Image: SpaceX on YouTube
At approximately 12:14 a.m. PDT today, a Falcon 9 booster launched a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft carrying 4,800 pounds (2,200 kilograms) of supplies on a trajectory to the International Space Station (ISS) in SpaceX’s 23rd commercial resupply mission to the ISS.
Weather is 80% favorable for this morning’s launch. Launch webcast begins in ~15 minutes → https://t.co/bJFjLCzWdK
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 29, 2021
The launch was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 28, but had to be delayed due to unfavorable launch weather. Weather was 80% favorable for launch during today’s time window.
The mission was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Shortly after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage booster separated and successfully landed on SpaceX’s ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, marking the first landing of a reusable rocket on SpaceX’s newest droneship.
Approximately 12 minutes after launch, SpaceX reported successful separation of the Dragon cargo spacecraft from the booster rocket, beginning its ISS-bound journey.
The Dragon spacecraft will autonomously dock to the ISS, much like it did earlier this month, on Monday, August 30 at approximately 8:00 a.m. PDT.
Here are some highlights of the launch from the official SpaceX Twitter:
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/IMBdVYhwvf
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 29, 2021
Falcon 9’s first stage booster has landed on A Shortfall of Gravitas – first landing on this droneship! pic.twitter.com/vaiqb30q0P
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 29, 2021
Dragon separation confirmed; autonomous docking to the @space_station Monday at ~11:00 a.m. EDT pic.twitter.com/w7k1TRNGKg
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 29, 2021
Complete coverage of the launch is also available on the SpaceX website and SpaceX’s YouTube channel.
