SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Tuesday night from Cape Canaveral, Florida

Launch recap:  Scroll down for live coverage of the Tuesday, June 4, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40.

Tuesday night, SpaceX launched the next batch of Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral.

SpaceX confirmed Tuesday afternoon that liftoff would be targeted for 10:16 p.m. EDT. The mission was titled Starlink 8-5 − which would make it the fifth batch of the group eight Starlink satellites. Until this mission, SpaceX had been launching group six satellites from the Space Coast.

Following up on the SpaceX launch, if all goes according to plan, NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance will launch the inaugural crewed flight test of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft less than 24-hours later at 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5.

Countdown Timer

SpaceX booster lands

Update 10:24 p.m.: The Falcon 9 has landed on the Just Read the Instructions doneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Liftoff!

Update 10:16 p.m.: SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 20 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 10:11 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.

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

We are 10 minutes from tonight’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch!

Update 10:06 p.m.: T-10 minutes! Head outside if you plan on catching this launch! If you have clear skies, it will be hard to miss the bright rocket.

Simply look towards the direction South of Kennedy Space Center from your direction to see the rocket rising up into the sky.

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 9:58 p.m.: Here's a behind-the-scenes rundown of SpaceX’s 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.

Next Florida Launch – Boeing Starliner and another SpaceX Starlink

Update 9:54 p.m.: Teams are targeting another launch attempt of Boeing’s Starliner tomorrow morning at 10:52 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral.

SpaceX is targeting another Starlink launch between 6:58 p.m. to 11:26 p.m on Friday, June 7 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway

Update 9:45 p.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, though SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement.

That means tonight’s Starlink mission is now locked in to lift off at 10:16 p.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

SpaceX Starlink Group 8

Update 9:38 p.m.: With this SpaceX mission being part of the Group 8 Starlink− a first for the Space Coast − tonight's launch will travel in a northeast trajectory to reach the intended orbit.

Everything continues to be on track for a 10:16 p.m. liftoff!

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster of first slated to fly 20th mission

Update 9:26 p.m.: This morning’s booster is flying for the 20th time.

Its most memorable mission includes the launch of NASA Crew-4. Although this booster carried 10 other Starlink missions to orbit, other launches this booster can claim include: Turksat 5B, Crew-4, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, mPOWER-a, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, and two ISS resupply missions.

SpaceX launch updates on your phone

Update 9:16 p.m.: Did you know you can get alerts sent to your phone when a SpaceX rocket is about to lift off?

The FLORIDA TODAY app sends push alerts straight to your phone before every rocket launch.

Even better - this local app is free!

How to get rocket launch alerts: Get the excitement of liftoff delivered straight to your phone with the FLORIDA TODAY app

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 9:06 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

Tonight's SpaceX launch weather outlook

Update 8:55 p.m.: Welcome to another launch night! With the 45th Weather Squadron calling for weather to be move favorable in the later part of the launch window, SpaceX is targeting 10:16 p.m. EDT.

The allotted window, according to navigational warnings, runs from 8:04 p.m. to 11:58 p.m. EDT.

The 45th Weather Squadron calls for 90% favorable conditions for tonight’s launch window.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Tuesday night from Florida