[SCRUBBED] Watch SpaceX launch NASA's Crew-11 to the ISS!

Key Concepts

Crew 11, Falcon 9, SpaceX, NASA, International Space Station (ISS), Commercial Crew Program, Launch Abort System (LAS), Propellant Loading, Weather Scrub, Booster Reusability, Dragon Spacecraft, Superchilled Propellant, Launch Pad 39A, Return to Launch Site (RTLS), Mission Specialists, Cosmonaut, JAXA, Dyslexia, Starship, New Glenn, Apollo 12 lightning strike, Signal Conditioning Equipment.

Crew 11 Launch Attempt - Pre-Launch Preview and Scrub

Introduction

Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, is live covering the Crew 11 launch. He notes that the hatch is closed and sealed, and propellant loading is imminent. He mentions his inability to stream Crew 10 but is present for Crew 11.

Pre-Launch Preview Details

• Mission Name: Crew 11, the 11th operational commercial crew program mission with NASA, specifically for SpaceX.
• Customer: NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos (due to the presence of a JAXA astronaut and a cosmonaut).
• Crew: Two NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut (Kima Yui), and one Roscosmos cosmonaut (Oleg Plantinoff). A mix of veterans and rookies. Zena Cardman is on her first flight after being bumped from Crew 9 to accommodate the return of Butch and Sunny from the Starliner mission. Mike Fininky, a veteran, is flying on Dragon for the first time after being involved in the development of the Commercial Crew Program.
• Rocket: Falcon 9 (B1094-3), the 94th Falcon 9 built, on its third launch, having flown 36 days prior.
• Launch Location: Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He notes that humans can now also launch from SLC-40.
• Payload Mass: Approximately 12.5 metric tons (26,000 lbs), the upper limit for a return to launch site (RTLS) landing.
• Destination: International Space Station (ISS) at a 51.6-degree inclination and approximately 400 km altitude (260 miles).
• Travel Time: Approximately 39 hours to reach the ISS.
• Return: Aiming for a February return, potentially an eight-month mission.
• Launch Statistics: The 169th orbital launch of the year, the 97th SpaceX mission of 2025, the 94th Falcon 9 mission of 2025, the 500th Falcon recovery attempt, and the 537th overall SpaceX mission. This is the sixth flight for Dragon C206 (Endeavor).

Crew Details and International Collaboration

• Zena Cardman's first flight was delayed due to needing to make room for Butch and Sunny from the Starliner mission.
• Mike Fininky is a veteran who helped develop the commercial crew program.
• Oleg Plantinoff is a cosmonaut on his first flight, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between Russia and the United States on the ISS.
• Tim emphasizes the importance of international collaboration on the ISS, especially given current political tensions.
• He notes the ISS is likely to be around for less than 5 years, with commercial space stations likely to follow.

Q&A Session

• Discusses the ISRO and NASA NISAR launch on a GSLV.
• Comments on the Australian launch failure by Gilmore Space, comparing it to Astra's "power slide." He notes it was a hybrid rocket, which is why it didn't explode on impact.
• Acknowledges a viewer going into aerospace engineering due to his videos.
• Corrects a misspelling of "Endeavor" on the pre-launch preview. He admits to having dyslexia.
• Explains why the ISRO rocket appeared to leave the launchpad faster, attributing it to scale and camera angles.
• Provides an update on his music album, aiming for six or seven songs by the fall, including reworking "Cryo" and "Slow Orbit."

Propellant Loading and Launch Abort System (LAS)

• SpaceX is working towards qualifying Falcon boosters and fairings to support up to 40 missions each. Currently at 29 flights of a single Falcon booster.
• SpaceX is developing a modified Dragon to guide the ISS through a controlled re-entry at the end of its operational life.
• Dragon successfully performed a reboost test for NASA during the CRS31 cargo resupply mission.
• The launch abort system (LAS) is armed before propellant loading, a safety measure.
• Traditional methods involved fueling the rocket first, then arming the LAS after the crew was onboard, exposing the crew and pad personnel to a fully fueled rocket.
• Falcon 9's "load and go" process, driven by the need to use superchilled propellant, loads the crew first, then the propellant, with the LAS armed throughout the process.
• This approach minimizes risk by never exposing the crew to a fully fueled rocket without an armed LAS.

Weather Monitoring and Scrub

• The United States Space Force is monitoring the range for safety.
• The autonomous timeline is initiated, counting down to launch.
• The crew has been strapped in for over two hours, with margin built into the schedule.
• The instantaneous launch window requires precise timing to match inclinations with the ISS.
• HOLD, HOLD, HOLD called at T-minus one minute due to a cumulus cloud violating weather rules. The launch is scrubbed.
• Backup launch opportunities are available starting the next day at 11:43 AM Eastern time.
• Dragon copies all five decimal one 0. Too bad, but we'll be ready next time.

Post-Scrub Q&A

• Discusses what happens if a rocket launches with high winds, explaining that they don't launch under those conditions due to the risk of the rocket snapping.
• Answers a question about rockets being hit by lightning, referencing Apollo 12, which was struck twice. He explains that the carbon in the exhaust plume creates a conductive path.
• Explains that "ce to ox" refers to switching to an auxiliary system after the lightning strike.
• Discusses the cancellation of the Dear Moon project and his feelings about the current state of the space industry.
• Addresses a question about setting up a launch site on the moon for Mars missions, arguing against using Super Heavy and suggesting dedicated systems with nuclear or ion propulsion.
• Explains that Luna, their production van, has been replaced by a 16-foot trailer called "Tuna" (a name he dislikes).
• Discusses the potential for a US-China space station collaboration, deeming it unlikely in the near future.
• Confirms that astronauts wear Maximum Absorbency Garments (MAGs), or adult diapers, during the launch process.
• Comments on the progress of Starship pad 39A, expressing surprise that they are proceeding before pad 2 at Starbase is fully operational.

Conclusion

The Crew 11 launch was scrubbed due to weather at the last minute. Tim Dodd expresses his disappointment but confirms he will be back to cover the next launch attempt. He answers viewer questions on a variety of space-related topics, including rocket design, launch procedures, and the future of space exploration. He also shares personal updates about his work and future plans.