SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from Starlink mission Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from the Thursday, Sept. 5, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 8-11 mission.

Original coverage: This morning marks a second straight SpaceX Falcon 9 launch attempt from the Space Coast. Will the rocket fly after Wednesday's late-countdown scrub?

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of today's SpaceX Starlink 8-11 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Facing stormy weather this morning, SpaceX is now targeting 11:33 a.m. EDT to launch the rocket from Launch Complex 40.

The 230-foot-tall Falcon 9 will deploy 21 Starlink internet satellites — 13 of which have direct-to-cell communication capabilities — into low-Earth orbit.

No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. After soaring skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 8? minutes after liftoff.

However, SpaceX called off Wednesday's launch attempt because of unfavorable booster recovery weather conditions at sea — and the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron warns of a low-to-moderate risk of poor conditions again. Overall, the squadron's forecast calls for 75% "go for launch" weather early during the launch window, declining to 60% by late morning.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida

Countdown Timer

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands on ship

Update 11:41 a.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 15th mission.

Liftoff!

Update 11:33 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying 21 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 11:28 a.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.

Liftoff is scheduled in four minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in 15 minutes

Update 11:17 a.m.: Fifteen minutes before SpaceX's Falcon 9 liftoff attempt, the countdown appears to be proceeding as planned. Rocket fueling remains well underway at Launch Complex 40.

Following is a list of key remaining countdown milestones. T-minus:

• 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

• 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

• 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go for launch.”

• 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

• 0 seconds: Falcon 9 liftoff.

SpaceX booster to land on drone ship

Update 11:07 a.m.: Today's mission will mark the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 15th flight, SpaceX reported.

The booster previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20 and eight Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 22 seconds after liftoff.

During a Starlink mission last week, a booster unexpectedly tipped over upon landing during an Aug. 28 mishap aboard the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, triggering a Federal Aviation Administration investigation.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway

Update 11 a.m.: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are underway at Launch Complex 40 "as we target a break in the weather."

That means tonight’s Starlink countdown is now locked in to lift off at 11:33 a.m. without further delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

Fewer than 45 minutes before SpaceX launch

Update 10:51 a.m.: Still no recent updates from SpaceX on the upcoming launch. As a reminder, here's a rundown of that behind-the-scenes countdown timeline. T-minus:

• 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.

• 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

• 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

• 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

• 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

• 0 seconds: Liftoff.

Radar loop still shows storms off Cape Canaveral

Update 10:10 a.m.: This National Weather Service radar loop from Melbourne Orlando International Airport still shows heavy precipitation activity offshore — but this system does appear to be creeping southward as the morning progresses.

Launch day forecast: rainfall and flooding

Update 9:33 a.m.: SpaceX's launch attempt is slated for a soggy day punctuated by locally heavy rainfall and flooding in poorly drained areas, the National Weather Service reports.

Weather radar continues to show storms, rainfall and cloud cover persisting just offshore from Cape Canaveral.

SpaceX moves launch target to 11:33 a.m.

Update 8 a.m.: Not surprisingly — given the poor weather conditions near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — SpaceX has pushed back the target liftoff time nearly three hours to 11:33 a.m.

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 7:53 a.m.: Here's a rundown of SpaceX’s behind-the-scenes countdown timeline. T-minus:

• 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.

• 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.

• 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.

• 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.

• 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.

• 0 seconds: Liftoff.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 7:45 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

NWS weather warning triggered for Cape Canaveral

Update 7:30 a.m.: In an ominous announcement, the National Weather Service has issued a special marine warning until 8 a.m. for coastal and offshore waters stretching from Satellite Beach northward to the Brevard-Volusia county line.

The Cape sits in the midst of this stormy zone, where at least one waterspout was observed and steep waves are churning amid winds reaching 39 mph.

Large thunderstorms churning off Cape Canaveral

Update 7:22 a.m.: This radar loop from the National Weather Service station at Melbourne Orlando International Airport shows severe storms just offshore near Cocoa Beach — and a significant blob of stormy weather extending from roughly Melbourne northward beyond St. Augustine.

Space Force warns of cumulus, anvil clouds

Update 7:05 a.m.: In addition to booster recovery weather conditions, the 45th Weather Squadron cites cumulus clouds and anvil clouds as primary meteorological concerns.

"Deep moisture will continue pooling across the Florida Peninsula south of a stalled longwave trough. A subtle change in the pattern occurs Thursday as the surface boundary becomes more southerly, and a light offshore component develops in the mid-levels of the atmosphere," the squadron's forecast said.

"This will likely cause coastal showers to creep toward the coastline in the early morning, but by late morning, storms will generate locally on land across the Spaceport as the sea breeze boundary develops and is stubborn to move. In addition, training showers and storms over the same areas may occur due to a very slow storm moment," the forecast said.

"Conditions are best at the beginning and increases towards the end of the primary launch window," the forecast said.

For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from Thursday liftoff at Cape Canaveral