Today’s launch of the CRS-11 mission will mark the 100th liftoff from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The roster of iconic missions to begin at LC-39A includes the landmark Apollo 11 flight to land astronauts on the moon for the first time, the first launch of a space shuttle mission and the final flight of the shuttle program. SpaceX modified the pad extensively to the needs of its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. Additions to the pad continue, including an upcoming crew access arm that will provide a walkway for astronauts climbing aboard Crew Dragon spacecraft in the future for Commercial Crew Program missions to the space station.
Month: June 2017
Weather Improving as CRS-11 Launch on Track for 5:07 P.M.
Welcome to Launch Day here on Florida’s Space Coast where a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft stand pointed toward space! Launch is scheduled for 5:07:38 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A. Today’s launch window is instantaneous to put the Dragon and its 6,000 pounds of cargo on course to catch up to the International Space Station.
Weather remains the top concern for this afternoon, but the forecast has improved greatly to a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions today at launch time.
The launch team is working through its standard processes to prep the rocket and spacecraft for liftoff, including loading refined kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen into the two stages of the Falcon 9 rocket.
We will provide updates to the countdown status through launch and the Falcon 9’s climb into orbit. Dragon, which is flying without a crew aboard, will deliver a host of science experiments plus equipment and crew supplies to the station. The research will be conducted by the crew aboard the space station by the astronauts of Expeditions 52 and 53.
NASA TV coverage of the countdown also is underway and can be viewed here on NASA’s Launch Blog, on television or streaming at www.nasa.gov/nasatv
Today’s Launch Weather Forecast Remains 60 Percent ‘Go’
The forecast from the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron shows a 60 percent chance of favorable weather for today’s planned launch of the eleventh SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is targeted for an instantaneous window at 5:07 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
With a launch today, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the station on Monday, June 5, to deliver about 6,000 pounds of experiments and supplies for Expeditions 52 and 53.
Countdown coverage begins here on the blog at 4:30 p.m.
Forecast Now 60 Percent ‘Go’ for Saturday Launch
Weather could be a factor for Saturday’s planned liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the company’s eleventh commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron have issued the latest forecast for tomorrow, predicting a 60 percent chance of favorable weather at the 5:07 p.m. EDT launch time.
Storms rumbled through the area Thursday afternoon and evening, scrubbing the first launch attempt and leaving considerable cloudiness across Kennedy Space Center and the surrounding area. The primary weather concerns for Saturday’s launch are anvil clouds, cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation. The forecast is similar for Sunday, which currently has a 50-50 chance of favorable conditions.
Saturday Weather Forecast: 70 Percent ‘Go’
Photo credit: NASA/Glenn Benson
There is a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for Saturday’s planned launch of the eleventh SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The forecast provided by the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron cites anvil clouds, cumulus clouds, and flight through precipitation as the primary concerns.
Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The vehicle is carrying a Dragon spacecraft loaded with about 6,000 pounds of experiments and supplies bound for the space station. Join us here Saturday beginning at 4:30 p.m. for live countdown coverage.
For more information on the SpaceX CRS-11 mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/spacex. For more information about the International Space Station, visit http://www.nasa.gov/station.
Saturday’s Launch Coverage Begins at 4:30 p.m. EDT
NASA TV and continuous coverage of the countdown here on the NASA Launch Blog will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday as we move toward the launch of the SpaceX CRS-11 mission to carry almost 6,000 pounds of experiments, equipment and crew supplies to the International Space Station. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Scrub – Resetting for Saturday Launch
Poor weather on the Space Coast this afternoon has prompted the launch team to scrub today’s launch attempt. The launch team is resetting for a liftoff Saturday, June 3, at 5:07:26 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions for the Saturday opportunity.
100 Missions and Counting for LC-39A
The CRS-11 mission will be the 100th mission to lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The pad, seen above during a previous SpaceX liftoff, has seen the beginning of many of NASA’s landmark missions, including Apollo 11’s mission to first land astronauts on the moon. The first space shuttle mission also started at LC-39A, as did 81 other shuttle missions. SpaceX has launched five Falcon 9 missions from the pad complex after modifying it from shuttle needs to Falcon 9 infrastructure.
Launch Day for SpaceX CRS-11
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft have taken their positions ahead of this afternoon’s launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:55:53 p.m. eastern time. Our continuous countdown coverage will begin here on NASA’s Launch Blog and on NASA TV at 5:15 p.m. You can watch the NASA TV stream on the blog or streaming at www.nasa.gov/nasatv
The forecast continues to call for a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. The primary concerns are clouds building up late in the afternoon.
The mission, which carries no crew, is the 11th cargo flight to the International Space Station for SpaceX. Inside Dragon are about 6,000 pounds of research and equipment, supplies for the station’s resident crew and other hardware necessary for the operation of the orbiting laboratory.
For a more detailed look at the mission at some of its scientific payloads, see our mission preview at https://go.nasa.gov/2qG4NYO Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls