SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Freedom stands atop its Falcon 9 rocket ahead of the Ax-3 astronaut launch for Axiom Space on Jan. 17, 2024.
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX will launch an astronaut crew to the International Space Station Wednesday (Jan. 17) on the private Ax-3 mission for Axiom Space, but if you’re hoping to watch it live online, you’ll need to know where and when. And for that, space fans, we’ve got what you need.
The Ax-3 mission, Axiom Space’s third commercial spaceflight with SpaceX, will launch four astronauts to the ISS from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and its Dragon spacecraft Freedom. Liftoff is scheduled for 5:11 p.m. EST (2111 GMT).
The Ax-3 mission is commanded by former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria of Axiom Space, with Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force serving as pilot. Turkey’s first astronaut, Alper Gezeravc, and European Space Agency reserve astronaut Marcus Wandt round out the crew as mission specialists. Together, the four men will spend at least two weeks in space on their ISS mission. Here’s how and when to watch them launch and dock at the orbiting lab.
Related: Meet the 4 astronauts of SpaceX’s Ax-3 launch for Axiom Space
What time is SpaceX’s Ax-3 launch for Axiom Space?
Currently, SpaceX aims to launch the Ax-3 astronauts into orbit on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 5:11 p.m. EST (2211 GMT) from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Current weather forecasts call for a 95% of good conditions at launch time, according to the 45th Weather Squadron of the U.S. Space Force.
SpaceX has what it calls an “instantaneous window” in which to launch the Ax-3 mission. That means if the company cannot launch at that exact time, it will have to stand down until its next opportunity in order to reach the International Space Station. SpaceX’s backup launch day is Thursday, Jan. 18, at 4:49 p.m. EST (2149 GMT).
SpaceX and Axiom Space initially hoped to launch the Ax-3 mission in November 2023, but the flight slipped to January 2024 and then to mid-January as weather issues delayed a series of other SpaceX flights ahead of the mission.
Can you watch SpaceX launch Ax-3 online?
Yes, you will be able to watch SpaceX’s Ax-3 astronaut launch online for free. In fact, you have a few options. Space.com will simulcast the livestream live here and on our YouTube channel, as well.
SpaceX and Axiom Space will host their own joint webcast of the launch beginning at 3:15 p.m. EST (2015 GMT) on Jan. 17. You can follow those webcasts at the Axiom Space YouTube channel and on the SpaceX X account (formerly Twitter).
NASA’s livestream will broadcast on NASA TV and NASA+. The agency will broadcast the SpaceX/Axiom Space program at 3:15 p.m. EST, then join the coverage at 4:15 p.m. EST (2115 GMT). NASA’s launch coverage will end about 15 minutes after liftoff.
Docking coverage
The four astronauts of the Ax-3 mission. (Image credit: Axiom Space)
SpaceX, Axiom Space and NASA will also offer live views of the Ax-3 Dragon spacecraft’s docking at the International Space Station, which is scheduled to occur on Friday, Jan. 19, at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 GMT).
NASA’s livestream of the docking will begin at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 GMT) and run through docking itself. At about 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT), the four Ax-3 astronauts will join the seven astronauts currently living on the International Space Station during a hatch opening ceremony.
Finally, at 7:35 a.m. EST (1235 GMT), the joint Ax-3 and station crew will host some welcome remarks before beginning their time together.
How long is SpaceX’s Ax-3 mission?
This SpaceX diagram shows the stages of the SpaceX Ax-3 Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule launch to the International Space Station. (Image credit: SpaceX)
While SpaceX’s launch of the Ax-3 astronauts will last just over 12 minutes from liftoff to its final event, the Axiom Space mission will last at least two weeks.
After liftoff, it should take about 2.5 minutes for the Falcon 9 rocket to reach stage separation, after which its first stage will return to Earth while the upper stage continues upward with the Dragon spacecraft. The first stage should land just under 8 minutes after liftoff at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to a mission description.
The Dragon capsule will separate from the Falcon 9 upper stage about 12 minutes after liftoff, deploying its nose cone to expose its docking port less than a minute later.
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Falcon 9 Launch, Landing, Dragon DeployTime (hr:min:sec)EventHeader Cell – Column 2 T-00:45:00SpaceX Launch Director ‘Go’ for FuelingRow 0 – Cell 2 T-00:42:00Crew Access Arm RetractsRow 1 – Cell 2 T-00:39:00Dragon Launch Escape System ArmedRow 2 – Cell 2 T-00:35:00RP-1 propellant loading beginsRow 3 – Cell 2 T-00:35:001st stage liquid oxygen (LOX) loading beginsRow 4 – Cell 2 T-00:16:002nd stage LOX loading beginsRow 5 – Cell 2 T-00:07:00Falcon 9 engine chilldown beginsRow 6 – Cell 2 T-00:5:00Dragon on internal powerRow 7 – Cell 2 T-00:01:00Flight computer prelaunch checksRow 8 – Cell 2 T-00:01:00Fuel tanks at flight pressureRow 9 – Cell 2 T-00:00:45Launch Director gives ‘GO’ for launchRow 10 – Cell 2 T-00:00:03Ignition Sequence StartRow 11 – Cell 2 T-00:00:00Falcon 9 Liftoff!Row 12 – Cell 2 T+00:01:12Max QRow 13 – Cell 2 T+00:02:261st stage main engine cutoffRow 14 – Cell 2 T+00:02:29Stage SeparationRow 15 – Cell 2 T+00:02:362nd stage engine startRow 16 – Cell 2 T+00:02:431st stage boostback burn startsRow 17 – Cell 2 T+00:03:291st stage boostback burn endsRow 18 – Cell 2 T+00:06:181st stage entry burn startsRow 19 – Cell 2 T+00:06:291st stage entry burn endsRow 20 – Cell 2 T+00:07:231st stage landing burnRow 21 – Cell 2 T+00:07401st stage landingRow 22 – Cell 2 T+00:08:482nd stage engine cutoff Row 23 – Cell 2 T+00:12:00Dragon separationRow 24 – Cell 2 T+00:12:46Dragon nosecone opensRow 25 – Cell 2
What if SpaceX can’t launch the Ax-3 mission?
SpaceX has at least one backup day set up in case it cannot launch the Ax-3 astronaut mission to the International Space Station on Jan. 17 as planned. A second backup day on Jan. 19 may also be available.
If a Jan. 17 launch isn’t possible, SpaceX can try again on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 4:49 p.m. EST (2149 GMT) depending on the nature of any delay. Like with the Jan. 17 date, SpaceX is expected to have an instantaneous window for a Jan. 18 launch attempt. There is a 90% chance of good weather for launch on Jan. 18, according to the 45th Weather Squadron.
If SpaceX is still unable to launch the Ax-3 mission on Jan. 18, then its next option will likely be on Friday, Jan. 19, but weather conditions will worsen slightly to a 75% of good weather, according to Space Force officials. The main concerns that day are thick cumulus clouds and the potential for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to fly through precipitation, the Space Force said.
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Tariq is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com and joined the team in 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. He covers human spaceflight, exploration and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com’s Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019. Before joining Space.com, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times covering education and city beats in La Habra, Fullerton and Huntington Beach. In October 2022, Tariq received the Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting from the National Space Club Florida Committee. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. You can find Tariq at Space.com and as the co-host to the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Twitter @tariqjmalik.
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