A Look at Today’s Launch Milestones
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A Look at Today’s Launch Milestones
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off at 11:43 a.m. EDT from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Here are some of the key milestones and critical events leading up to launch and after liftoff. NASA+ live coverage of Crew-11 launch activities is airing now on NASA+. You also can follow along on the mission blog, @NASAKennedy on X, or NASA Kennedy on Facebook. A look at today’s Launch Milestones and Critical Events: SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load. Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch. Dragon nosecone open sequence begins.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 members suit up in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch to the International Space Station on Friday, Aug. 1. NASA+
With launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission just a few hours away, here are some of the key milestones and critical events leading up to launch and after liftoff. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are scheduled to lift off at 11:43 a.m. EDT from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Time Event (All times approximate)
7:44 a.m. Suit donning and checkouts
8:20 a.m. Crew walkout from Neil A. Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building
8:25 a.m. Crew transportation to launch pad
8:45 a.m. Crew arrives at pad and ascends tower
9:08 a.m. Crew enters SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
9:24 a.m. Communication check
9:29 a.m. Seat rotation
9:34 a.m. Suit leak checks
9:48 a.m. Hatch close
10:58 a.m. SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
11:01 a.m. Crew access arm retracts
11:04 a.m. Dragon’s launch escape system is armed
11:08 a.m. RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
11:08 a.m. 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
11:27 a.m. 2nd stage LOX loading begins
11:36 a.m. Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
11:38 a.m. Dragon transitions to internal power
11:42 a.m. Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
11:42 a.m. Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
11:42 a.m. SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
11:43 a.m. Falcon 9 liftoff
11:44 a.m. Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
11:45 a.m. 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
11:45 a.m. 1st and 2nd stages separate
11:45 a.m. 2nd stage engine starts
11:46 a.m. 1st stage entry burn starts
11:46 a.m. 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
11:52 a.m. Dragon separates from 2nd stage
11:53 a.m. Dragon nosecone open sequence begins
NASA’s live coverage of Crew-11 launch activities is airing now on NASA+. You also can follow along on the mission blog, @NASAKennedy on X, or NASA Kennedy on Facebook.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/08/01/a-look-at-todays-launch-milestones-2/