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Approximately 31 seconds into the flight, Falcon 9 had successfully cleared the launch pad, and the vehicle began throttling down to reach the point of maximum aerodynamic stress, known as Max Q. It’s during this phase that the rocket experiences the greatest atmospheric pressure, risking structural stress, making it a critical milestone.
Passing Max Q
As Falcon 9 approached the Max Q threshold, the vehicle’s aerodynamics were at their peak load, but the engines responded smoothly, with Merlin engines returning to full throttle immediately after passing through Max Q. With this event behind them, the spacecraft’s structural loads eased as it accelerated further into space, unburdened by atmospheric resistance.