The Starlink mission was from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Recap of the launch: Swipe down to watch live video of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch on Wednesday, May 8, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with the Starlink 6-56 mission.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch this afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is something to look forward to.

Enjoy live coverage of the 2:42 p.m. ET on FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team. m. EDT SpaceX Starlink 6-56 mission departing from pad 39A. 11 a.m. was the initial launch target. me. — however, the business has revealed three delays that will push liftoff until the end of today’s window.

A number of Starlink internet satellites, housed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket, will be launched by the Falcon 9.

The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron expects 90 percent favorable odds, with a modicum of solar activity risk and a slight concern over cumulus clouds driven by sea breezes.

With this mission, no sonic booms are anticipated in Central Florida. The first-stage booster of the rocket will aim to land approximately 8.25 minutes after liftoff aboard a SpaceX drone ship at sea after rising skyward on a southeasterly trajectory.

Cape Canaveral: When does SpaceX, NASA, and ULA launch their rockets in Florida? Is there a launch today?

Launcher 9 of SpaceX touches down.

Update at 2:50 p.m. m. The third mission of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 first-stage booster has concluded with its landing in the Atlantic Ocean atop the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas.

SpaceX officials tweeted, “Blue skies and blue seas for Falcon 9 landing.”.

Launching!

As of 2:42 p.m. M. Just now, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 39A at KSC with 23 Starlink satellites aboard.

The webcast for the SpaceX launch has begun.

Updated at 2:37 p.m. m. Below the countdown clock, you can now see SpaceX’s launch webcast, which was previously hosted on X (formerly Twitter).

Five minutes from now, KSC is supposed to lift off.

In ten minutes, SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch.

Updated at 2:32 pm. me. Ten minutes prior to SpaceX’s 2:42 p.m. scheduled departure. M. as scheduled, the countdown to the Falcon 9 launch looks to be going on. Rocket fueling at KSC is still going strong.

The list of significant remaining countdown milestones is provided below. T-minus:.

Seven minutes before launch, Falcon 9’s engines start to chill.

One minute later: the propellant tank is pressurized to flight pressure and the command flight computer starts the last prelaunch checks.

The SpaceX launch director confirms “go for launch” after 45 seconds. “.

Engine controller: 3 seconds to initiate engine ignition sequence.

Falcon 9 takes off in 0 seconds.

Launcher from SpaceX will land on a drone ship.

Revision 2:27 p.m. M. According to SpaceX, this mission tonight is the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s only third flight, which is a meager accomplishment in this day and age.

Crew-8 and a Starlink mission were previously launched by the booster in March. Eight minutes and eighteen seconds after liftoff, the booster is expected to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean following stage separation.

Rocket and weather are ready for launch, says SpaceX.

Revisit 2:17 p.m. m. “The vehicle and the Florida weather are ready for launch,” a tweet from SpaceX stated.

SpaceX Falcon 9 is currently being fueled.

Revision 2:17 p.m. m. According to a recent announcement from SpaceX, pad 39A is now fueling the Falcon 9.

As a result, the Starlink countdown for this afternoon is set to begin at 2:42 p.m. M. without additional hold-ups, failing which the launch will have to be rescheduled.

Nearby, ULA is rolling an Atlas V off the pad.

As of 1:56 p.m. me. This image of United Launch Alliance crews rolling the Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner capsule off the pad at neighboring Launch Complex 41 was taken by FLORIDA TODAY photographer/videographer Craig Bailey.

A problematic liquid-oxygen self-regulating solenoid relief valve will be replaced by ULA, and the new Starliner launch target is set for no earlier than 6:16 p.m. me. 17 May.

Pre-launch heat index for SpaceX soars to 96.

As of 1:30 p.m. m. The National Weather Service reported that the temperature at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station has reached 90 degrees, with a pleasant heat index of 96.

