SpaceX fueling ahead of Florida liftoff Update 4:35 p.m.: Visual cues indicate that SpaceX has begun fueling. This means the liftoff must occur at 5:04 p.m. or scrub for the day. SpaceX launch in Florida drone ship Update 4:30 p.m.: As it is headed for a geostationary orbit, this rocket will be headed due east after launch. Just over eight minutes past lift off, the rocket's first-stage booster will land out on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship, which will be stationed out in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral booster stats Update 4:20 p.m.: The Falcon 9 booster launching the MTG-S1 mission is seeing its ninth flight. Previous missions include: three Starlink missions, NASA's Crew-9, RRT-1, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, Fram2, and SXM-10. SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: Copernicus Sentinel-4 also onboard Update 4:10 p.m.: Also onboard the MTG-S1 satellite is the Copernicus Sentinel-4 instrument, which will measure air quality. SpaceX rocket launch of EUMETSAT MTG-S1 in Florida Update 4:00 p.m.: “The EUMETSAT program has been providing imagery and data of the globe for 40 years – two generations. This has enabled weather forecasters and others to help protect societies and save lives. And now we’re gearing up for the next stage in that with MTG-S1, the first European geostationary sounding satellite that will provide unprecedented data and unprecedented information,” said Phil Evans Director-General of EUMETSAT, during the prelaunch broadcast. Evans explained this data is important in a time where climate change is starting to show more intensity and severe weather impacts are seen. It will be EUMETSAT’s responsibility to guarantee that the data reaches the parties who need it, such as ESA. What is this weather satellite launching from Florida? Update 3:50 p.m.: The MTG-S1 satellite is a collaboration between EUMETSAT and ESA (European Space Agency). Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programs at ESA explained that while ESA is celebrating its 50th anniversary, the partnership with EUMETSAT has been 40 of those years. This MTG-S1 is part of the third generation of satellites in partnership between the organizations. “ESA is doing all the procurement, industrial work, the technical management work, and EUMETSAT providing the requirements and distributing those data sets,” said Cheli. ESA live ahead of SpaceX launch in Florida Update 3:40 p.m.: ESA is live ahead of the MTG-S1 weather satellite launch in Florida. The broadcast is available here: What the ESA coverage of the launch: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/ESA_Web_TV SpaceX launch in Florida: Eumetsat MTG-S1 Update 3:30 p.m.: The 45th Weather Squadron predicted only a 20% chance of favorable conditions for this liftoff. Skies are bright on the Space Coast, but storms are moving in from the west. SpaceX has a 150-minute window to make this afternoon's launch. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars. Featured Weekly Ad