TIMELINE: Historic crewed launch successfully blasts off from Space Coast

By Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — See our complete coverage below:

VIDEO: ?They are America?s team?: Astronauts lift off from Cape Canaveral in first crewed launch from U.S. soil in 9 years NASA and SpaceX made history Saturday afternoon by launching a rocket from American soil for the first time in nine years.

Read live updates below:

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, speaks after launch

6:40 p.m. update

Channel 9′s Greg Warmoth spoke with Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, moments after President Donald Trump’s speech at the Kennedy Space Center.

Watch the video below:


President Trump, VP Mike Pence speak at KSC

5 p.m. update

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are speaking at the Kennedy Space Center.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH<<

Watch the launch again

4:20 p.m. update

To watch the launch again, click here.

WATCH AGAIN! Crew Dragon Demo-2 launch from Cape Canaveral Saturday's launch of the historic launch of the return of astronauts launching from American soil

Crew Dragon separates from Falcon 9′s second stage, astronauts on their way to International Space Station, SpaceX says

3:36 p.m. update

SpaceX said the Crew Dragon has separated from Falcon 9′s second stage and it is on its way to the International Space Station with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.

3:33 p.m. update

SpaceX said the Falcon 9 booster has landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You dronship.”

SpaceX said the stage engine burn has completed and the Crew Dragon is in good orbit.

3:28 p.m. update

Falcon 9 lifts off from launch pad 39A

Falcon 9 lifted off from launch pad 39A at 3:22 p.m.

NASA said the main engine has been cutoff and second stage separation has been completed.

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are heading into orbit.


Fuel completely loaded into second stage, NASA says

3:16 p.m. update

Space officials said fuel is completely loaded into the second stage. They are continuing to load fuel into the first stage.

There are five minutes until liftoff.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH<<

3:16 p.m. update


Rocket propellant fueling Falcon 9

2:57 p.m. update

The NASA Commercial Crew said “rocket propellant is currently being fueled into the Falcon 9 rocket.”

Space officials said the Crew Dragon’s launch escape system is armed and ready to abort in case of emergency.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH<<

NASA administrator says ‘weather is a go for launch’

2:35 p.m. update

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said “weather is a go for launch.”

The Falcon 9 rocket is expected to launch at 3:22 p.m.

NASA will continue to watch conditions as the launch time approaches.

NASA continues to monitor weather

2:10 p.m. update

NASA officials are continuing to monitor the weather ahead of the launch.

Conditions are still 50% favorable for liftoff.

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Channel 9′s Launch America special begins

2 p.m. update

Channel 9 is airing special live coverage of the launch right now.

>>CLICK HERE TO TUNE IN<<

Crews continue launch preparations

1:44 p.m. update

Crews are continuing launch preparations ahead of the launch.

Space officials said the astronauts are strapped in, connected to Crew Dragon’s systems and the hatch is closed.

Officials said the access arm will be retracted in preparations for launch.

Liftoff is scheduled for 3:22 p.m.

Crews close hatch ahead of launch

1:15 p.m. update

Space officials have closed the hatch of the Crew Dragon as they prepare for launch.

They said the weather is still 50% favorable.

Crews said they are going to continue preparations but they will reevaluate before fueling the rocket.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH<<

Communication check completed

1 p.m. update

NASA said it completed a communication check with the crew ahead of the launch.

It said “the network is a go and supporting communications for Dragon.”

Forecast shows chance for rain, storms around Cape Canaveral at launch time

12:45 p.m. update

Meteorologist Kassandra Crimi said there is a chance for rain and storm around Cape Canaveral at launch time.

Astronauts enter Crew Dragon

12:38 p.m. update

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley have entered the crew dragon and are preparing for launch.

Hurley is the commander for the mission and Behnken is the pilot, officials said.

There are four seats in the Crew Dragon.

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley arrive at launch pad

12:26 p.m. update

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley have arrived at launch pad. They are making their way up the stairs.

Astronauts heading to launch pad

12:08 p.m. update

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are heading to the launch pad ahead of the Falcon 9 rocket launch.

Astronauts walk out of crew quarters

12:03 p.m. update

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley walked out of the crew quarters to say goodbye to their friends and family as they prepare for launch.

Video: Astronauts making their way to launch pad Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley made their way to the launch pad ahead of the Falcon 9 rocket launch.


50% chance of favorable weather for liftoff

11:55 a.m. update

Space officials said there is a 50% chance of favorable weather for liftoff.

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine takes selfie with astronauts

11:40 a.m. update

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine took a selfie with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.

“Selfies are important when you’re going to Launch America," NASA tweeted.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH<<

Watch the video below:


Astronauts suiting up for launch

11:30 a.m. update

Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are suiting up for the launch.

NASA giving update on Falcon 9 launch

10:20 a.m. update

NASA officials gave an update on the Falcon 9 launch that will send two astronauts to the International Space Station.

“Bob and Doug are in great spirits. They are ready to go,” said NASA Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator.

>>CLICK HERE TO WATCH<<

Another launch attempt

9 a.m. update

NASA and SpaceX will make a second attempt at launching two astronauts into space from the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday afternoon -- if weather permits.

The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to blast off at 3:22 p.m. Saturday.

Read: Preparing for liftoff: How to watch historic NASA, SpaceX launch

If weather conditions do not allow for a launch Saturday, it will be pushed back to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Channel 9 has multiple crews in Brevard County covering the launch.

PHOTOS: Rocket launches from Central Florida

Click here to watch special live coverage, beginning at 2 p.m.

Click here to learn more about the astronauts who will be launching from American soil for the first time in nine years.

Video: Preparations underway for historic Falcon 9 launch Preparations are underway for the historic Falcon 9 launch that is set to happen at 3:22 p.m. Saturday.

Download the WFTV news app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox.

Video: Many disappointed after weather forces NASA to scrub launch People all along the coast braved rounds of rain in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Falcon 9 launch Wednesday afternoon, but they left disappointed after the launch was scrubbed.



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Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.