Crew-10 scrub recap: Live updates from NASA's SpaceX launch delay, successful Starlink launch
Rick NealeLaunch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from the Wednesday, March 12, scrub of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 launch, followed hours later by a successful SpaceX Falcon 9 liftoff on the Starlink 12-21 mission from Cape Canaveral.
Original story:NASA's SpaceX Crew-10's international quartet of astronauts will have to wait after tonight's scrubbed launch — but SpaceX continues targeting another Falcon 9 liftoff at 10:35 p.m. on a Starlink mission.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of tonight’s back-to-back SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch attempts from Cape Canaveral.
First up, a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm sparked a scrub of Crew-10's Falcon 9, which was scheduled to lift off at 7:48 p.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Officials have yet to announce a new launch date.
Next, SpaceX will try to launch a second Falcon 9 on the oft-postponed Starlink 12-21 mission from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Crew-10 launch target had a pristine forecast from the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron. Odds of "go for launch" weather clocked in at greater than 95%.
NASA targeting Friday night for Crew-10 launch
Update 10:48 p.m.: The next launch try for NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 is 7:03 p.m. Friday.
"Mission managers met this evening and decided to wave off a launch attempt on Thursday, March 13, due to high winds and precipitation forecasted in the flight path of Dragon," NASA Commercial Crew officials said in a tweet.
"Launch teams also are working to address a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A," the tweet said.
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands
Update 10:43 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its 22nd mission.
Liftoff!
Update 10:35 p.m.: Liftoff! SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying 21 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX launch webcast begins
Update 10:31 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast is now posted above, right below our countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in four minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX booster to land on drone ship
Update 10:15 p.m.: Tonight's mission marks the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 22nd flight, SpaceX reported.
The booster's lengthy mission list includes CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19, and 17 Starlink liftoffs.
Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 25 seconds after liftoff. No Central Florida sonic booms should occur.
SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway
Update 10:04 p.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, as indicated by billowing white water vapor.
That means the Starlink mission countdown is now locked in to lift off at 10:35 p.m. without any delays, or else tonight’s launch must be postponed to a later date.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch countdown
Update 9:48 p.m.: Here's a rundown of SpaceX’s upcoming behind-the-scenes Falcon 9 launch 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.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 9:34 p.m.: For the second time tonight, Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
NASA: Thursday launch attempt is 'pending review'
Update 9:23 p.m.: As SpaceX crews apparently continue targeting 10:35 p.m. for the upcoming Starlink launch, NASA officials announced the next available Crew-10 launch opportunity is 7:26 p.m. Thursday "pending review of the issue."
"NASA and SpaceX have scrubbed Wednesday’s launch attempt of the agency’s Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm for the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida," a NASA blog post said.
"NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov have exited the Dragon spacecraft," the post said.
SpaceX moves upcoming Starlink launch to 10:35 p.m.
Update 7:28 p.m.: SpaceX has moved the target launch time of tonight's upcoming Starlink mission back 15 minutes, to 10:35 p.m.
SpaceX's next launch opportunity: Thursday night
Update 7:21 p.m.: SpaceX's website lists the next Crew-10 launch opportunity as 7:26 p.m. Thursday. However, no announcement has been made yet.
Scrub!
Update 7:06 p.m.: The Crew-10 launch has been scrubbed because of the hydraulic ground issue.
"This will allow the teams to continue to troubleshoot and hopefully fix this issue for the next attempt that we'll have for Crew-10," SpaceX webcast commentator Jessie Anderson said.
SpaceX: Crew-10 is 'go for launch'
Update 6:59 p.m.: Though conversation continues on the hydraulic issue at one of the clamp arms — which hold the Falcon 9 to the transporter erector — SpaceX officials have announced Crew-10 is "go for launch."
SpaceX tweeted the news at 6:55 p.m., along with a trio of videos.
SpaceX Crew-10 launch webcast underway
Update 6:51 p.m.: SpaceX's Crew-10 launch webcast is posted below.
Liftoff is scheduled in just less than an hour from KSC.
SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 6:40 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.
SpaceX Dragon hatch is now closed
Update 6:30 p.m.: The latest from NASA: "Technicians with SpaceX completed their checks inside Dragon’s spacecraft and closed the hatch.
