Space Launch Complex 40 • Pre-Launch Operations
Falcon 9 (Booster B1056.2) on SLC-40 prior to propellant loading with Cargo Dragon CRS-18 integrated for ISS resupply
Liftoff & Atmospheric Ascent Track
Liftoff at 18:01 EDT (22:01 UTC) and vertical atmospheric ascent tracked from a distance of approximately 25 kilometers (Cocoa Beach)
Return to Launch Site & Landing Zone 1 Touchdown
First-stage boostback, entry burn, and successful touchdown of Booster B1056.2 at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) approximately 8 minutes after liftoff
Historical Note: The CRS-18 mission marked a major milestone in spacecraft reusability. The Dragon capsule used (C108) became the first commercial spacecraft in history to fly to the International Space Station three times (having previously flown on CRS-6 and CRS-13). Additionally, Dragon carried the International Docking Adapter-3 (IDA-3) in its unpressurized trunk, which was later installed on the ISS to support Commercial Crew spacecraft docking.