The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s nine first-stage Merlin engines have finished their burn and the first stage has separated from the vehicle. As the second stage continues carrying Dragon on its journey, the first stage will attempt landing on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Atlantic Ocean – that landing coming up in just a few minutes.
Category: Cargo Resupply (CRS)
Liftoff!
Ignition, and liftoff! At 12:29 p.m. EST, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is climbing its way up from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida on the company’s 19th resupply services mission.
Slated to arrive at the International Space Station on Dec. 8, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will deliver multiple supplies, equipment and material crucial for supporting science and research investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Ten Minutes until CRS-19 Launch
Launch preparations are underway, and everything is on track for the 12:29 p.m. EST launch of SpaceX’s CRS-19 mission to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. By now, the rocket has been fueled with liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene, referred to as RP-1 – this combination of propellant required by the Falcon 9’s Merlin engines in order to run.
In just a few minutes, the Falcon 9’s engines will begin to chill, preparing them for launch. Following this, the flight computer will run will run its prelaunch checks and the rocket’s propellant tanks will be pressurized to flight pressure. At about T-45 seconds, the SpaceX launch director will verify “go” for launch.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing are predicting a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for liftoff. NASA TV and the agency’s website continue to provide live coverage of the launch.
The CRS-19 mission will deliver critical supplies, equipment and material that will directly support dozens of science and research investigations in space. To learn more about this mission, visit: https://www.spacex.com/webcast
SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon Stand Ready for Liftoff
Hello and good afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40, topped with the company’s Dragon spacecraft and ready for the 19th resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for 12:29 p.m. EST today, with an instantaneous launch window. Follow along on NASA Television for the live broadcast, happening now.
The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft will deliver approximately 5,700 pounds of critical supplies, equipment and material for multiple science and research investigations that will take place during Expeditions 61 and 62. Dragon also is carrying the Japanese government’s Hyperspectral Imager Suite (HISUI), a next-generation, hyperspectral Earth imaging system.
Dragon will arrive at the station three days after launch, on Dec. 8. Once it arrives, Expedition 61 Commander Luca Parmitano will capture it. Following capture, ground controllers in Houston will take over to install the spacecraft to the orbiting laboratory’s Earth-facing port on the Harmony module.
SpaceX Gears Up for Second CRS-19 Launch Attempt
SpaceX is preparing for the second launch attempt of its 19th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-19) mission to the International Space Station today at 12:29 p.m. EST. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket and uncrewed Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
SpaceX made the decision to call off the first launch attempt yesterday due to upper-altitude winds and high winds at sea, creating dangerous conditions around the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You,” which the rocket’s first stage will attempt landing on following its separation from the rest of the launch vehicle.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing are predicting an 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for today’s launch. Join us here on the blog, as well as on NASA TV and the agency’s website, for live launch countdown coverage, beginning at 12 p.m. EST.
The Dragon spacecraft that will deliver critical supplies, equipment and material to the space station on this mission first flew to the orbiting laboratory in 2014 on CRS-4, and then again on CRS-11, making it the first spacecraft that SpaceX reused for resupply missions. Now preparing to fly for a third time, the material it will carry on CRS-19 will directly support dozens of research investigations taking place in space. To learn more about some of those research experiments, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/spx19-research/
CRS-19 Launch Scrubbed Due to Winds
This afternoon’s launch attempt has been scrubbed due to winds. The next launch opportunity will be at 12:29 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 5. Launch coverage for the SpaceX CRS-19 mission to the International Space Station will begin at 12 p.m. EST on NASA Television and the agency’s website. A launch of the SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft on Thursday will result in its arrival at the space station on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Launch Day Arrives for SpaceX’s 19th Resupply Services Mission to Station
SpaceX’s 19th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-19) mission is set to launch at 12:51 p.m. EST today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The company’s uncrewed Dragon spacecraft – launching aboard a Falcon 9 rocket – will deliver research, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
Weather officials continue to predict a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., join us here on the blog for live coverage, and follow along on NASA TV or the agency’s website for the live launch broadcast.
