BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — See our complete coverage below:
Read live updates below:
6:40 p.m. update
Channel 9′s Greg Warmoth spoke with Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, moments after President Donald Trump’s speech at the Kennedy Space Center.
Watch the video below:
5 p.m. update
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are speaking at the Kennedy Space Center.
4:20 p.m. update
To watch the launch again, click here.
3:36 p.m. update
SpaceX said the Crew Dragon has separated from Falcon 9′s second stage and it is on its way to the International Space Station with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.
3:33 p.m. update
SpaceX said the Falcon 9 booster has landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You dronship.”
SpaceX said the stage engine burn has completed and the Crew Dragon is in good orbit.
3:28 p.m. update
Falcon 9 lifted off from launch pad 39A at 3:22 p.m.
NASA said the main engine has been cutoff and second stage separation has been completed.
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are heading into orbit.
3:16 p.m. update
Space officials said fuel is completely loaded into the second stage. They are continuing to load fuel into the first stage.
There are five minutes until liftoff.
3:16 p.m. update
2:57 p.m. update
The NASA Commercial Crew said “rocket propellant is currently being fueled into the Falcon 9 rocket.”
Space officials said the Crew Dragon’s launch escape system is armed and ready to abort in case of emergency.
2:35 p.m. update
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said “weather is a go for launch.”
The Falcon 9 rocket is expected to launch at 3:22 p.m.
NASA will continue to watch conditions as the launch time approaches.
2:10 p.m. update
NASA officials are continuing to monitor the weather ahead of the launch.
Conditions are still 50% favorable for liftoff.
2 p.m. update
Channel 9 is airing special live coverage of the launch right now.
1:44 p.m. update
Crews are continuing launch preparations ahead of the launch.
Space officials said the astronauts are strapped in, connected to Crew Dragon’s systems and the hatch is closed.
Officials said the access arm will be retracted in preparations for launch.
Liftoff is scheduled for 3:22 p.m.
1:15 p.m. update
Space officials have closed the hatch of the Crew Dragon as they prepare for launch.
They said the weather is still 50% favorable.
Crews said they are going to continue preparations but they will reevaluate before fueling the rocket.
1 p.m. update
NASA said it completed a communication check with the crew ahead of the launch.
It said “the network is a go and supporting communications for Dragon.”
12:45 p.m. update
Meteorologist Kassandra Crimi said there is a chance for rain and storm around Cape Canaveral at launch time.
12:38 p.m. update
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley have entered the crew dragon and are preparing for launch.
Hurley is the commander for the mission and Behnken is the pilot, officials said.
There are four seats in the Crew Dragon.
12:26 p.m. update
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley have arrived at launch pad. They are making their way up the stairs.
12:08 p.m. update
Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are heading to the launch pad ahead of the Falcon 9 rocket launch.
12:03 p.m. update
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley walked out of the crew quarters to say goodbye to their friends and family as they prepare for launch.
11:55 a.m. update
Space officials said there is a 50% chance of favorable weather for liftoff.
11:40 a.m. update
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine took a selfie with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.
“Selfies are important when you’re going to Launch America," NASA tweeted.
Watch the video below:
11:30 a.m. update
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are suiting up for the launch.
10:20 a.m. update
NASA officials gave an update on the Falcon 9 launch that will send two astronauts to the International Space Station.
“Bob and Doug are in great spirits. They are ready to go,” said NASA Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator.
9 a.m. update
NASA and SpaceX will make a second attempt at launching two astronauts into space from the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday afternoon -- if weather permits.
The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to blast off at 3:22 p.m. Saturday.
If weather conditions do not allow for a launch Saturday, it will be pushed back to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Channel 9 has multiple crews in Brevard County covering the launch.
Click here to watch special live coverage, beginning at 2 p.m.
Click here to learn more about the astronauts who will be launching from American soil for the first time in nine years.
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