Falcon 9 FT - Countdown Timeline
All Times Approximate.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| L-1 Day to L-10 Hours | Falcon 9 to Vertical |
| L-10:00:00 | Countdown Initiation, Launch Vehicle Power-Up |
| L-6:00:00 | First Weather Balloon Release |
| L-4:45:00 | Range Controllers on Station |
| L-4:35:00 | Falcon 9 Attitude Control System N2 Loading |
| L-3:00:00 | Launch Area Evacuation |
| L-2:45:00 | Falcon 9 RF & Telemetry Checks |
| L-2:30:00 | Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Release System Test |
| L-2:25:00 | TEA-TEB Bleed In |
| L-1:45:00 | RF Link & FTS Checks |
| L-1:40:00 | Data Flow Tests with Downrange Tracking Stations |
| L-1:30:00 | Blast Danger Area Clear, Roadblocks Established |
| L-1:20:00 | Weather Briefing |
| L-1:18:00 | Launch Readiness Poll |
| Final Tank Chill-In | |
| Tanks vented for Prop Loading | |
| Launch Enable to Flight Mode | |
| L-1:13:00 | Latest Tanking Poll |
| T-1:10:00 | Automated Countdown Sequence |
| T-1:10:00 | Rocket Propellant 1 Loading |
| T-0:45:00 | Flight Control System Setup (Flight Software Loading) |
| T-0:37:00 | Go/No Go for LOX Load |
| T-0:35:00 | 1st Stage Liquid Oxygen Loading |
| T-0:35:00 | Dragon Auto Sequence Start (Only CRS Missions) |
| T~0:31:00 | Stage 1 LOX Fast Fill |
| T-0:28:00 | Range Readiness Check (Air Force & Coast Guard) |
| T-0:25:00 | Spacecraft to Internal Power (Variable Time) |
| T-0:25:00 | Second Stage LOX Load (S1 Throttle Down) |
| T~0:15:00 | 1st Stage LOX Load in Pre-Topping |
| T-0:13:00 | Countdown Recycle Point |
| T-0:12:45 | Merlin 1D & MVac BTV Activation |
| T-0:10:15 | Grid Fin Actuators Secured |
| T-0:10:05 | Boostback Hazards Disabled |
| T-0:09:50 | Flight Software Final Setups complete |
| T-0:09:45 | TEA-TEB Ignition System Setup |
| T-0:09:45 | Stage 2 Transmitter Re-Activation |
| T-0:09:00 | M1D Trim Valve Setup Complete |
| T-0:08:00 | M1D & MVac Hydraulic Pressurization |
| T-0:08:00 | MVac Fuel Trim Valve Setup |
| T-0:07:35 | M1D Engines to TVC-Null Position |
| T-0:07:30 | Engine Chill Readiness |
| T-0:07:05 | Stage 1 Helium Cushion Secured |
| T-0:07:00 | Spacecraft on Internal Power |
| T-0:06:45 | Engine Chilldown (Bleed Valves Open, both Stages) |
| T-0:06:30 | M1D/MVac Hydraulics at Bleed Pressure |
| T-0:06:15 | MVac Fuel Trim Valve Motions |
| T-0:06:00 | Stage 1 Fuel Secure at Flight Level |
| T-0:05:30 | MVac FTV Motions complete |
| T-0:05:30 | Flight Computers in Self-Alignment |
| T-0:05:20 | Stage 1 Fuel Loading Complete (Latest) |
| T-0:05:10 | Launch Vehicle Heater Deactivation |
| T-0:05:00 | Preliminary Tank Pressurization for Strongback Release |
| T-0:05:00 | Falcon 9 to Internal Power |
| T-0:05:00 | Range Voice Checks |
| T-0:04:45 | Stage 2 Thrust Vector Control Test |
| T-0:04:40 | Stage 1 Helium Secured |
| T-0:04:30 | Stage 2 RP-1 Bleed |
| T-0:04:25 | Strongback Lowering Sequence |
| T-0:04:05 | Strongback Cradle Opening |
| T-0:04:00 | Vehicle Release Auto Sequence |
