UPDATE: Falcon 9 lifted off with the SATRIA-1 satellite at 6:21 pm EDT, Sunday, June 18, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The first stage booster landed aboard the drone in the Atlantic Ocean a short time later.
SpaceX launched Falcon 9 at 6:21 pm EDT on Sunday, June 18 to launch the SATRIA-1 communications satellite for Indonesian satellite operator PSN.
Forecasters predict a 60-75% chance that weather conditions will “go” for the launch from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
If it launches today, the mission will mark the 30th year of the Space Coast. The 230-foot rocket will fly on an easterly trajectory and liftoff shortly after aiming for a first-stage booster target that lands on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
For latest information, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Updates from Sunday’s event below:
Falcon 9 Landing:
6:30 p.m. EDT: The Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship docked in the Atlantic Ocean.
Liftoff!
6:21 pm EDT: Falcon 9 liftoff with the PSN SATRIA-1 satellite for the Indonesian government from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Here is the post-release timeline:
T-Plus:
- 00:01:14 minutes Max Q (moment of peak mechanical pressure of the rocket)
- 00:02:33 Minutes 1st Stage Main Engine Cut (MECO)
- 00:02:37 minutes 1st and 2nd stages are separate
- 00:02:44 minutes 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
- 00:03:30 Minutes A reasonable deployment
- 00:06:33 minutes 1st stage entry burn begins
- 00:06:54 minutes 1st stage entry burn ends
- 00:08:10 Minutes 2nd Stage Machine Cut (SECO-1)
- 00:08:28 minutes 1st stage landing burn begins
- 00:08:39 minutes 1st stage landing
- 00:27:40 minutes 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
- 00:28:36 Minutes 2nd Stage Mechanical Cut (SECO-2)
- 00:36:47 Minutes PSN Sorts SATRIA
Refueling in progress:
5:45 PM EDT: At Launch Complex 40, the Falcon 9 began loading the rocket’s first stage with kerosene and liquid oxygen.
New Release Time:
5:30 p.m. EDT: Because of upper-level winds, SpaceX is now targeting 6:21 pm EDT for Falcon 9 liftoff from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX is working toward liftoff:
4:30 p.m. EDT: good afternoon. SpaceX crews at Launch Complex 40 plan to lift off the Falcon 9 at 6:06 p.m. SpaceX had previously targeted 6:04 pm EDT, but announced that the liftoff time had been slightly adjusted to two minutes later. Stay tuned for frequent updates as we get closer to fueling.
Here is the pre-launch work schedule:
T-minus:
- 0:38:00 minutes SpaceX launch director checks the launch of the propellant
- 00:35:00 minutes Loading of RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) begins
- 00:35:00 minutes First stage LOX (Liquid Oxygen) loading begins
- 00:16:00 minutes 2nd stage LOX loading begins
- 00:07:00 Minutes before Falcon 9 launches, the engine begins to cool down
- 00:01:00 minutes Command the flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
- 00:01:00 Minutes Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45 minutes SpaceX launch director checks to go to launch
- 00:00:03 Seconds The engine controller commands the engine to start the ignition sequence.
- 00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
