Update 5 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast is now posted above, right below our countdown clock. Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Florida rocket launch weather remains clear Update 4:53 p.m.: Twelve minutes before liftoff, a large-scale front continues tracking just north of the Florida border — but the Sunshine State peninsula remains free of worrisome cloud cover, this National Weather Service radar loop shows. SpaceX booster to land on drone ship Update 4:43 p.m.: Today's mission marks the Falcon 9 first-stage booster’s 20th flight, SpaceX reported. This much-traveled booster previously launched CRS-26, SXM-9, OneWeb Launch 16, Instelsat IS-40e, O3B mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, Turksat 6A, Maxar 2 and 10 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 9 seconds after liftoff. SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling underway Update 4:33 p.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are underway at Launch Complex 40, as indicated by white vapor billowing alongside the rocket. That means the upcoming Starlink mission countdown is now locked in to lift off at 5:05 p.m. without any delays, or else today's launch must be postponed. SpaceX Falcon 9 launch countdown Update 4:20 p.m.: Here's a rundown of SpaceX’s upcoming behind-the-scenes 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.