The second stage engine continues to burn. About eight minutes into flight, all is well. In about a minute, the second stage engine will shut down. Crew Dragon is now in orbit.
The call came in from Crew-2 Commander Shane Kimbrough 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. The second stage engine will start.
The Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour lifts off in the early morning from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Crew-2 astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Akihido Hoshide, and Thomas Pesquet have begun their 23.5-hour journey to the International Space Station on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission. Liftoff occurred at 5:49:02 a.m. EDT. …
Fuel loading is complete. Five minutes to lifoff, and all looks good for the Crew-2 launch!
Fuel loading is complete on the first stage, and liquid oxygen loading has begun on the second stage. Everything remains on target for the 5:49 a.m. EDT launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fueling has begun. RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading and first stage liquid oxygen loading is underway. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:49 a.m. EDT. For this morning’s launch, the U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron continues to predict a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff …
The crew access arm has retracted. A few minutes later Crew Dragon’s launch escape system will be armed. From liftoff until they reach orbit, roughly 12 minutes, the crew would be able to escape safely in the unlikely event of an anomaly. Up next is propellant loading.
In just a few minutes, the rocket’s first stage will be loaded with rocket grade kerosene called RP-1 and liquid oxygen. Then the second stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen.
Confirmation was received from Commander Shane Kimbrough that Crew Dragon, named Endeavour by the crew, is ‘go’ for launch! The next call will come at T-minus 45 minutes from the launch director. Weather looks good and we remain on target for a 5:49 a.m. EDT launch.