This afternoon’s high temperature was four degrees higher than predicted by the NWS. Additional weather observations include partially cloudy skies, a 9 mph south wind, and visibility of ten miles.

At 12:18 p.m., Brevard County issued a burn prohibition. M. bans open burning, campfires, and bonfires in the face of persistently dry weather that increases the risk of wildfires.

In two days, SpaceX will launch again from the Cape.

Update one page. me. It was less than 48 hours ago that SpaceX launched its most recent rocket from Florida’s Space Coast.

At 2:14 PM, that was the time of the Starlink 6-57 mission’s launch. m. Monday from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40.

That rocket launched 23 broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit on a southeasterly trajectory, just as the current Falcon 9 is designed to do.

Eventually today, SpaceX will launch a second rocket.

Updated at 12:30 p.m. M. From Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, SpaceX crews are expected to launch a Falcon 9 rocket tonight.

At precisely 10:48 p.m. M. The Space Launch Complex 4 East-based EDT mission will launch 20 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, including 13 that can communicate directly with cells.

For the third time, SpaceX postpones launch.

Change 11:56 a.m. M. A third delay has been announced by SpaceX, moving today’s liftoff attempt to the very end of the 2:42 p.m. m. Open the window.

There will be additional launch opportunities on Thursday beginning at 10:16 a.m., if necessary. m.

The launch will take place in the summer months.

Updated at 11:45 a.m. M. At the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the National Weather Service is predicting sunny skies, a high of about 86, and southeast winds of 10 to 15 mph this afternoon. Gusts can accelerate to 20 miles per hour.

The warmest weather that much of East-Central Florida has seen this year is expected to persist through Friday, with record high temperatures predicted, according to a tweet from the NWS.

Launch deferral number two, according to SpaceX.

Updated at 11:18 a.m. m. SpaceX is now aiming for 2:10 p.m., another delay. me. on the launch of today.

Brevard is getting ready for the SpaceX launch.

Update 11 a. m. Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch, despite today’s postponed liftoff target.

Launch will take place north of the Starliner pad.

Revision 10:35 a.m. m. Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is situated in close proximity to the SpaceX Starlink mission, which is scheduled to take off from pad 39A at KSC today.

That’s where NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be launched to the International Space Station on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V on the first crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Following a Monday postponement, the historic Starliner launch is now scheduled to happen at 6:16 p.m. M. 17 May.

SpaceX postpones launch until 1:34 PM. M.

Revision 10:05 a.m. m. There is a two and a half hour launch delay. SpaceX recently declared that 1:34 p.m. is the new target liftoff time. me.

The delay’s cause has not been disclosed by the company.

Timeline of the SpaceX launch countdown.

Updated at 9:50 am. m. The upcoming countdown to SpaceX’s major events is listed below. T-minus:.

38 minutes: The director of SpaceX launches confirms that the propellant load is “go.”.

First-stage liquid oxygen loading and rocket-grade kerosene start after 35 minutes.

First liquid oxygen loading stage starts at 16 minutes.

Seven minutes before launch, the engines of the Falcon 9 start to cool.

In one minute, the propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure starts as the command flight computer starts the last prelaunch checks.

The SpaceX launch director confirms the launch is “go” after 45 seconds.

The engine controller initiates the engine ignition sequence in three seconds.

Launch time: 0 seconds.

Ninety percent of Space Force’s weather is “go for launch.”.

Updated at 9:29 a.m. m. Extra information derived from the SpaceX Starlink 6-56 forecast by the 45th Weather Squadron:.

The forecast stated that “the high-pressure ridge axis is now positioned across central Florida and will remain in place for the next few days.”.

The forecast stated that there would only be a small chance of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation at sea breeze onset during the midday hours because moisture extent is limited to the lowest levels of the atmosphere.

Visit floridatoday . com/space for the most recent updates from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Florida Today’s Rick Neale covers space. Email Neale at neale@floridatoday.com for more information. Instagram/X: @RickNeale1.