This is an uncrewed launch, flying on a Falcon 9 rocket -- with a first stage that will attempt to land itself on a drone ship -- that SpaceX director Benji Reed said "is our end-to-end flight test to ensure the spacecraft and systems operate as designed before we put crew on board." It's also carrying an anthromorphic test device that Elon Musk referred to as Ripley, loaded with sensors around its head, neck and spine to gather data before astronauts take flight on the craft's planned second mission that is scheduled for July. Boeing's competing CST-100 Starliner has an Orbital Flight Test slated to occur in April, with plans for a crewed mission in August.

After a successful launch, the Crew Dragon will autonomously dock with the ISS to unload 400 pounds of supplies, with a return to Earth scheduled for March 8th where it will splash down in the Atlantic Ocean. If tonight's launch is rescheduled, the next window is set for Tuesday March 5th at 1:38 AM ET.

Update (3/2, 3 AM ET): The launch was a success! Everything appeared to go off without a hitch, as the Falcon 9's first stage pulled off another landing at sea, and the Crew Dragon capsule separated with an eye towards autonomously docking at the International Space Station on Sunday morning, at about 6 AM ET.