Liftoff: SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After unfavorable weather, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday morning.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The launch happened around 12:30 a.m. at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The rocket sent a communications satellite into orbit.

Read: Sunny and breezy start to Memorial Day weekend

Rain forced SpaceX to scrub the last two launch attempts this week.

Due to unfavorable weather, we are standing down from today's Falcon 9 launch of the @Arabsat BADR-8 mission
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 24, 2023

The first stage booster landed on SpaceX’s “Just Read the Instructions” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean following the launch.

SpaceX said the first stage booster for this mission previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, and seven Starlink missions.

Read: SpaceX set for Falcon 9 rocket launch Friday from Florida’s Space Coast

See the liftoff in the video below:

Watch Falcon 9 launch the @Arabsat BADR-8 mission to orbit → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/JMkaC9GjVm
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 27, 2023

WATCH: SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast After unfavorable weather, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Saturday morning.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.