SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Saturday night from NASA's Kennedy Space Center

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live coverage of the Saturday, March 23, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

It's launch day — following a Friday night scrub!

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of tonight’s hours-delayed SpaceX Starlink mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX is now targeting 11:09 p.m. EDT — nearly four hours later than originally announced — for its second attempt at launching a Falcon 9 rocket from pad 39A.

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

This Starlink 6-42 launch attempt comes on the heels of Friday night's postponement, which was announced hours before liftoff amid a dreary weather forecast. 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. 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 11:17 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship Just Read the Instructions out on the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 19th mission.

The drone ship also just notched its 75th landing.

Liftoff!

Update 11:09 p.m.: Despite delays throughout the evening, SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from KSC.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 11:04 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.

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 10:53 p.m.: Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s remaining countdown timeline. 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: Liftoff.

SpaceX: All systems and weather 'go'

Update 10:44 p.m.: In a tweet, SpaceX officials announced that "all systems and weather are currently go" for liftoff after this evening's extended delays.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling has finally begun

Update 10:34 p.m.: Finally: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are underway at pad 39A, SpaceX just announced.

That means tonight’s Starlink mission is committed to lift off at 11:09 p.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

Are worst storms finally blowing offshore?

Update 10:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service's Melbourne station radar loop shows that the fierce red storms that passed near the Cape this evening have moved offshore.

SpaceX's much-delayed 11:09 p.m. liftoff target is less than an hour away. Will the rocket launch?

Storm clouds menace Kennedy Space Center

Update 9:52 p.m.: Shortly before sunset, FLORIDA TODAY Photographer/Videographer Craig Bailey took this photo of an ominous storm cloud looming north of the KSC press site.

SpaceX booster slated to fly 19th mission

Update 9:29 p.m.: Tonight's mission would mark the 19th flight for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reported.

The well-traveled booster previously launched GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G-33/G-34, Transporter-6, Intuitive Machines IM-1 and a dozen Starlink missions, SpaceX reported.

Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the drone ship Just Read the Instructions out on the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 26 seconds after liftoff.

Storms still sweeping north of Cape

Update 8:30 p.m.: National Weather Service radar shows fierce storms continuing to pass north of the Cape — along with potentially poor booster-recovery conditions in the Bahamas.

SpaceX sets lengthy delay: 11:09 p.m.

Update 7:34 p.m.: SpaceX just announced tonight's mission has been pushed back to 11:09 p.m., only 20 minutes before the four-hour launch window elapses.

NWS weather warning north of Cape extended again

Update 7:24 p.m.: For weather watchers, the National Weather Service has again extended that special marine warning just north of the Cape. The warning now elapses at 8:15 p.m. — and the impacts are now more severe than earlier.

Impacts may now include wind gusts topping 40 knots, large hail, possible waterspouts and steep waves.

SpaceX pushes back target to 8:21 p.m.

Update 7:08 p.m.: Is it weather-related? SpaceX crews have pushed back tonight's target liftoff time to 8:21 p.m.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has extended that special marine warning from the Brevard-Volusia county line northward to Flagler Beach by 30 minutes, to 8 p.m.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 6:50 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

NWS issues weather warning north of Cape

Update 6:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a special marine warning from the Brevard County line northward to Flagler Beach through 7:30 p.m.

Meteorologists warn of potential 34-knot wind gusts, pea-sized hail and steep waves.

Space Force: 75% 'go for launch'

Update 6:17 p.m.: The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron pegged the odds of "go for launch" weather at 75%.

The squadron's forecast did note a low-to-moderate risk of upper-level wind shear, along with a moderate risk of unfavorable weather and sea conditions for the first-stage booster landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea.

"On Saturday, the low pressure will be tracking up the Eastern Seaboard, leaving the Spaceport with northwesterly winds and isolated, wrap-around showers. The primary launch weather concerns will be Liftoff Winds and the Cumulus Cloud Rule associated with the isolated showers," the forecast said.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and KSC, visit floridatoday.com/space.

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: SpaceX launch recap: Starlink Falcon 9 liftoff Saturday night from KSC