Space Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.

A team of SpaceX suit technicians will help them as they put on their custom-fitted spacesuits and check for leaks. Designed for safety and functionality, the spacesuits 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.

Watch now on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website, where NASA is providing live coverage of key milestones leading up to launch and through ascent following liftoff.

A Look at Key Milestones for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top is seen on the launch pad ahead of launch from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA Television

Below are some of the key milestones leading up to the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission, as well as some critical events that occur after liftoff. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off a little more than four hours from now at 11:16 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

Time             Event (All times approximate)
6:56 p.m.    Crew weather brief
7:11 p.m.      Crew handoff to SpaceX
7:16 p.m.     Suit donning and checkouts
7:56 p.m.    Crew walkout from Neil A. Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building
8:01 p.m.    Crew transportation to Launch Complex 39A
8:21 p.m.    Crew arrives at pad and ascends tower
8:41 p.m.    Crew ingress
8:46 p.m.    Communication check
8:47 p.m.    Seat rotation
8:48 p.m.    Suit leak checks
9:21 p.m.      Hatch close
10:31 p.m.    SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
10:34 p.m.    Crew access arm retracts
10:37 p.m.    Dragon’s launch escape system is armed
10:41 p.m.    RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
10:41 p.m.    1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
11:00 p.m.    2nd stage LOX loading begins
11:09 p.m.    Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
11:11 p.m.    Dragon transitions to internal power
11:15 p.m.    Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
11:15 p.m.    Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
11:15 p.m.    SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
11:16 p.m.    Falcon 9 liftoff
11:17 p.m.    Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
11:18 p.m.    1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
11:18 p.m.    1st and 2nd stages separate
11:18 p.m.    2nd stage engine starts
11:19 p.m.    Boostback Burn Starts
11:22 p.m.    Boostback Burn Ends
11:22 p.m.    1st stage entry burn starts
11:23 p.m.    1st stage entry burn ends
11:23 p.m.    1st stage landing burn starts
11:23 p.m.    1st stage landing
11:25 p.m.    2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
11:28 p.m.    Dragon separates from 2nd stage
11:29 p.m.    Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

NASA’s live coverage of the Crew-8 launch is airing now on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website, and you can follow along on the mission blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook for continuous coverage of important Crew-8 launch activities.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 Mission Coverage is Underway!

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Dragon spacecraft on top is seen at sunset on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, as preparations continue for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The eighth crew rotation mission with SpaceX and the ninth flight of Dragon with people as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program is slated to carry NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A at 11:16 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 2.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Photo credit: SpaceX

Good evening and welcome to live coverage of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission – the eighth crew rotation flight and the ninth human spaceflight mission on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Launch weather officers from the U.S. Space’s Force 45th Weather Squadron predict a 40% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff. The primary weather concerns for the launch area are flight through precipitation and the thick cloud cover.

Launch is scheduled for 11:16 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 2, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Here at Kennedy, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, topped by the company’s Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, awaits liftoff just after midnight. NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist, will fly to the space station aboard Dragon, which previously flew NASA’s SpaceX Demo Mission-2, Crew-2 and Crew-6, in addition to Axiom Mission 1, the first commercial astronaut mission to the microgravity laboratory.

The countdown is proceeding according to schedule. At Kennedy’s Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, the astronauts have eaten and will undergo medical checks and get a final weather briefing before suiting up.

Starting at 7:15 p.m. EST, on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website there will be continuous live coverage of important Crew-8 activities.

Stay with us as the countdown continues. We’ll keep you updated on the key milestones throughout this mission. Details about the mission and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program can be found by following the Crew-8 blog, the commercial crew blog, X, and Facebook.

NASA SpaceX Crew-8 Flight Readiness Review Concludes, Teleconference to Follow

Mission managers with NASA, SpaceX, and international partners gather on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete a Flight Readiness Review for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Mission managers with NASA, SpaceX, and international partners gather on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete a Flight Readiness Review for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

The Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station has concluded, and teams are proceeding toward a planned liftoff at 12:04 a.m. EST on Friday, March 1, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 7:30 p.m. EST to discuss the outcome of the review. Listen live on NASA’s website.

Participants in the teleconference are:

  • Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
  • Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Kennedy
  • Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station Program, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
  • Emily Nelson, chief flight director, NASA’s Johnson Space Center
  • William Gerstenmaier, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
  • Eric van der Wal, Houston office team leader, ESA (European Space Agency)
  • Takayoshi Nishikawa, director, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Houston Office

Later tonight, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, will roll out to the pad at Launch Complex 39A. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the crew will participate in a rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of an integrated static fire test in preparation for liftoff.

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, commander; Michael Barratt, pilot; Jeanette Epps, mission specialist; along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist, will fly to the International Space Station aboard the Dragon spacecraft. As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Crew-8 marks the ninth human spaceflight mission on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and the eighth crew rotation mission to the space station since 2020.

Details about the mission and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program can be found by following the Crew-8 blog, the commercial crew blogX, and Facebook.

Weather Perfect for NASA’s SpaceX Launch from Kennedy

SpaceX's 29th commercial resupply services contract mission launch from Kennedy Space Center
SpaceX’s 29th commercial resupply services mission for NASA will carry scientific research, technology demonstrations, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station. Liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is targeted for 8:28 EST tonight. Photo credit: NASA

Meteorologists with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron are calling for 100% favorable weather conditions for launch of tonight’s SpaceX 29th commercial resupply services mission for NASA to the International Space Station.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft atop, is targeted to lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. The instantaneous launch window is at 8:28 p.m. EST.

Our live broadcast begins at 8 p.m. – watch on NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and on the agency’s website, or get live updates here on the blog.

NASA’s SpaceX’s CRS-29 Launch Readiness Review Complete, Prelaunch News Conference Next

Teams with NASA and SpaceX completed the final major review before launch – the Launch Readiness Review – for the company’s 29th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station.

At the conclusion of the review, teams confirmed the target launch time of 8:28 p.m. EST, Thursday, Nov 9. Tune in to the agency’s website at 4 p.m. today, Nov. 8, to hear from NASA and SpaceX officials during a prelaunch teleconference.

Participants include:

  • Dana Weigel, deputy program manager, International Space Station Program
  • Meghan Everett, deputy chief scientist, International Space Station Program Research Office
  • Benji Reed, senior director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
  • Melody Lovin, launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will lift off from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida to deliver more than 6,500 pounds of crew supplies, equipment, and science experiments to the orbiting laboratory.

Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron are currently predicting a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The primary weather concern is the cumulus cloud rule.

Let people know you’re following the mission on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtags #Dragon and #CRS29. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts:

X: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASocial, @Space_Station, @ISS_Research, @ISS National Lab
Facebook: NASANASAKennedyISSISS National Lab
Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @ISS, @ISSNationalLab