NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration

10/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2026 09:15

First Stage Main Engine Cutoff; First, Second Stages Separate

2 minutes ago

First Stage Main Engine Cutoff; First, Second Stages Separate

The Falcon 9 rocket has reached first stage main engine cutoff, or MECO, and the first and second stages have separated. Next, the Falcon 9's second-stage engine will ignite.

After separation, the Falcon 9 first stage performs a boostback burn and begins its journey back toward Earth for a landing at SpaceX's Landing Zone 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration published this content on October 01, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 01, 2026 at 15:16 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]