SpaceX is targeting Thursday, January 13 for a Falcon 9 launch of Transporter-3 to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Transporter-3 will be carrying the CPUT MDASat - 1 constellation. The 29-minute launch window opens at 10:25 a.m. EST, or 15:25 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Friday, January 14 with the same window.
Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously launched Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, and five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Transporter-3 is SpaceX’s third dedicated rideshare mission, and onboard this launch are 105 spacecraft (including CubeSats, microsats, PocketQubes, and orbital transfer vehicles). A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
Mission Plan
Countdown
All times are approximate. The list below only reflects the MDASat-1 deployments, other customer deployments have been omitted for clarity. As stated above, a total of 105 spacecraft will be deployed during this mission.
Hr/Min/Sec | Event |
---|---|
00:38:00 | SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load |
00:35:00 | RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading underway |
00:35:00 | 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading underway |
00:16:00 | 2nd stage LOX loading underway |
00:07:00 | Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch |
00:01:00 | Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks |
00:01:00 | Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins |
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 Deployment
All times are approximate
Hr/Min/Sec | Event |
---|---|
00:01:12 | Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) |
00:02:15 | 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) |
00:02:19 | 1st and 2nd stage separate |
00:02:26 | 2nd stage engine starts |
00:02:32 | Boostback burn begins |
00:03:47 | Fairing deployment |
00:06:36 | 1st stage entry burn begins |
00:08:26 | 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO) |
00:08:27 | 1st stage landing |
00:55:22 | 2nd stage engine restarts |
00:55:24 | 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2) |
01:11:01 | MDASat-1a deploys |
01:12:44 | MDASat-1b deploys |
01:12:58 | MDASat-1c deploys |