SpaceX

UPCOMING MISSION

CREW-3 Mission

SpaceX and NASA are targeting Sunday, October 31 for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s third long-duration crew mission (Crew-3) to the International Space Station (ISS) from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous launch window opens at 2:21 a.m. EDT, 6:21 UTC, with a backup opportunity available on Wednesday, November 3 at 1:10 a.m. EDT, 5:10 UTC.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

During the Crew-3 mission, NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer will fly aboard the Dragon spacecraft, marking the fifth human spaceflight mission SpaceX has launched since May 2020.

The webcast for the Crew-3 mission will go live about 4 hours before liftoff.

NASA Astronaut Raja Chari

NASA Astronaut Tom Marshburn

NASA Astronaut Kayla Barron

ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer

Countdown

All Times Are Approximate

Hr/Min/Sec	Event
00:45:00	SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
00:42:00	Crew access arm retracts
00:37:00	Dragon's launch escape system is armed
00:35:00	RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
00:35:00	1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
00:16:00	2nd stage LOX loading begins
00:07:00	Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
00:05:00	Dragon transitions to internal power
00:01:00	Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
00:01:00	Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
00:00:45	SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
00:00:03	Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00	Falcon 9 liftoff

Launch, Landing, and Deployment

All Times Are Approximate

Hr/Min/Sec	Event
00:01:02	Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:36	1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:40	1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:41	2nd stage engine starts
00:07:30	1st stage entry burn
00:08:48	2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:09:02	1st stage landing burn
00:09:30	1st stage landing
00:11:50	Dragon separates from 2nd stage
00:11:50	Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

Mission

To The space station

On its flight to the International Space Station, Dragon will execute a series of burns that postion the vehicle progressively closer to the space station before it executes final docking maneuvers, followed by pressurization of the vestibule, hatch opening, and crew ingress.

01. LIFTOFF

Falcon 9’s first stage lofts Dragon to orbit. Falcon 9’s first and second stage separate. Second stage accelerates Dragon to orbital velocity.

02. ORBIT ACTIVATION

Dragon separates from Falcon 9’s second stage and performs initial orbit activation and checkouts of propulsion, life support, and thermal control systems.

03. PHASING BURNS

Dragon performs delta-velocity orbit raising maneuvers to catch up with the International Space Station.

04. APPROACH INITIATION

Dragon establishes a communication link with the International Space Station and performs its final orbit raising delta-velocity burn.

05. PROXIMITY OPERATION

Dragon establishes relative navigation to the International Space Station and arrives along the docking axis, initiating an autonomous approach.

06. DOCKING & PRESSURIZATION

Dragon performs final approach and docks with the International Space Station, followed by pressurization, hatch open, and crew ingress.