Key Milestones for Todays Europa Clipper Launch
We're a little under two hours away from today's launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Here's a closer look at some of today's important countdown and ascent milestones (all times are approximate):
Time Events ? 00:53:00 Launch Director verifies go for propellant load ? 00:50:00 1st stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins ? 00:45:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins ? 00:35:00 2nd stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins ? 00:18:30 2nd stage LOX loading begins ? 00:07:00 Falcon Heavy begins engine chill ? 00:00:59 Flight computer commanded to begin final prelaunch checks ? 00:00:45 Launch Director verifies go for launch ? 00:00:20 Propellant tanks pressurize for flight ? 00:00:06 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start 00:00:00 Falcon Heavy liftoff 00:01:07 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 00:03:03 Side boosters engine cutoff (BECO) 00:03:07 Side boosters separate 00:04:02 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) 00:04:06 1st and 2nd stages separate 00:04:13 2nd stage engine starts (SES) 00:04:31 Fairing deployment 00:07:53 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) 00:47:40 2nd stage engine starts (SES-2) 00:50:56 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2) 01:02:12 Europa Clipper deploys
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