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Thanks for joining us for today's countdown and liftoff coverage. For updates throughout the mission, check out NASA's SpaceX page at http://www.nasa.gov/spacex.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 08:12:36 GMT
Dragon is planned to approach the station for the first time on Thursday. If that day's series of tests go well, Dragon will berth at the station Friday and hatches will be opened Saturday.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 08:04:36 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:57:14 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:55:13 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:54:35 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:51:06 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:49:44 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:48:24 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:46:28 GMT Mon, 21 May 2012 19:44:37 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:44:08 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:43:11 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:42:09 GMT Mon, 21 May 2012 19:39:34 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:35:08 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 07:34:21 GMT
At T-0, the rocket's nine Merlin engines will roar to life and the vehicle will be released by the pad holddown bolts as the mission begins. Three minutes into the flight, main engine cutoff, or MECO, will signal the end of the first-stage burn. Then the first stage will separate from the vehicle, an event known as staging, clearing the way for ignition of the second-stage engine.

The second stage will burn for nearly six minutes, ending with second-stage engine cutoff, or SECO. Dragon will separate from Falcon 9 shortly thereafter.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 07:25:08 GMT Mon, 21 May 2012 19:14:33 GMT
Dragon is expected to return to Earth loaded with more than a thousand pounds of science experiments, station hardware and crew items.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 07:04:32 GMT
Liquid oxygen began flowing into the rocket at 11:55 p.m., followed by RP-1 at 12:05 a.m. RP-1 loading is complete, but because liquid oxygen is chilled to a very low temperature, exposure to warmer temperatures will cause small amounts of the propellant to boil off, requiring the tank to be topped off until three minutes prior to launch.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 06:53:57 GMT Mon, 21 May 2012 18:44:34 GMT
During the mission, the Dragon capsule will perform a series of maneuvers and tests designed to validate its systems, including the capability to rendezvous and link up with the International Space Station. The spacecraft is expected to fly past the orbiting laboratory at a distance of about a mile and a half, allowing teams to confirm its sensors and flight systems are working correctly. Dragon also must demonstrate that it can abort the rendezvous. If it meets these objectives successfully, it will be cleared to berth at the station.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 06:40:09 GMT
Because there are no holds built into this countdown, we'll pass the T-1 hour mark at 2:44 a.m., exactly one hour ahead of launch.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 06:36:43 GMT
A previous launch attempt was aborted early Saturday, May 19, when the flight computer detected high pressure in one of the first stage's nine SpaceX-built Merlin engines. Engineers discovered, replaced and analyzed a faulty check valve over the weekend and the rocket has been cleared for launch.

Weather should not pose a problem for the Falcon 9 team this morning. Launch Weather Officer Mike McAleenan of the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron predicts an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions at launch time.

The launch team is operating the countdown from the SpaceX Launch Control Center. NASA's Launch Blog originates from our console in the Launch Vehicle Data Center at Hangar AE. There's more to come, so stay with us.]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 06:30:43 GMT Mon, 21 May 2012 16:48:50 GMT