Updates: Axiom Space Ax-3 astronaut mission launches Thursday on SpaceX Falcon 9 from KSC

Rick Neale, Florida Today
Updated ·5 min read

Updates:  Scroll down for live coverage of the 4:49 p.m. EST liftoff of Axiom Space's Ax-3 private astronaut mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 to the International Space Station on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of today's Ax-3 launch, which will send four European private astronauts up to the International Space Station.

After a Wednesday scrub, the Ax-3 mission instantaneous launch is now scheduled for 4:49 p.m. EST from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Expect local sonic booms from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket: The first-stage booster should return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station 7 minutes, 40 seconds after launch.

Developed by the Houston company Axiom Space, Ax-3 is the first all-European private astronaut mission to the ISS. Crew members are commander Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut and dual American-Spanish citizen; mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı of Turkey; mission specialist Marcus Wandt of Sweden, a European Space Agency astronaut; and pilot Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force colonel.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron has pegged the odds of "go for launch" weather at 80%. Ax-3 is the Space Coast's first crewed mission of 2024.

SpaceX officials said Wednesday's launch attempt was scrubbed because "the additional time allows teams to complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis on the vehicle."

The Axiom-3 astronauts share smiles after a day of launch rehearsal activities.
The Axiom-3 astronauts share smiles after a day of launch rehearsal activities.

Countdown Timer

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 4:57 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed, generating a loud, cracking double sonic boom at the Cape.

Liftoff!

Update 4:49 p.m.: Liftoff! The Falcon 9 has lifted off the pad, carrying the Ax-3 astronauts into low-Earth orbit to dock with the International Space Station.

Next, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster will target landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Ax-3 countdown: 15 minutes to launch

Update 4:34 p.m.: Clouds of condensed vapor are billowing from the Falcon 9 during fueling, and the countdown remains ongoing 15 minutes before launch.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling is now underway

Update 4:15 p.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at pad 39A, SpaceX just announced.

Upcoming Ax-3 countdown events

Update 4:03 p.m. Following is a list of key milestones in the SpaceX Falcon 9 countdown timeline:

  • 42 minutes: Crew access arm retracts.

  • 39 minutes: Dragon launch escape system is armed.

  • 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.

  • 5 minutes: Dragon transitions to internal power.

  • 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: Falcon 9 liftoff.

SpaceX briefs astronaut crew

Update 3:47 p.m.: A few minutes ago, the Ax-3 astronauts listened to a "post-ingress crew briefing" from their seats inside the spacecraft.

“OK, Dragon. We are officially through the hurry-up phase. And now, we have a little bit of time to wait.

"Clock is at T-minus 1:13:00 and counting. Dragon and Falcon systems continue to look healthy, and vehicles are ready for a launch attempt today. Weather continues to look great, and we’ll keep you updated if anything changes.”

Dragon capsule hatch now closed

Update 3:25 p.m.: Crews have closed the Dragon capsule hatch, SpaceX announced.

The Dragon spacecraft previously flew Crew-4 and Ax-2 to and from the ISS, SpaceX reported.

SpaceX completes astronaut suit leak checks

Update 3 p.m.: SpaceX just released a video showing the four Ax-3 astronauts arriving earlier today at pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

In a tweet, SpaceX also announced, "the crew’s seats are rotated, suit leak checks complete, and comms check complete."

Cloudy conditions at Cape Canaveral

Update 2:42 p.m.: Cloudy skies are visible to the horizon overlooking Kennedy Space Center, but they appear fairly thin.

"Post-frontal high-pressure center over the southeastern US will continue its eastward slide intothe Atlantic on Thursday, veering local Spaceport winds out of the south-southeast and introducing low-level moisture," the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron reported in its Ax-3 launch forecast, which was issued Wednesday.

"Models continue to oscillate around how much northward movement the old frontal boundary will have, and therefore how much instability the Spaceport will see. They have now swung back towards a more unstable solution, with increasing clouds and chances for showers or even a storm," the forecast said.

Primary Ax-3 weather threats: cumulous clouds and precipitation.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Updates: Ax-3 astronauts launch Thursday on SpaceX Falcon 9 from KSC