Updates: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida

Emre Kelly, Florida Today
·2 min read

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Update: Liftoff of Falcon 9 at 1:22 a.m. EDT Thursday! The rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, and delivered a commercial communications satellite to Earth orbit.

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Follow live as SpaceX targets 1:22 a.m. EDT Thursday, Nov. 3, for the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket and communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The mission for French satellite operator Eutelsat, labeled Hotbird 13G, is slated for liftoff from the Cape's Launch Complex 40 into 90% "go" conditions. The launch was originally scheduled for 11:26 p.m. Wednesday, but was pushed to the end of the window to give teams more time to prepare the rocket.

After liftoff, Falcon 9 will target a drone ship landing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Follow live updates below (manual refresh required; for real-time updates with the ability to ask questions, follow this link):

Liftoff!

1:22 a.m. EDT: Liftoff of Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral with Eutelsat's Hotbird 13G commercial satellite!

T-minus 10 minutes to launch

1:12 a.m. EDT: SpaceX continues counting down to liftoff at 1:22 a.m. and all appears to be well with the count. This morning's launch will include a northeastern trajectory and drone ship landing in the Atlantic Ocean, so there will be no local sonic booms.

Falcon 9 fueling now underway

T-minus 35 minutes. SpaceX has begun fueling the 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 40 ahead of liftoff at 1:22 a.m. EDT. Here's what's left in the count:

  • 00:35:00: 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins

  • 00:16:00: 2nd stage LOX loading begins

  • 00:07:00: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch

  • 00:01:00: Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks

  • 00:01:00: Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins

  • 00:00:45: SpaceX launch director verifies "go" for launch

  • 00:00:03: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start

  • 00:00:00: Falcon 9 liftoff

SpaceX is 'go' to start loading fuel

T-minus one hour to launch

12:22 a.m. EDT: Now T-minus one hour to liftoff, and SpaceX should soon conduct a poll to determine whether or not teams are "go" to begin loading fuel into the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 40. That should begin in 25 minutes, assuming all is well with the rocket and everyone polls green.

SpaceX still counting down

11:50 p.m. EDT: SpaceX is still on target for tonight's 1:22 a.m. EDT launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Weather continues to be favorable. Fueling is slated to begin at 12:47 a.m. EDT, so stay tuned.

SpaceX delays Hotbird launch

10 p.m. EDT: SpaceX teams at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are now targeting 1:22 a.m. EDT for this launch, which is nearly a two-hour delay.

Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Updates: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral