This story was originally published by NASA and is unaltered.

(C) NASA
This story was originally published by NASA and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .

SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon Spacecraft Standing Tall for Tonight’s Launch – Kennedy Space Center [1]

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Date: 2023-03-14

Hello from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Dragon spacecraft atop, stands ready for liftoff at historic Launch Complex 39A. Tonight’s launch is SpaceX’s 27th commercial resupply services mission for NASA, delivering more than 6,000 pounds of supplies, equipment, and research to the crew aboard the International Space Station. NASA is providing live coverage of the launch – watch now on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

Liftoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT, just 30 minutes away, and weather is looking great at 90% “go” for launch. Tonight’s launch is a coordinated effort, with launch controllers here in Florida working closely with teams at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and SpaceX’s control center in Hawthorne, California.

Fueling of the Falcon 9 began approximately 20 minutes ago, with liquid oxygen flowing into the rocket’s first stage. In the next few minutes, fueling of the second stage will begin.

Here’s a full look at tonight’s countdown and ascent milestones. All times (EDT) are approximate:

COUNTDOWN

Hr/Min/Sec Event

– 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 prelaunch 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 engine ignition sequence to start

– Falcon 9 liftoff

LAUNCH, LANDING, AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT

Hr/Min/Sec Event

00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)

00:02:24 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)

00:02:28 1st and 2nd stages separate

00:02:35 2nd stage engine starts

00:05:44 1st stage entry burn begins

00:07:36 1st stage landing

00:08:38 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO)

00:11:34 Dragon separates from 2nd stage

00:12:22 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

[END]
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[1] Url: https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2023/03/14/spacex-falcon-9-and-dragon-spacecraft-standing-tall-for-tonights-launch/

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