Reddit SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida, on December 21, 2021. This launch marks the company’s 24th commercial resupply services mission for NASA. Credit: NASA We have liftoff! At 5:07 a.m. EST Main Engine Cuts Off, Falcon 9 First Stage Separates The Falcon 9 rocket’s nine Merlin engines have finished their burn, and the first stage has separated from the rocket. As the second stage continues carrying Dragon on its flight, the rocket’s first stage will attempt a targeted landing on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions.” That’s coming up in just about six minutes. Update: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage lands on the company’s “Just Read the Instructions” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: NASA Successful Landing for Falcon 9 First Stage SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage completed a perfect landing, touching down on the company’s “Just Read the Instructions” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. This marks the 100th successful landing and recovery for the company of its first-stage booster after launch. Coming up next, Dragon will separate from the rocket’s second stage to continue its journey to the International Space Station. Update: The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft separates from the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket after launch of the company’s 24th commercial resupply services mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on December 21, 2021. Credit: NASA Dragon Separates from Falcon 9 Rocket The uncrewed Dragon spacecraft has separated from the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, continuing on its journey to the International Space Station. The company’s 24th cargo resupply mission will deliver more than 6,500 pounds of science experiments and research, crew supplies, and hardware to the orbiting laboratory. Dragon is scheduled to arrive at the space station on Wednesday, December 22, at about 3 a.m., followed by docking about 90 minutes later. Expedition 66 Flight Engineers Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn will monitor operations while the spacecraft autonomously docks to the orbiting laboratory’s Harmony module. Dragon is expected to spend about a month attached to the space station before autonomously undocking and returning to Earth, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean with research and return cargo. Update: