Suggested Searches

Psyche

Categories

Key Milestones for Today’s Psyche Launch

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is seen at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is seen at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Psyche is targeted to launch from the Florida spaceport at 10:19 a.m. EDT Friday, Oct. 13. Photo credit: SpaceX

We’re a little over an hour away from today’s launch of NASA’s Psyche mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Here’s a closer look at some of today’s important countdown and ascent milestones (all times are approximate):

Time Events

– 00:53:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
– 00:50:00 1st stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
– 00:45:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
– 00:35:00 2nd stage RP-1 loading begins
– 00:18:30 2nd stage LOX loading begins
– 00:07:00 Falcon Heavy begins engine chill
– 00:00:59 Flight computer commanded to begin final pre-launch checks
– 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
– 00:00:20 Propellant tanks pressurize for flight
– 00:00:06 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00 Falcon Heavy liftoff
00:01:09 Max Q (Moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:25 Side boosters engine cutoff (BECO)
00:02:28 Side boosters separate
00:02:40 Side boosters boostback burns begin
00:03:51 Side boosters boostback burns end
00:03:55 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:03:59 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:04:04 2nd stage engine starts (SES)
00:04:24 Fairing deployment
00:06:47 Side boosters entry burns start
00:07:04 Side boosters entry burns end
00:08:00 Side boosters landing burns start
00:08:17 Side boosters landing
00:08:26 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:00 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:56:12 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:02:24 Psyche spacecraft deploys