"The technicians will examine the hatch seal for any leaks. Once complete, the launch director with SpaceX will verify a 'go' for propellant load," a NASA blog post said.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 flag on display
Update 6:22 p.m.: A white Crew-10 flag is flying beneath the Stars and Stripes from a flagpole near the outdoor countdown clock here at the KSC Press Site.
FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Brooke Edwards snapped this photo about an hour ago.
Images: NASA's SpaceX Crew-10
Update 6:12 p.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Photographer/Videographer Craig Bailey just published this photo gallery of Crew-10 departing NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building more than an hour ago.
Crew-10 completes communication checks inside Dragon
Update 5:48 p.m.: NASA officials reported that Crew-10 has completed its communication checks with Mission Control from inside Dragon.
Next, they will check their spacesuits for leaks and rotate their seats into reclined positions for launch before the “all clear” is given to close Dragon’s side hatch, a NASA blog post said.
"Following liftoff at 7:48 p.m. EDT, it will take the four-person team roughly 10.5 hours to rendezvous and dock to the International Space Station," the post said.
Crew-10 briefed on hydraulic line issue
Update 5:34 p.m.: Mission Control just notified Crew-10 — which is seated inside the Dragon capsule — that a crew is still evaluating system performance with a hydraulic issue related to the clamp arm at pad 39A.
An update should be coming no later than one hour before liftoff, or 6:48 p.m.
Space Force Crew-10 launch weather details
Update 5:22 p.m.: Details from the 45th Weather Squadron's launch forecast:
"The area of low pressure that led to (Monday's) severe weather has moved out into the western Atlantic with high pressure sliding in across the state from the Gulf. This has brought in a cool and very dry airmass that will continue into Wednesday as the high center moves across the central peninsula," the forecast said.
"Stronger winds (Tuesday) will subside overnight, with more typical afternoon breeziness the next few days driven by the development of an east coast sea breeze. Launch site weather will be very favorable with no significant concerns for the primary launch day Wednesday evening," the forecast said.
Titusville officials to SpaceX spectators: Slow down
Update 5:10 p.m.: With tonight's SpaceX launch doubleheader approaching, Titusville City Hall officials are distributing traffic maps and urging motorists to slow down in prime launch viewing areas — particularly along U.S. 1 and State Road 406 near the A. Max Brewer Bridge.
"A MULTI-AGENCY traffic exit plan has been developed to help with a safe exit from the City of Titusville after the launches. Motorists on State Road 406 (Garden Street) and on the A. Max Brewer Bridge and surrounding areas will proceed west, all motorists north of Harrison Street will proceed northbound, and all vehicles south of Harrison will proceed southbound," a 4:33 p.m. tweet said.
"Enjoy the launch and DRIVE SAFE TITUSVILLE!" the tweet said.
Crew-10 arrives at pad 39A ahead of boarding Dragon
Update 4:54 p.m.: SpaceX reported Crew-10's vehicle caravan has reached the launch pad.
Crew-10's Teslas depart the checkout building
Update 4:46 p.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Brooke Edwards shot video of Crew-10's Teslas driving away from NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
Crew-10 emerges, boards Teslas en route to rocket
Update 4:32 p.m.: Suited up for spaceflight, the four Crew-10 members just emerged from NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to bid farewell to family members and supporters.
Crew members boarded black Teslas to ride in a caravan to their waiting rocket at pad 39A.
SpaceX crew working on hydraulic issue
Update 4:23 p.m.: SpaceX is looking at a hydraulic issue out at pad 39A with some ground equipment related to the clamp arm, NASA webcast commentator Derrol Nail said.
A crew is working on the issue at the scene, Nail said.
Photographers prep for Crew-10 liftoff
Update 4:10 p.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Photographer/Videographer Craig Bailey has set up remote cameras to capture images of the upcoming Crew-10 Falcon 9 launch.
SpaceX: Systems, weather looking good for launch
Update 4 p.m.: SpaceX officials announced, "all systems are looking good and weather is a go," for the upcoming Crew-10 launch to the ISS.
The four crew members are suiting up for spaceflight.
NASA televised webcast kicks off
Update 3:46 p.m.: The NASA+ webcast just started.
Crew-10 to exit building, head to launch pad
Update 3:32 p.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Brooke Edwards is positioned outside NASA's Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to photograph Crew-10 waving goodbye en route to the launch complex.
For the latest news and launch schedule 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. Contact Neale atRneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1