Crew-8 launch recap: Scroll down for live coverage of the Sunday, March 3, liftoff of Crew-8 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team live coverage of tonight’s upcoming Crew-8 astronaut launch from Kennedy Space Center.
After a Saturday night scrub, the Crew-8 team is now targeting 10:53 p.m. EST to launch the astronauts’ SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station. NASA TV’s launch broadcast is posted at the top of this page.
Saturday night’s unsuccessful launch attempt was postponed “due to unfavorable conditions in the flight path of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft,” a NASA blog post said.
“The Crew-8 launch will carry NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin to the orbital laboratory. The targeted docking time is about 3 a.m. on Tuesday,” the post said.
Update 11:02 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just touched down at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — generating twin sonic booms at the Cape.
Update 10:53 p.m.: SpaceX and NASA have launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying Crew-8 from Kennedy Space Center.
Update 10:45 p.m.: During a briefing 10 minutes before liftoff, it was announced that crews are confident that they understand the hatch seal crack issue, and they believe they can fly the whole mission safely.
Update 10:38 p.m.: Shortly after fueling began, an announcement was made: Teams are examining a small crack in a side hatch seal, which could become an issue during atmospheric re-entry.
The launch countdown remains underway.
Update 10:30 p.m.: As a reminder, here’s a list of the upcoming key events in the Falcon 9 launch countdown.
- 10:46 p.m. Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 10:48 p.m. Dragon transitions to internal power.
- 10:52 p.m. Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks.
- 10:52 p.m. Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 10:52 p.m. SpaceX launch director verifies go for launch.
- 10:53 p.m. Falcon 9 liftoff.
Update 10:19 p.m.: Falcon 9 rocket fueling procedures are now underway at pad 39A, and the Dragon spacecraft’s escape system is armed, SpaceX announced.
Update 10 p.m.: “I have an update on the weather. They had another weather briefing — and we are now 90% ‘go,’ ” NASA TV broadcaster Megan Cruz announced with just more than one hour remaining in tonight’s countdown.
Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of the upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
Crew-8’s farewell waves
Update 9:44 p.m.: About two hours ago, FLORIDA TODAY Photographer/Videographer Craig Bailey snapped this photo of Crew-8 waving to media members outside NASA’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
Update 9:21 p.m.: Crews have closed the hatch of the Dragon Endeavour’s capsule, and liftoff is scheduled in two hours and 32 minutes.
Update 9 p.m.: As a reminder, Crew-8’s Falcon 9 was originally scheduled to launch to the ISS at 12:04 a.m. Friday. However, high winds and waves offshore along Dragon Endeavour’s flight path prompted crews to postpone the mission to Saturday night.
But that Saturday night attempt got scrubbed. The culprit: high winds along the capsule’s ascent corridor, SpaceX reported.
Should tonight’s launch attempt prove unsuccessful, the next backup opportunity is 10:31 p.m. Monday.
Update 8:38 p.m.: SpaceX reported the crew’s seats have rotated into position for liftoff, and suit leak checks and communication checks are complete.
The Dragon Endeavour spacecraft previously flew the Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1 and Crew-6 missions to and from the ISS — logging 466 days in orbit, SpaceX reported.
Update 8:15 p.m.: SpaceX officials just announced the odds of “go for launch” weather have increased from the original forecast’s 75% chance up to 85%.
NASA TV highlighted a launch forecast that shows precipitation and anvil clouds are the primary meteorological concerns.
Update 8 p.m.: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission will be the 14th launch thus far this year from KSC and adjacent Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Space Coast hosted a record-breaking 72 orbital launches last year, and this year’s pace is faster.
Click here to view FLORIDA TODAY’s summary of the January launches.
Click here to view FLORIDA TODAY’s summary of the February launches.
Update 7:36 p.m.: Waving and smiling, the suited-up Crew-8 astronauts just walked out of NASA’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, greeted family and well-wishers, and boarded two black Tesla Model Xs amid applause for transport to pad 39A.
The Teslas bear white-and-black license tags stating YAYSP8C — or “yay space.”
Update 7:20 p.m.: Following is NASA’s timeline of “key milestones and critical events” leading up to liftoff tonight. All times are approximate:
- 7:33 p.m. Crew walkout from Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
- 7:38 p.m. Crew transportation to pad 39A.
- 7:58 p.m. Crew arrives at pad and ascends tower.
- 8:18 p.m. Crew ingress.
- 8:23 p.m. Communication check.
- 8:24 p.m. Seat rotation.
- 8:25 p.m. Suit leak checks.
- 8:58 p.m. Hatch close.
- 10:08 p.m. SpaceX launch director verifies go for propellant load.
- 10:11 p.m. Crew access arm retracts.
- 10:14 p.m. Dragon’s launch escape system is armed.
- 10:18 p.m. RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins.
- 10:18 p.m. First-stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins.
- 10:46 p.m. Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
- 10:48 p.m. Dragon transitions to internal power.
- 10:52 p.m. Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks.
- 10:52 p.m. Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 10:52 p.m. SpaceX launch director verifies go for launch.
- 10:53 p.m. Falcon 9 liftoff.
Update 6:57 p.m.: Crew-8 is donning spacesuits inside the “suit-up room” at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
“A team of SpaceX suit technicians will help them as they put on their custom-fitted spacesuits and check for leaks. Designed for safety and functionality, the spacesuits supply pressurization, protecting the crew from potential depressurization, and a port located on the thigh connects to life support systems, including air and power. Also included in the suits are touchscreen-compatible gloves and a flame-resistant outer layer,” a NASA blog post said.
Crew-8 is:
- NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, commander.
- NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, pilot.
- NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, mission specialist.
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1