NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission is set to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:43 a.m. EDT. Here’s a breakdown of key milestones leading up to liftoff and immediately after.
Before Launch (Approximate Times):
* 7:44 a.m.: Astronauts don their suits for the mission.
* 8:20 a.m.: The crew exits the Neil A. Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building.
* 8:25 a.m.: They arrive at the launch pad.
* 9:08 a.m.: The astronauts enter the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
* 11:27 a.m.: The rocket’s engine begins to chill before liftoff.
Launch and Immediately After (Approximate Times):
* 11:43 a.m.: The Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A.
* 11:44 a.m.: Max Q, the point of peak mechanical stress on the rocket, is reached.
* 11:45 a.m.: The main engine cutoff and stage separation occur.
Post-Launch Update:
The mission will continue with the Dragon spacecraft orbiting the Earth before re-entry. NASA provides live coverage of the launch activities on its website, including @NASAKennedy on X and NASA Kennedy on Facebook.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/08/01/a-look-at-todays-launch-milestones-2