CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – It was launch day at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket. The powerful rocket was set to lift off Wednesday evening with a payload weighing as much as a hippo but weather caused a 24-hour delay.
The launch window was originally scheduled to open at 6:35 p.m. but was pushed back to 8 p.m. because of upper-level winds then pushed back again to 8:32 p.m. and then launch officials called off the attempt.
SpaceX was set to launch a 13,000-pound satellite for Saudi Arabia's Arabsat. The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin and will provide telephone, internet and cable to parts of the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
When it launches, SpaceX will also attempt landings for all three of the rocket's boosters after the launch. A sonic boom is likely as the side boosters come down for landing back at Cape Canaveral.
Follow updates below from News 6 and ClickOrlando.com as the countdown nears. We'll be updating this story throughout the day.
7:27 p.m. update: Launch scrubs due to weather
SpaceX officials said they are standing down for the launch opportunity Wednesday due to the upper-level winds.
SpaceX will try again Thursday when the weather improves slightly. Air Force weather officials say conditions will improve to 90 percent during another evening launch window.
6:39 p.m. update: SpaceX pushes back launch again
SpaceX tweeted that the launch time had been pushed back to 8:32 p.m., which is the end of the launch window. The company said upper-level winds were to blame.
"Upper atmospheric wind shear is very high. Will have to postpone launch unless weather improves soon," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted.
3:45 p.m. update: Playalinda Beach, KSC Visitor Complex parking fills up
Popular launch viewing destinations are quickly filling up more than four hours ahead of the launch. Playalinda Beach is at capacity and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex main parking lot is full. For more viewing location options, click here.
3:20 p.m. update: Launch window pushes to 8 p.m.
Launch weather officials are monitoring upper-level winds that could push the Falcon Heavy liftoff to the end of the launch window. SpaceX said in a tweet the liftoff will now happen no earlier than 8 p.m. The window ends at 8:32 p.m.
2 p.m. update: Sonic boom warning
After liftoff and separation, Falcon Heavy's three first-stage boosters will return to Earth for landing. The center core will land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean. The side boosters will touch down at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at SpaceX Landing Zones 1 and 2.
As the side boosters return residents of Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Indian River counties could hear one or more sonic booms during the landing attempt at Cape Canaveral Wednesday evening.
SpaceX has previously landed 12 first-stage boosters on land and 23 at sea.
SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon Heavy’s side boosters at Landing Zones 1 and 2 and Falcon Heavy’s center core on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship during the Arabsat-6A mission → https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z pic.twitter.com/0vHnyYt0nN
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 9, 2019
1 p.m. update: Weather still 'Go' for Wednesday
Forecasters with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing are predicting an 80 percent chance of good launch conditions for the nearly two-hour window. Isolated showers are possible through sunset and the primary weather concern Wednesday are clouds associated with moisture from a low moving into the Atlantic Ocean.
If the launch slips to Thursday conditions are even better, according to the 45th Weather Squadron.
Noon update: Prepare for launch traffic
Residents and visitors planning to view the liftoff should be prepared for heavy traffic around popular viewing locations, including Titusville riverfront parks, Port Canaveral and Kennedy's Space Center Visitor Complex.
Some roads will have limited access or be closed. Click here for those listings.
11 a.m. update: Falcon Heavy goes vertical on launch pad
SpaceX lifted the Falcon Heavy rocket vertical on Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A. News 6's James Sparvero was there at the pad for the event. See the megarocket and its 27 Merlin engines on the pad below.
Our best shots of the @SpaceX #FalconHeavy vertical at @NASAKennedy. From inside the gates of pad 39a, you can hear the most powerful rocket in the world venting moments after being raised @news6wkmg #SpaceX @elonmusk #LaunchDay pic.twitter.com/WI8mUzeFZu
— James Sparvero (@News6James) April 10, 2019
10 a.m. update: It's launch day
Media and spectators from around the world have flown in to watch the rocket's second-ever flight.
If you are just learning about Falcon Heavy, get up to speed with this explainer on SpaceX's rocket here.