Live Countdown Coverage Begins for First Firefly Commercial Lunar Flight

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission One lander prepares for a launch to the Moon on January 14 from Launch Complex 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. The Blue Ghost lander will carry 10 NASA science and technology instruments to the lunar surface to further understand the Moon and help prepare for future human missions. Liftoff is targeted for 1:11 a.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 15. Photo Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket stands ready for a 1:11 a.m. EST liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Watch now on NASA+, NASA TV, or the agency's website.

Aboard Falcon 9 is Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander, which is carrying 10 NASA scientific instrumentsto the Moon as part of the agency's CLPS(Commercial Lunar Payload Services)initiative and Artemis campaign.

Weather officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's 45th Weather Squadron are predicting a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch, with the primary weather concerns revolving around the cumulus cloud rule and liftoff winds.

Here's a look at some of today's countdown and ascent milestones. All times are approximate:

COUNTDOWN
Hr/Min/Sec Event
- 00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
- 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 pre-launch engine chill
- 00:05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power
- 00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
- 00:01:00 Propellant tanks pressurize for flight
- 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 SEPARATION
Hr/Min/Sec Event
00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:28 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:31 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:38 2nd stage engine starts (SES-1)
00:03:28 Fairing Separation

00:06:04 1st stage entry burn begins
00:06:30 1st stage entry burn end
00:07:49 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:07:58 1st stage landing burn begin
00:08:20 1st stage landing burn end
01:05:36 Blue Ghost separates from 2nd stage

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