SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Friday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live coverage of the Friday, March 15, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Hopefully, the third time is a charm — but delays continue to arise!

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of SpaceX's third consecutive evening attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-44 mission to deliver another batch of satellites to orbit.

SpaceX has now pushed back the liftoff target twice, to 8:21 p.m. EDT, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A.

Thursday's scrub was a disappointment after an exciting day for SpaceX. Not only was it Pi Day, but the company celebrated a milestone Starship test flight as well as their 22nd anniversary.

Thursday night's launch attempt stopped the countdown with 2 minutes and 1 second to go. SpaceX stated on X (formerly Twitter) that there was an issue with the transporter erector's cradle arms. The transporter erector pulls the rocket into a vertical position and is supposed to retract before liftoff.

Thursday's scrub came on the heels of a Wednesday scrub. SpaceX has not given a reason for Wednesday night's scrub, which stopped at T-2 minutes and 3 seconds.

Assuming it launches tonight, the Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket. No local sonic booms are expected — rather, after soaring skyward along a southeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out at sea 8½ minutes after liftoff.

Countdown Timer

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 8:29 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its 19th mission.

The event marked SpaceX's 25th launch and landing thus far during 2024, including missions elsewhere in the United States.

Liftoff!

Update 8:21 p.m.: SpaceX has finally launched this Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from KSC.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 8:16 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.

Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from KSC.

Fifteen minutes before SpaceX liftoff

8:06 p.m.: After back-to-back scrubbed attempts, will this Falcon 9 finally take flight? Stay tuned.

SpaceX booster to land on drone ship

Update 7:59 p.m.: Tonight's mission marks the 19th flight for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reported.

The well-traveled booster previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8 and 11 Starlink missions, SpaceX reported.

Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 26 seconds after liftoff.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway

Update 7:49 p.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at pad 39A, though SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement.

That means tonight’s Starlink mission is now committed to lift off at 8:21 p.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

SpaceX: Rocket and weather are both 'go'

Update 7:36 p.m.: SpaceX officials just tweeted an update: "Less than one hour until Falcon 9’s launch of 23 @Starlink satellites from Florida. Both the rocket and weather are currently go for liftoff."

SpaceX Falcon 9 countdown timeline

Update 7:30 p.m.: Here's a rundown of key events in SpaceX’s remaining 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.

SpaceX delays liftoff for second time

Update 7:09 p.m.: SpaceX just pushed back the target liftoff time nearly a half hour, to 8:21 p.m.

Space Force: 90% odds of 'go for launch' weather

Update 7:01 p.m.: In a forecast released Wednesday, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron pegged the odds of "go for launch" weather tonight at 90%.

"On Friday, a cold front will settle into the Deep South, causing locally veering and increasing wind flow. Moisture through the atmospheric column will rise ahead of the front, but not likely enough to produce much in the way of mid-level cloud cover," the forecast said.

"The Cumulus Cloud Rule will the only distant weather concern for the backup launch window Friday evening," the forecast said.

SpaceX to launch ISS resupply mission

Update 6:33 p.m.: NASA announced the upcoming SpaceX CRS-30 mission — where a Falcon 9 will launch a Dragon cargo spacecraft carrying science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station — is scheduled for liftoff at 4:55 p.m. Thursday.

The rocket will launch from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. And the first-stage booster will produce sonic booms by targeting landing at the military installation.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 6:10 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

Contact Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Friday from Kennedy Space Center