SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from BlueBird mission Thursday morning from Cape Canaveral

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from the Thursday, Sept. 12, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on the AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 1-5 mission.

Original story: Will a cloudy, gloomy forecast postpone SpaceX's plan to launch AST SpaceMobile's first five BlueBird communications satellites into low-Earth orbit Thursday morning — and generate Central Florida sonic booms?

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of this morning's SpaceX BlueBird 1-5 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Stay tuned. SpaceX is targeting 4:52 a.m. EDT to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

However, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron only forecasts 30% odds of "go for launch" weather because of a stalled front across the region. The list of meteorological concerns includes cumulus clouds, thick cloud layers, surface electric fields and low-to-moderate risk of solar activity.

Expect sonic booms with this mission: After soaring skyward along a northeasterly trajectory, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster will return for landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin rocket launch schedule from Florida

Countdown Timer

SpaceX rocket to deploy BlueBird satellites

Update 5:08 a.m.: Next, the Falcon 9 upper stage will accelerate to about 17,000 mph before deploying the five satellites. SpaceX's upcoming timeline, listed in minutes and seconds after launch:

• 53:57: BlueBird 1 deploys.

• 55:32: BlueBird 2 deploys.

• 58:37: BlueBird 3 deploys.

• 1:02:22: BlueBird 4 deploys.

• 1:07:53: BlueBird 5 deploys.

Boom! SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 4:59 a.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed back at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, wrapping up its 13th mission.

Liftoff!

Update 4:52 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying five BlueBird satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 4:44 a.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted here.

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

SpaceX booster to spark sonic booms

Update 4:38 a.m.: This morning's mission marks the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 13th flight, SpaceX reported.

The booster previously launched Crew-6, O3b mPOWER, USSF-124 and nine Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, crews expect the booster return to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station 7 minutes, 32 seconds after liftoff.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 4:30 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway

Update 4:20 a.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are underway at Launch Complex 40.

That means this morning's BlueBird 1-5 countdown is now locked in to lift off at 4:52 a.m. without any delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

Rainfall, cloud cover surrounding Cape Canaveral

Update 4 a.m.: This National Weather Service radar loop from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport station shows rain and clouds shrouding the Cape Canaveral vicinity.

SpaceX launch targeted for 4:52 a.m.

Update 3:50 a.m.: SpaceX will target 4:52 a.m. for liftoff — but the situation remains fluid in light of the weather, said Dave Mosher, AST SpaceMobile head of content.

AST SpaceMobile launch webcast begins

Update 3:40 a.m.: The AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 1-5 mission webcast is now posted above.

Still no target launch time from SpaceX

Update 3:28 a.m.: In unusual fashion, SpaceX officials still have not publicly announced a target liftoff time fewer than 90 minutes before the launch window opens.

The four-hour BlueBird 1-5 launch window will open at 4:52 a.m. Meanwhile, rain continues falling to the south and north of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

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 [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from BlueBird 1-5 mission Thursday