SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from Starlink mission May 14 from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Original story: After a string of nighttime launches from Florida's Space Coast, SpaceX aims to send up a Falcon 9 rocket today during a lunch-hour launch.
Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of today's SpaceX Starlink 6-67 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX is targeting 12:38 p.m. to send up the rocket from Launch Complex 40.
In a highly favorable forecast, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted odds of "go for launch" weather at 95%, with cumulus clouds posing only "a very small chance of a violation."
The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of 28 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. After soaring skyward along a southeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral
Countdown Timer
Update 12:47 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just touched down atop SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its fourth mission.
Update 12:38 p.m.: Liftoff! SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Update 12:32 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast is now posted above, right below our countdown clock.
Liftoff is scheduled in six minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Update 12:25 p.m.: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex officials have opened SpaceX launch viewing areas at the Apollo/Saturn V Center (about 6.2 miles from the pad) and the Atlantis North Lawn (about 6.7 miles from the pad.
Update 12:18 p.m.: Today's mission will mark the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's fourth flight, SpaceX reported.
This booster previously launched the SES O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10 and Bandwagon-3 missions.
Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 13 seconds after liftoff.
Update 12:10 p.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, as evidenced by a frost ring forming on the rocket's exterior.
That means the Starlink mission countdown is locked in to lift off at 12:38 p.m. without any delays, or else today's launch must be postponed to a later date.
Update 11:55 a.m.: SpaceX has not launched a rocket during daylight hours from Florida's Space Coast since the Starlink 6-80 mission back on March 31.
Today's launch should occur roughly 43 days and 21 hours after that spring-break liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Update 11:45 a.m.: Here's a rundown of SpaceX's upcoming behind-the-scenes Falcon 9 launch 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.
Update 11:30 a.m.: SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch will clock in as the 42nd orbital rocket launch thus far during 2025 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center.
Click here to check out the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team's updating tally listing this year's missions, complete with photo galleries and story links.
Update 11:15 a.m.: A few meteorological remarks from the 45th Weather Squadron's launch forecast:
"High pressure will build in from the west through the rest of the week. The ridge will create morebenign weather across the Spaceport, with only a very small chance of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation during the primary launch opportunity," the forecast said.
Update 11 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming lunchtime Falcon 9 launch.
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 Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from May 14 Starlink mission in Florida
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