SpaceX’s Crew-1 astronaut mission for NASA: Live updates

With Falcon 9 static fire complete, Crew-1 astronauts prepare for launch

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will launch the Crew-1 mission conducted a static fire test yesterday (Nov. 11). During the test, the rocket briefly fired its engines while tied down, as a measure to ensure that the vehicle will perform properly during the launch on Saturday (Nov. 14).

With that milestone completed, the four astronauts on the Crew-1 mission are spending today (Nov. 12) conducting a dress rehearsal for launch. The crew and the NASA and SpaceX personnel supporting the mission will go through each step of the launch process — minus blast-off itself — to make sure the big day goes smoothly.

SpaceX Crew Dragon on the Launch Pad

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft poised to launch four astronauts NASA’s Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station this week has reached its launch pad. 

The Crew-1 spacecraft and its Falcon 9 rocket (also built by SpaceX) moved to NASA’s historic Launch Pad 39A on Monday night (Nov. 9) and are now in launch position for a planned static fire engine test expected for later today. 

Meanwhile, NASA and SpaceX officials have completed their review of the Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 rocket for this launch and will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. EST (1930 GMT) to discuss their plans. You can watch that live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA. 

NASA, SpaceX review Crew-1 flight readiness

NASA and SpaceX mission managers are holding a day-long Flight Readiness Review today (Nov. 9) to decide of SpaceX’s next Crew Dragon to carry astronauts is ready to fly. 

The review is going on at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is gearing up to launch the Crew-1 mission to the space station for NASA.  “The review focuses on the preparedness of SpaceX’s crew transportation system, the International Space Station, and its international partners to support the flight, and the certification of flight readiness,” NASA officials said in a statement.

NASA’s human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders is leading today’s meeting. SpaceX’s vice president for build and flight reliability Hans Koenigsmann is the top SpaceX representative. 

NASA will hold a press conference later today to discuss the results of today’s Flight Readiness Review. That event should begin one hour after the meeting’s conclusion.

The Crew-1 astronauts, meanwhile, will answer questions from the media at 1:15 p.m….