Updates: SpaceX Starlink launch Saturday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida

Updates: Scroll down for live coverage of the 12:33 a.m. EST liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Saturday, Dec. 23.

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of tonight’s SpaceX Starlink 6-32 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX is now targeting 12:33 a.m. EST Saturday to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40.

What's more, tonight's liftoff will mark the record-extending 70th orbital launch this year from the Cape Canaveral military facility and NASA's Kennedy Space Center next door.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of broadband internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket.

After soaring skyward along a southeastern trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean 8½ minutes after liftoff. No local sonic booms are expected.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron forecasts a 70% chance of "go for launch" weather early during tonight's launch window, decreasing to 60% by the end of the window.

Countdown Timer

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 12:41 a.m. EST: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship Just Read the Instructions out on the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its fleet-leading 19th mission.

The booster previously launched Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-11, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-3, and 13 Starlink missions, SpaceX reported.

Liftoff!

Update 12:33 a.m. EST: SpaceX has just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX live launch webcast begins

Update 12:28 a.m. EST: SpaceX's live launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted at the top of this page.

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

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch approaching

Update 12:17 a.m. EST: Following is a list of upcoming SpaceX launch countdown milestones. T-minus:

• 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: Falcon 9 liftoff.

SpaceX marks 8-year anniversary of booster landing

Update 12:08 a.m. EST: SpaceX successfully landed a Falcon 9 rocket booster for the first time on Dec. 21, 2015, making history at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

"Eight years ago today, SpaceX successfully landed an orbital class rocket for the first time. Since that time, SpaceX has landed Falcon rockets more than 250 times and counting," SpaceX officials said in a Thursday afternoon tweet.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling is now underway

Update 11:58 p.m. EST: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, and "all systems and weather are currently go for launch."

That means the Starlink 6-32 mission is now committed to lift off tonight, or else the launch will likely be postponed to Saturday night.

SpaceX launch apparently delayed to 12:33 a.m.

Update 11:40 a.m. EST: Though SpaceX has yet to make a public announcement, published reports indicate tonight's launch has been delayed again to 12:33 a.m.

SpaceX launch risk: upper-level wind shear

Update 11:20 p.m. EST: The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron warned of a moderate risk of upper-level wind shear during tonight's SpaceX launch window.

"On Friday evening a weak inverted trough will move near the Spaceport, enhancing the cloud coverage," the squadron's forecast said.

"The primary weather concerns for Friday evening are the Thick Cloud Layers Rule and Cumulus Cloud Rule associated with the trough and onshore flow," the forecast said.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 11 p.m. EST: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of the Falcon 9 launch.

Launch evening features 'quick-hitting showers'

Update 10:43 p.m. EST: Isolated rains have fallen across the Space Coast this evening, sweeping onshore from above the Atlantic Ocean.

"Another batch of quick-hitting showers for our coastline this evening," the National Weather Service station in Melbourne tweeted at 5:05 p.m.

SpaceX has pushed back its initial 11 p.m. liftoff target to 12:02 a.m. Saturday.

More: Florida's Space Coast reaches a milestone 69 rocket launches this year. See how SpaceX's Starlink is driving the record up

For the latest launch schedule updates at the Cape, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Updates: SpaceX Starlink launch Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida