Packed with more than 4,800 pounds of research, crew supplies and hardware, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida today at 3:14 a.m.
Here is a look at some key milestones:
Mission Timeline (all times 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
– 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins pre-launch engine chill
– 00:05:00 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 ignition sequence to start
– 00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
LAUNCH AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT
Hour/Min/Sec Events
– 00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
– 00:02:27 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
– 00:02:30 1st and 2nd stages separate
– 00:02:38 2nd stage engine starts
– 00:05:49 1st stage entry burn begins
– 00:07:38 1st stage landing
– 00:08:34 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO)
– 00:11:45 Dragon separates from 2nd stage
Follow launch activities at the mission blog and @NASAKennedy and learn more about space station activities by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.