Launch recap: SpaceX rocket launches NASA Crew-11 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida
Original story: Following yesterday's scrub, SpaceX will attempt again to launch NASA's Crew-11.
Launch is set to occur during an instantaneous launch window at 11:43 a.m. from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A. The crew of four will launch in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Onboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will be NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The group is the 11th crew rotation and 12th overall astronaut launch by SpaceX for NASA.
The launch had originally been set for July 31, but a last minute storm cell stopped the countdown with just over a minute until launch.
When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral
Headed for the ISS, the launch will travel on a northeast trajectory.
Crew-11 will spend six to eight months on the ISS, where they will conduct space station activities, science, and technology demonstrations.
The liftoff is only the beginning of the event for spectators on the Space Coast, as just under eight minutes past the launch the rocket's booster will land at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This will create a thunderous sonic boom, which will be heard shortly after the booster lands.
Countdown Timer
Crew-11 safely in orbit!
Update 11:57 a.m.: "Ride of a lifetime" is what Cardman and Fincke described the ride to orbit!
Next, the crew will dock to the ISS at 3 a.m. EDT August 2.
SpaceX booster lands!
Update 11:52 a.m.: The Falcon 9 booster has landed at Landing Zone 1, sounding a sonic boom throughout the Space Coast!
SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off!
Update 11:43 a.m.: The SpaceXFalcon 9 rocket has left the launch pad, carrying NASA SpaceX Crew-11.
T-5 minutes until launch in Florida!
Update 11:38 a.m.: T-5 minutes until the launch of NASA SpaceX Crew-11.
Weather remains a watch item as clouds continue to approach the launch pad.
T-10 minutes until launch!
Update 11:33 a.m.: SpaceX is still moving towards an 11:43 a.m. liftoff. However, clouds have developed in the area around the launch pad. Lightning would be a risk factor if the clouds were too close to the rocket's path.
It is currently up to what the weather brings at 11:43 a.m.
SpaceX launch countdown timeline
Update 11:28 a.m.: T-15 minutes until the 11:43 a.m. liftoff!
Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX's countdown timeline. T-minus:
38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for propellant load.
35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for launch.
3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
0 seconds: Liftoff.
Sonic boom alert! NASA Crew-11 SpaceX launch in Florida will bring sonic boom
Update 11:23 a.m.: Those on the Space Coast be alert. Following the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster returning to Landing Zone 1, a loud sonic boom will be heard throughout the area.
NASA Crew-10 waits for Crew-11 in space
Update 11:15 a.m.: 'We will have dinner ready for your arrival,' wrote NASA astronaut Anne McClain, who is currently on the ISS as part of Crew-10.
Once Crew-11 arrives, there will be a handover ceremony within the following days, and Crew-10 will depart for their return trip to Earth.
SpaceX fueling ahead of launch!
Update 11:08 a.m.: SpaceX has now begun propellant load ahead of today's liftoff!
Launch of NASA SpaceX Crew-11 is set for 11:43 a.m.
SpaceX crew access arm moves ahead of NASA SpaceX Crew-11 launch in Florida
Update 11:02 a.m.: SpaceX has moved the crew access arm away from the Dragon spacecraft ahead of the upcoming launch.
Launch is still targeted for 11:43 a.m.
Last SpaceX landing at Landing Zone 1
Update 10:53 a.m.: Bill Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX, confirmed during a July 30 prelaunch press briefing that this landing will be the final landing Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral will support. Going forward, SpaceX will utilize Landing Zone 2.
Eventually, SpaceX plans to have landing sites at Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A.
T-1 hour until liftoff of NASA SpaceX Crew-11!
Update 10:43 a.m.: One hour to go until the launch of NASA SpaceX Crew-11 from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A.
The team has polled "go" for launch, yet weather remains a watch item, staying at 60% favorable for the liftoff time.
Local museum mascot on SpaceX launch from Florida
Update 10:35 a.m.: Rupert, the mascot of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum, is headed to the ISS on this launch!
A connection with Mike Fincke led to the opportunity.
'Steve made the connection and the hand-off,' Museum Director Jamie Draper said. 'Mike was thrilled to support.'
NASA SpaceX Crew-11 launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida
Update 10:15 a.m.: FLORIDA TODAY photographer, Craig Bailey, captured the moments before Crew-11 set off for the launch pad this morning.
Zena Cardman's first spaceflight
Update 10:00 a.m.: This mission marks the first spaceflight of NASA astronaut Zena Cardman.
Cardman was originally scheduled to fly in 2024 as part of Crew-9, but was reassigned to allow room on the Crew-9 SpaceX Dragon for the return of Starliner Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams.
Wilmore and Williams were assigned to serve as part of Crew-9 after their Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned during its June 2024 flight test -- a mission which, had it been successful, would have certified the spacecraft to ferry NASA astronauts alongside SpaceX's Dragon.
In another turn of events, Fincke and Yui were previously scheduled to fly on the first Starliner crew rotation mission.
According to a July NASA press briefing, Boeing's Starliner may fly again as soon as next year. It is undecided if that mission will be crewed or uncrewed.
The Starliner is aimed to serve NASA's Commercial Crew Program alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
SpaceX Dragon Endeavour and Space Shuttle Endeavour
Update 9:48 a.m.: NASA astronaut Mike Fincke last visited the ISS on the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour. In a turn of events, he is flying back to the ISS onboard another Endeavour – Crew Dragon Endeavour.
Crew Dragon Endeavour is seeing its sixth mission. It was the first SpaceX Dragon to launch humans to orbit in 2020 with the Demo-2 mission.
Demo-2 was also the first flight of the Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley flew to the ISS on the Demo-2 mission, certifying the SpaceX spacecraft to transport NASA astronauts.
NASA SpaceX Crew-11 launch from Florida weather
Update 9:38 a.m.: It was just announced on the NASA live stream that weather at the liftoff time is 60% favorable.
The countdown is still proceeding towards an 11:43 a.m. launch.
SpaceX hatch closure ahead of Crew-11 launch in Florida
Update 9:30 a.m.: The SpaceX closeout team has closed the hatch on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft ahead of launch. The countdown towards launch continues!
Lift off is set for 11:43 a.m.
NASA live coverage ahead of SpaceX launch of Crew-11 in Florida
Update 9:23 a.m.: NASA is live ahead of today's launch of Crew-11. The live video is posted above, below the countdown clock.
NASA SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts head to launch pad
Update 9:13 a.m.: The crew is currently settling into their spacecraft, and the hatch is being closed ahead of launch.
Earlier, the crew was spotted riding by the press site on the way to the launch pad − Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Launch recap: SpaceX rocket launch of NASA Crew-11 in Florida Friday
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