A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:14 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2021, carrying the Dragon spacecraft on its journey to the International Space Station for NASA and SpaceX’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission. Credit: Kim Shiflett
We have liftoff! At 3:14 a.m. EDT, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket powered off the launch pad from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida, carrying the Dragon spacecraft on the company’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission.
Slated to arrive at the International Space Station on Monday, Aug. 30, at approximately 11 a.m., Dragon will deliver more than 4,800 pounds of science and research experiments, crew supplies, and vehicle hardware to the International Space Station. Coming up in about a minute, the rocket will pass through Max Q – the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket. Then, the Falcon 9’s first and second stage will separate.
In just a few minutes, the company’s Dragon spacecraft – carrying several important NASA investigations – will blast off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A. The instantaneous launch window opens at 3:14 a.m. EDT.
The destination is the International Space Station, where it will dock for approximately one month. Dragon’s planned arrival is Monday, Aug. 30, at about 11 a.m., followed by docking about 90 minutes later. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will monitor operations while the spacecraft autonomously docks to the orbiting laboratory’s Harmony module.
In just under 15 minutes, the Falcon 9 rocket’s nine Merlin engines will roar to life, sending the uncrewed Dragon spacecraft on its journey to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission. The rocket has been fueled with liquid oxygen and RP-1 – rocket-grade kerosene.
In the next few minutes, the Falcon 9’s engines will begin to chill in preparation for launch. At five minutes before launch, Dragon will transition to internal power. Shortly afterward, the command flight computer will begin its final pre-launch checks. At about T-45 seconds, the SpaceX launch director will verify “go” for launch.
Liftoff is targeted for 3:14 a.m. EDT.
Dragon will deliver critical materials that will support dozens of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during Expeditions 65 and 66. To learn more about station activities, follow @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.
An instantaneous window for today’s CRS-23 launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida opens at approximately 3:14 a.m. EDT. Credit: NASA
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
Tune in to NASA TV or the agency’s website to watch the live broadcast of SpaceX’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
We are now about 20 minutes away from liftoff of SpaceX’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Tune in to NASA TV or the agency’s website, starting now, to watch the broadcast live from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Also, you can stay with us here on the blog, as we bring you live coverage of today’s mission. An instantaneous window opens at approximately 3:14 a.m. EDT. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Dragon spacecraft atop, will lift off from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A, carrying several important NASA investigations.
But there is more than science packed into the spacecraft. Astronauts aboard the space station will be receiving fresh food, including lemons, onions, cherry tomatoes, avocados, and – always a crew favorite – ice cream.
Dragon is scheduled to arrive at the orbiting laboratory at approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 30. It will join the Crew-2 Dragon spacecraft that carried NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet to the space station on April 24.
Stay tuned as we keep you posted on the latest developments of today’s launch.
When SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roars off the launch pad from Kennedy Space Center in about 45 minutes, the Dragon spacecraft, set atop the launch vehicle, will be carrying a variety of important of NASA investigations. Here is a look at some of the important science aboard Dragon:
An investigation that will determine if metabolites from grape skins and seeds used in wine making could help prevent and treat osteoporosis
A new robotic arm that could reveal potential uses on Earth, including in disaster relief
Several Girl Scouts’ experiments that will study plants, ants, and brine shrimp in microgravity
About 12 minutes after launch of SpaceX’s 23rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station, Dragon will separate from the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage and begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station. Arrival to the station is planned for Monday, Aug. 30, at approximately 11 a.m.
Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module, with Expedition 65 Flight Engineers Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur of NASA monitoring operations. The spacecraft is expected to spend about a month attached to the orbiting outpost before it returns to Earth with about 4,200 pounds of research and cargo, splashing down off the coast of Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft stand tall at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A early Sunday morning. Credit: NASA
Let’s try this again! Good morning from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft stand ready for liftoff at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. Poor weather in the area caused a scrub of yesterday’s planned 3:37 a.m. EDT launch.
Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron predict a 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for this morning’s 3:14 launch from the Space Coast, with the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation serving as the primary weather concerns.
For today’s liftoff, there is an instantaneous launch window. Live countdown begins at 2:45 a.m. – watch on NASA TV or the agency’s website. Also, you can stay right here for live coverage, through spacecraft separation.
The third flight for SpaceX under NASA’s second commercial resupply services contract, and the company’s 23rd overall cargo resupply mission, this mission will deliver more than 4,800 pounds of science experiments and research, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station.
SpaceX and NASA are now targeting liftoff of SpaceX’s 23rd Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station for Sunday, Aug. 29, at 3:14 a.m. Credit: NASA
Due to poor weather conditions in the area for today’s planned launch of SpaceX’s 23rd Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station, SpaceX and NASA are now targeting liftoff on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 3:14 a.m. EDT. Launch coverage, live from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will begin Sunday at 2:45 a.m. on NASA TV, the agency’s website, and the NASA app.
A launch Sunday would lead to docking Monday, Aug. 30, for the Dragon to deliver important research, crew supplies and hardware to the crew aboard the orbiting laboratory. Docking coverage will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the spacecraft planned to arrive at the space station around 11 a.m.
Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron predict a 40% chance of favorable weather conditions for this morning’s launch from the Space Coast, with the cumulus cloud rule and flight through precipitation serving as the primary weather concerns.
NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting 3:37 a.m. EDT, to launch its 23rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff will be from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will deliver new science investigations, supplies, and equipment for the international crew.
Upon Dragon’s arrival – slated for Sunday, Aug. 29, at approximately 11 a.m. – NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur will monitor operations while the spacecraft autonomously docks to the orbiting laboratory’s Harmony module.
NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting today at 3:37 a.m. EDT to launch its 23rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA
Hello, and good morning from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft stand ready for liftoff at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Today’s launch is targeted for 3:37 a.m. EDT, less than an hour away. It is an instantaneous launch window. Live countdown begins at 3:15 a.m. – watch on NASA TV or the agency’s website. Also, you can stay right here for live coverage, through spacecraft separation.
The third flight for SpaceX under NASA’s second Commercial Resupply Services Contract, and the company’s 23rd overall cargo resupply mission, this mission will deliver more than 4,800 pounds of science experiments and research, crew supplies, and hardware to the International Space Station.
Here’s a look at some of today’s countdown and ascent milestones. All times are approximate:
COUNTDOWN Hr/Min/SecEvent – 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, LANDING, AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT Hr/Min/SecEvent 00:01:18 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:41 2nd stage engine starts
00:06:37 1st stage entry burn begins
00:08:38 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO)
00:08:38 1st stage landing
00:11:49 Dragon separates from 2nd stage
00:12:35 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins
Now, let’s keep our fingers crossed for the weather! That report will be posted here shortly.