April 20, 2024

Liftoff! SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket With Dragon Spacecraft Blasts Off From Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39A

Credit: NASA
The rocket is carrying the Dragon spacecraft on the companys 24th commercial resupply services objective for NASA
SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon spacecraft stands prepared for launch at Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The businesss 24th Commercial Resupply Services objective for NASA, targeted for liftoff on December 21, 2021 at 5:07 a.m. EST, will deliver new science investigations, products, and devices to the crew on board the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn will keep an eye on operations while the spacecraft autonomously docks to the orbiting laboratorys Harmony module.

SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon spacecraft stands ready for launch at Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The businesss 24th Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA, targeted for liftoff on December 21, 2021 at 5:07 a.m. EST, will provide new science examinations, products, and equipment to the crew on board the International Space Station. Credit: NASA.
The location is the International Space Station, where it will dock for approximately one month. Dragons prepared arrival is Wednesday, December 22, at about 3 a.m., followed by docking about 90 minutes later on. NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn will keep track of operations while the spacecraft autonomously docks to the orbiting laboratorys Harmony module.
SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon spacecraft stands all set for launch at Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA.
Update:
Main Engine Cuts Off, Falcon 9 First Stage Separates
The Falcon 9 rockets 9 Merlin engines have actually finished their burn, and the very first stage has separated from the rocket. As the 2nd phase continues bring Dragon on its flight, the rockets very first phase will attempt a targeted landing on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions.” Thats turning up in almost six minutes.
Update:
SpaceXs Falcon 9 rockets first phase arrive on the businesss “Just Read the Instructions” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: NASA
Effective Landing for Falcon 9 First Stage
SpaceXs Falcon 9 rockets very first stage finished a perfect landing, touching down on the companys “Just Read the Instructions” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. This marks the 100th effective landing and healing for the business of its first-stage booster after launch.
Turning up next, Dragon will separate from the rockets second stage to continue its journey to the International Space Station.
Update:
The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft separates from the second phase of the Falcon 9 rocket after launch of the businesss 24th commercial resupply services objective from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on December 21, 2021. Credit: NASA
Dragon Separates from Falcon 9 Rocket
The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft has separated from the 2nd stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, advancing its journey to the International Space Station. The businesss 24th cargo resupply objective will deliver more than 6,500 pounds of science experiments and research, team supplies, and hardware to the orbiting lab.
Dragon is set up to get to the area station on Wednesday, Dec. 22, at about 3 a.m., followed by docking about 90 minutes later. Expedition 66 Flight Engineers Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn will keep track of operations while the spacecraft autonomously docks to the orbiting labs Harmony module.
Dragon is expected to spend about a month connected to the space station prior to autonomously undocking and returning to Earth, crashing in the Atlantic Ocean with research study and return freight.
Update:
Nosecone Open, Dragon Continues Journey to Space Station
Dragons nosecone is open, and the spacecraft is safely in orbit following a launch on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:07 a.m. EST from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying more than 6,500 pounds of research, team materials and hardware to the International Space Station.
Dragon is set up to arrive at the orbital station Wednesday, Dec. 22, at about 3 a.m. EST. Docking coverage will start at 3 a.m. on NASA Television, the agencys site, and the NASA app.
When it shows up to the spaceport station, Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the stations Harmony module, with Expedition 66 Flight Engineers Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn of NASA keeping an eye on operations.
SpaceXs 24th cargo objective to the space station under NASAs Commercial Resupply Services agreement will support lots of existing and brand-new examinations, and carry vital supplies and hardware to the orbital outpost to support the Expedition 66 team.
In November, the station exceeded its 21-year milestone of continuous human existence, supplying opportunities for unique research and technological presentations that help improve life in the world and also get ready for the agencys long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. To date, the orbiting laboratory has hosted almost 3,000 research examinations from scientists in 108 nations and locations.

SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket launches from Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39A in Florida, on Dec. 21, 2021. This launch marks the companys 24th industrial resupply services mission for NASA Credit: NASA
We have liftoff! At 5:07 a.m. EST, the 9 Merlin engines of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket roared to life, powering off the launch pad from Kennedy Space Centers Launch Complex 39A in Florida. The rocket is bring the Dragon spacecraft on the companys 24th business resupply services mission for NASA
Slated to dock with the International Space Station in a little less than 24 hours from now, Dragon will provide more than 6,500 pounds of science and research experiments, crew materials, and vehicle hardware to the orbiting lab.
Showing up in about a minute, the rocket will go through Max Q– the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket. The Falcon 9s 2nd and first stage will separate.