The Falcon 9 rocket has reached first stage main engine cutoff, or MECO, and the first and second stages have separated. Next, the Falcon 9’s second-stage engine will ignite.
After separation, the Falcon 9 first stage performs a boostback burn and begins its journey back toward Earth for a landing at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has reached Max Q, or maximum dynamic pressure.
Max Q marks the moment of peak aerodynamic stress on the rocket. This happens as the vehicle is accelerating and climbing through thick lower atmosphere, creating a peak in the force of air pushing against the rocket’s structure.
At 5:24 a.m. EST, The Dragon spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage and began flying on its own. The spacecraft is traveling at approximately 17,500 miles per hour (28,200 kilometers per hour). In less than a minute, the Dragon crew spacecraft nosecone open sequence will begin.
The spacecraft now is in orbit and will autonomously dock to the Harmony module’s space-facing port. The crew will soon open their visors and get out of their suits during the ride.