Here’s a look at today’s countdown and ascent milestones. All times are approximate:
COUNTDOWN
Hour/Min/Sec – Events
-00:38:00 – SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
-00:35:00 – RP-1 (rocket-grade kerosene) loading begins
-00:35:00 – 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
-00:16:00 – 2nd stage LOX loading begins
-00:07:58 – Dragon transitions to internal power
-00:01:00 – Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
-00:01:00 – Propellant tanks pressurize for flight
-00:00:45 – SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
-00:00:03 – Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
-00:00:00 – Falcon 9 liftoff
LAUNCH, LANDING AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT
Hour/Min/Sec – Event
00:01:18 – Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:31 – 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:34 – 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:42 – 2nd stage engine starts
00:02:47 – 1st stage boostback burn begins
00:06:11 – 1st stage entry burn begins
00:07:48 – 1st stage landing
00:08:35 – 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO)
00:09:35 – Dragon separates from 2nd stage
00:12:02 – Dragon’s solar arrays deploy
02:19:00 – Dragon’s Guidance, Navigation and Control bay door opens
Weather 90% Favorable for Wednesday’s Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, topped with the Dragon spacecraft, is ready for launch at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida for the company’s CRS-19 mission to the International Space Station. Following today’s prelaunch news conference, liftoff remains on track for 12:51 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
“As of now, we’re tracking no issues on Falcon 9, none on Dragon, and we’re on track with regards to timeline,” said Jessica Jensen, director of Dragon Mission Management at SpaceX.
Weather officials are predicting a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch, with primary concerns revolving around liftoff winds and upper-level winds.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day tomorrow, just a little chilly in the morning, but we’re hoping that we can get through those upper-level winds,” said Mike McAleenan, a launch weather officer with the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing. “We may see some patchy fog or stratus around, but that will definitely burn off in time for launch, so we should have some pretty good viewing out there.”
Live launch coverage will begin at 12:30 p.m. EST tomorrow, Dec. 4, on NASA TV and the agency’s website, as well as here on the blog. CRS-19 will deliver supplies, equipment and material that will directly support dozens of science and research investigations that will take place during Expeditions 61 and 62.
Also being carried by the Dragon spacecraft is the Japanese government’s Hyperspectral Imager Suite (HISUI), a next-generation, hyperspectral Earth imaging system.
Learn more about the mission at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/spx19-research/
Tune in to SpaceX CRS-19 Prelaunch News Conference
Tune in to NASA TV and the agency’s website at 1:30 p.m. EST today to watch the NASA Social What’s on Board science briefing, highlighting some of the research that will take place on CRS-19, airing from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Then, stay tuned for the prelaunch news conference, beginning at 4 p.m., and hear from officials with the International Space Station Program Science Office, SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing.
Launch of SpaceX’s 19th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-19) mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 12:51 p.m. EST. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying the Dragon spacecraft that will deliver supplies, equipment and material to the space station. Dragon is slated to arrive at the station on Dec. 7 and will be captured by Expedition 61 crewmembers. Following capture, ground controllers will take over to install the spacecraft to the Harmony module’s Earth-facing port.
Learn more about some of the research and experiments taking place on CRS-19 at: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/spx19-research
SpaceX Targeting Wednesday, Dec. 4, for CRS-19 Launch
NASA’s commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting 12:51 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 4, for the launch of its 19th resupply mission to the International Space Station. The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft will lift off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch, with the primary concern being wind at the time of liftoff.
The Dragon is filled with supplies and materials that will directly support dozens of science and research investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory. It also will carry the Japanese government’s Hyperspectral Imager Suite (HISUI), a next-generation, hyperspectral Earth imaging system.
Follow live coverage of the CRS-19 mission and prelaunch events here on the blog, NASA TV and the agency’s website:
- 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 – NASA Social, What’s on Board science briefing highlighting research taking place on CRS-19
- 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Prelaunch news conference from Kennedy with representatives from the International Space Station Program Science Office, SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing
- 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 – Launch countdown coverage begins
Learn more about station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.