| T-0:03:45 | Stage 2 TVC Motions Complete |
| T-0:03:40 | Ground Hydraulics Securing |
| T-0:03:25 | Flight Termination System to Internal Power |
| T-0:03:15 | FTS on Internal |
| T-0:03:05 | Flight Termination System Armed, FTS Ready for Launch |
| T-0:03:00 | Stage 1 POGO Bleed Verification |
| T-0:02:55 | Verify Good Mvac TVC |
| T-0:02:45 | Fuel Trim Valve to Flight Position |
| T-0:02:40 | Stage 1 LOX Secure at Flight Level |
| T-0:02:40 | FTS Countdown Sequence |
| T-0:02:30 | Mvac Fuel Bleed Complete |
| T-0:02:25 | Igniter Purge Complete |
| T-0:02:20 | Strongback Secure for Launch 88.5° |
| T-0:02:25 | Mvac Bleed Valve Motions |
| T-0:02:05 | Stage 2 LOX Secure at Flight Level (Latest) |
| T-0:02:00 | Falcon 9 Transfer to Internal Power Complete |
| T-0:01:45 | M1D Fuel Bleed Complete |
| T-0:01:35 | Prop GSE Securing |
| T-0:01:30 | Self-Align Verification |
| T-0:01:30 | Final Engine Chilldown |
| T-0:01:25 | Cryo Helium Loading Termination |
| T-0:01:15 | Engine Chilldown Complete |
| T-0:01:10 | Final FTS/AFSS Status Check |
| T-0:01:00 | Flight Computer to start-up |
| T-0:00:50 | Stage 1, Stage 2 Pressurization for Flight |
| T-0:00:45 | Launch Director: Go for Launch |
| T-0:00:30 | HOLD Call for Abort |
| T-0:00:20 | All Tanks at Flight Pressure |
| T-0:00:15 | Vehicle Configured for Flight |
| T-0:00:10 | Latest VC Abort |
| T-0:00:07 | Pad Deck Water Deluge System Activation |
| T-0:00:03 | Merlin Engine Ignition |
| T-0:00:00 | Strongback Kickback at Liftoff |
| T-0:00:00 | LIFTOFF |
Falcon 9 FT Countdown Timeline (Prior to F9-030)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| L-15:00:00 | Falcon 9 to Vertical |
| L-10:00:00 | Countdown Initiation, Launch Vehicle Power-Up |
| L-6:00:00 | First Weather Balloon Release |
| L-5:00:00 | Launch Area Evacuation |
| L-4:45:00 | Range Controllers on Station |
| L-4:35:00 | Falcon 9 Attitude Control System N2 Loading |
| L-5:00:00 | Launch Area Evacuation |
| L-2:45:00 | Falcon 9 RF & Telemetry Checks |
| L-2:30:00 | Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Release System Test |
| L-2:25:00 | TEA-TEB Bleed In |
| L-1:45:00 | Comm & FTS Checks |
| L-1:40:00 | Data Flow Tests with Downrange Tracking Stations |
| L-1:00:00 | Weather Briefing |
| L-0:50:00 | RF Link Checks |
| L-0:45:00 | Pre-Load Hold Point, Propellant Polls |
| L-0:45:00 | Blast Danger Area Clear, Roadblocks Established |
| L-0:45:00 | Flight Control System Setup (Flight Software Loading) |
| L-0:45:00 | Final Tank Chill-In |
| L-0:40:00 | Ready for Prop Load |
| L-0:38:00 | Launch Readiness Poll |
| L-0:36:00 | Tanks vented for Prop Loading |
| T-0:35:00 | Automated Countdown Sequence, Master Script Running |
| T-0:34:45 | Launch Enable to Flight Mode |
| T-0:34:30 | RP-1 Flow to both Stages |
| T-0:33:30 | Stage 1 Liquid Oxygen Loading |
| T-0:32:30 | Confirm nominal Fuel Flow Rates |
| T-0:32:00 | Latest Prop Flow Start |
| T-0:29:30 | Stage 1 Helium Load |
| T-0:27:00 | Spacecraft to Internal Power |
