Crew-8 launch recap: Scroll down to watch Crew-8 lift off live on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, March 3.
Welcome to Florida Today's Space Team live coverage of tonight's Crew-8 astronaut launch from Kennedy Space Center.
After Saturday night's scrub, the Crew-8 team is now aiming for the 10:53pm EST launch of the astronauts' SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station. NASA TV's launch broadcast is posted at the top of this page.
“Due to unfavorable conditions on the flight path of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, Saturday night's launch attempt failed,” a NASA blog post said.
“The Crew-8 launch will carry NASA astronauts Matthew Dominique, Michael Barrett and Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos astronaut Alexander Grebenkin to the orbiting laboratory. The target docking time is 3 a.m. Tuesday,” the post said.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Updated 11:02 pm: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster cap touched down at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 at the Canaveral Space Force Station—creating twin sonic booms in the cap.
Liftoff!
Updated 10:53 pm: SpaceX and NASA launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center carrying Crew-8.
Teams 'confident' over hatch seal issue
Updated 10:45 PM: During a briefing 10 minutes before take-off, it was announced that the crew was confident of understanding the hatch seal crack problem and that they were confident they would be able to fly the entire journey safely.
Crew reading small hatch seal crack
Updated 10:38 pm: Shortly after refueling began, an announcement was made: Crews were inspecting a small crack in a side hatch seal that could become a problem during atmospheric re-entry.
The release countdown continues.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch milestones
Updated at 10:30 PM: As a reminder, here's a list of major upcoming events in the Falcon 9 launch countdown.
- 10:46 PM Falcon 9 begins engine cooling before liftoff.
- 10:48 pm Dragon switches to internal power.
- 10:52 PM Command to begin final pre-launch checks of flight computer.
- 10:52 PM Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 10:52 pm SpaceX launch director checks to launch.
- 10:53pm Falcon 9 liftoff.
SpaceX Falcon 9 refueling is now underway
Updated 10:19 pm: Falcon 9 rocket fueling processes are now underway at Pad 39A, and SpaceX announced that the Dragon spacecraft's escape system is armed.
NASA: Weather Now 90% 'Go to Launch'
Update at 10 PM: “I have an update on the weather. They gave another weather briefing – we're now 90% 'going,'” NASA broadcaster Megan Cruz announced with an hour left on 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
Updated 9:44 pm: About two hours ago, Florida Today photographer/videographer Craig Bailey snapped this photo of Crew-8 in motion for members of the media outside NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
The Dragon Endeavor hatch is closed
Updated 9:21 pm: The crew has closed the hatches of Dragon Endeavour's capsule, and liftoff is scheduled for two hours and 32 minutes.
Crew-8's third launch attempt
Update at 9 PM: As a reminder, Crew-8's Falcon 9 It was originally scheduled to launch from the ISS at 12:04 a.m. on Friday. However, high winds and waves at sea along Dragon Endeavour's flight path prompted the crew to postpone the mission until Saturday night.
But the attempt was abandoned that Saturday night. The culprit: too much wind in the capsule's ascent corridor, SpaceX said.
If tonight's launch attempt fails, the next backup opportunity is Monday at 10:31 p.m.
Crew-8 is now aboard the Dragon Endeavour
UPDATED 8:38 PM: SpaceX reported that the crew's seats had rotated into position for liftoff and that suite leak tests and communications tests had been completed.
The Dragon Endeavor spacecraft previously sent the Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1 and Crew-6 missions to the ISS — logging 466 days in orbit, SpaceX said.
SpaceX: Odds of 'Go' weather up to 85%
Updated 8:15 pm: SpaceX officials have announced that the odds of “go to launch” weather have increased to 85% from the original forecast's 75% chance.
NASA TV highlights a launch forecast that shows precipitation and anvil clouds as the primary weather concerns.
Crew-8 will be Cape's 14th event this year
Update at 8pm: NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission will be the 14th so far this year from KSC and the adjacent Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Space Coast conducted a record 72 orbital launches last year, and this year is on pace.
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Group-8 license tags: YAYSP8C
Updated 7:36 pm: Waving and smiling, the suited Team-8 astronauts exited NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, greeted family and well-wishers, and boarded two black Tesla Model Xs amid applause to transport them to Pad 39A.
Teslas have white and black license tags that say YAYSP8C – or “yay space.”
Crew-8 release product timeline
UPDATE 7:20 PM: Following is a timeline of NASA's “major milestones and important events” leading up to tonight's lift-off. All times are approximate:
- 7:33 pm Crew leaves Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout building.
- 7:38 pm Personnel transport to 39A.
- 7:58 PM The crew arrives at the pad and climbs the tower.
- 8:18 pm Crew entry.
- 8:23 pm Communication test.
- 8:24 PM Seat rotation.
- 8:25 pm Soot leak tests.
- 8:58 PM Hatch.
- 10:08 pm SpaceX launch director checks the propellant lift.
- 10:11 pm Crew access arm retracts.
- 10:14 PM Dragon's launch escape system armed.
- 10:18 pm Loading of RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) begins.
- 10:18 pm First-stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins.
- 10:46 PM Falcon 9 begins engine cooling before liftoff.
- 10:48 pm Dragon switches to internal power.
- 10:52 PM Command to begin final pre-launch checks of flight computer.
- 10:52 PM Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
- 10:52 pm SpaceX launch director checks to launch.
- 10:53pm Falcon 9 liftoff.
Crew-8 astronauts are fit
Updated 6:57 pm: Crew-8 donning spacesuits inside the “suit-up room” in NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
“A team of SpaceX suit technicians will assist them as they don their custom-made spacesuits and check for leaks. Designed for safety and functionality, the spacesuits provide pressure, protect the crew from potential stress, and connect to a port located in the thigh. For life support systems, including air and power, touch-screen-compatible Gloves and a flame-resistant outer layer are also included,” the NASA blog post said.
Crew-8:
- NASA astronaut Matthew Dominique, commander.
- NASA astronaut Michael Barrett, pilot.
- NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, mission specialist.
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, mission specialist
For the latest news from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Rick Neal A space reporter in Florida today (for his stories, Click here.) Contact Neil at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
