Launch recap: Live updates from NASA PACE spacecraft launch at Cape Canaveral, Florida

Launch recap: Scroll down for live coverage of the Thursday, Feb. 8, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on NASA's PACE mission.

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of NASA's PACE mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

And the winds have died down at the Cape — after two consecutive late-night postponements failed to get the spacecraft off the ground.

SpaceX and NASA are now targeting 1:33 a.m. EST Thursday to launch PACE atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40. Gusty winds triggered mission stand-downs early Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

SpaceX reported the first-stage booster will target landing 7 minutes, 32 seconds later back at the Space Force base — triggering late-night sonic booms across the vicinity.

Climate change: Take a peek at NASA's PACE spacecraft, which will study climate change and ocean health

Countdown Timer

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 1:41 a.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just returned to solid ground at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, completing its fourth mission.

Liftoff!

Update 1:33 a.m.: SpaceX has just launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's PACE spacecraft from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX-NASA launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 1:20 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of the Falcon 9 launch, which is scheduled in 13 minutes.

Rocket booster to trigger sonic booms

Update 1:10 a.m.: After stage separation, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster will target a return trip to SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

This mission marks the fourth flight of the booster, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29 and a Starlink mission, SpaceX reported.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway

Update 12:58 a.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, SpaceX just announced.

NASA TV launch webcast begins

Update 12:51 a.m.: NASA TV's launch webcast is now posted at the top of this page.

Liftoff is scheduled in 42 minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

PACE to fly unusual southerly path

Update 12:30 a.m.: NASA's PACE spacecraft will launch to the southeast and ascend into a sun-synchronous orbit.

"PACE will launch into a polar orbit which means the Falcon 9 will be heading south over Florida instead of the typical east trajectory over the ocean. Keep your eye on the sky!" NASA's Launch Services Program announced in an 8:33 p.m. tweet.

SpaceX rocket to be eighth launch of year

Update 12:10 a.m.: The NASA PACE orbital launch is slated to be the eighth of the year thus far from Florida's Space Coast.

The last launch occurred Jan. 30, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 sent a NASA cargo resupply mission up to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

NASA: 95% odds of 'go for launch' weather

Update 11:47 p.m.: In contrast with the past two windy evenings, the National Weather Service reported a north wind of only 8 mph at 10:55 p.m. at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

"Launch weather officers with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron predict 95% favorable weather conditions for the launch of NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket," a Wednesday NASA blog post said.

"The launch has been delayed two times due to unfavorable weather conditions near the Space Coast. For the primary launch window early Thursday morning, the only concern is a very low risk of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation," the post said.

For the latest news updates 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 (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Launch recap: Live updates from NASA PACE launch at Cape Canaveral