Stage 1 of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket completed its descent and successfully landed on the company’s drone ship, Just Read the Instructions, off the coast of Florida.
Stage 1 Successfully Lands on SpaceX Drone Ship


Stage 1 of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket completed its descent and successfully landed on the company’s drone ship, Just Read the Instructions, off the coast of Florida.

Shutdown of the second stage engine occurred right on time. All is proceeding as planned.

The second stage engine continues to burn. About 8 minutes into flight, all is well.

The positive call came in from Crew-5 Commander Nicole Mann that trajectory is nominal. The first stage has started its descent.

The rocket has reached first stage main engine cutoff (MECO). The first and second stages have separated.

Max Q, or the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket, has been reached.

The Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft roared off of Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida! Nicole Aunapu Mann, Josh Cassada, Koichi Wakata, and Anna Kikina have successfully begun their approximate 29-hour journey to the International Space Station on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission. Max Q will happen during the …

The RP-1 rocket fuel load is complete. Just a few minutes until liftoff, and all looks good for the Crew-5 launch!

Fuel loading is complete on the second stage, and liquid oxygen loading has begun. Everything remains on target for the noon EDT launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida. Weather conditions remain extremely favorable.

Right on schedule – at T-minus 35 minutes – RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading and first stage liquid oxygen loading has begun. Liftoff, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is at noon EDT today.