| T-0:25:30 | Fuel Collector Pre-Valves Closed |
| T-0:25:00 | All three Cryo Helium Pumps active |
| T-0:22:00 | Stage 2 Fuel Loading Complete |
| T-0:19:30 | Stage 2 Liquid Oxygen Loading |
| T-0:17:20 | Stage 1 LOX Flowrate Adjustment for Stage 2 Fast Fill |
| T-0:13:15 | Stage 2 Helium Loading |
| T-0:13:00 | Stage 2 LOX Flow Adjustment for Helium Cryo Load |
| T-0:13:00 | Countdown Recycle Point |
| T-0:12:45 | Merlin 1D & MVac BTV Activation |
| T-0:10:15 | Grid Fin Pneumatics Secured |
| T-0:10:05 | Boostback Hazards Disabled |
| T-0:10:00 | Stage 2 Venting for LOX Fast Fill |
| T-0:09:50 | Flight Software Final Setups complete |
| T-0:09:45 | TEA-TEB Ignition System Setup |
| T-0:09:45 | Stage 2 Transmitter Re-Activation |
| T-0:09:30 | M1D Trim Valve Cycling |
| T-0:09:15 | Stage 1 Helium Topping |
| T-0:07:45 | MVac Fuel Trim Valve Setup |
| T-0:07:30 | Engine Chill Readiness |
| T-0:07:00 | Engine Chilldown (Bleed Valves Open, both Stages |
| T-0:07:00 | Spacecraft on Internal Power |
| T-0:06:45 | Stage 2 Helium Transition to Pipeline |
| T-0:06:35 | MVac Hydraulics at Bleed Pressure |
| T-0:06:05 | M1D Engines to TVC-Null Position |
| T-0:05:20 | Flight Computers in Self-Alignment |
| T-0:05:20 | Stage 1 Fuel Loading Complete |
| T-0:05:15 | Launch Vehicle Heater Deactivation |
| T-0:05:00 | Falcon 9 to Internal Power |
| T-0:05:00 | Range Control Comm Check |
| T-0:05:00 | Second Stage Nitrogen Loading Termination |
| T-0:04:50 | Pressurization for Strongback Retract |
| T-0:04:40 | Stage 2 TVC Bleed |
| T-0:04:30 | Stage 2 RP-1 Bleed |
| T-0:04:30 | Stage 2 Thrust Vector Control Test |
| T-0:04:20 | Verify Good Self-Alignment |
| T-0:04:10 | Strongback Cradles Opening |
| T-0:04:00 | Vehicle Release Auto Sequence |
| T-0:03:40 | TEA-TEB Ignition System Auto Sequence |
| T-0:03:30 | Strongback Retraction |
| T-0:03:25 | Flight Termination System to Internal Power |
| T-0:03:15 | FTS on Internal |
| T-0:03:05 | Flight Termination System Armed, FTS Ready for Launch |
| T-0:02:55 | Verify Good Mvac TVC |
| T-0:02:45 | Fuel Trim Valve to Flight Position |
| T-0:02:40 | Stage 1 LOX at Flight Level |
| T-0:02:40 | FTS Countdown Sequence |
| T-0:02:35 | Strongback Retraction Complete |
| T-0:02:05 | Stage 2 LOX at Flight Level |
| T-0:02:00 | Falcon 9 Transfer to Internal Power Complete |
| T-0:01:35 | Flight Control to Self Alignment |
| T-0:01:30 | Launch Director: Go for Launch |
| T-0:01:30 | Final Engine Chilldown |
| T-0:01:25 | Helium Loading Termination |
| T-0:01:20 | Engine Purge |
| T-0:01:00 | Flight Computer to start-up |
| T-0:00:50 | Stage 1, Stage 2 Pressurization for Flight |
| T-0:00:50 | First Stage Thrust Vector Actuator Test |
| T-0:00:30 | HOLD Call for Abort |
| T-0:00:20 | All Tanks at Flight Pressure |
| T-0:00:15 | Arm Pyrotechnics |
| T-0:00:10 | Latest VC Abort |
| T-0:00:07 | Pad Deck Water Deluge System Activation |
| T-0:00:03 | Merlin Engine Ignition |
| T-0:00:00 | LIFTOFF |
