Florida has a unique climate: about 80% of the rain the Space Coast receives comes in summer, and this year is no different: the area has been in a slight drought for months, but now that it’s summer, the rains are back. Those rains might just put a kink in SpaceX’s plans tonight as it plans to launch the MTG-S1 satellite from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

According to SpaceX, “The 150-minute window opens at 5:04 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Wednesday, July 2 at the same time.” Today’s window ends at 7:32PM local time.

The 45th Weather Squadron, part of Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force tells the tale pretty quickly: a weather system south of us has been pumping storms along its boundary. As a result, there is only a 20% chance for weather conditions to be acceptable during the launch window today, and it gets a bit worse tomorrow, July 2: only a 10% chance.

On the other hand, SpaceX can and does find gaps in the weather to get launches off of the pad, as they have proven time and time again that unfavorable weather forecasts can change minute by minute and that it only takes a gap where there are no thunderstorms nearby the launch pad for them to get the mission in safely.

Stay tuned.

At A Glance

Setting	Value
Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 | MTG-S1
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9
Pad	Launch Complex 39A
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Tuesday, 07/01/2025 5:04:00 PM
Window Closes	Tuesday, 07/01/2025 7:34:00 PM
Destination	Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description	Second of EUMETSAT’s third generation of weather satellite.

Trajectory

East, but slightly south towards the Equator. This is a typical path for weather satellites like MTG-S1.

Payload

According to ESA, “The Meteosat Third Generation Sounder satellite (MTG-S) will generate a completely new type of data product, especially suited to nowcasting severe weather events.”

They continue, “From an orbit 36 000 km from Earth, the MTG-S1 satellite is set to revolutionise the way we forecast severe weather. Unlike the imaging satellites, which complete the constellation of the MTG mission, MTG-S1 uses its Infrared Sounder to capture data on temperature, humidity and trace gases. Its data is used to generate three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere.

“This data will help to detect and predict rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous weather systems. It will support applications to provide more accurate weather warnings, helping communities prepare for storms, alert pilots to areas of invisible turbulence and support plans to mitigate climate risks – ultimately saving lives and reducing damage to property and infrastructure.

“This mission will change forecasting, using innovative space technology to bring us three-dimensional data on the atmosphere and enabling faster responses to extreme weather,” said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, adding, “Throughout the development of this mission, I’ve been impressed by the dedication and expertise shown by the teams across ESA and our European partners, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their spirit of cooperation. Their hard work means that this mission will contribute to better forecasting to benefit citizens.”

Online Viewing

SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: SpaceX MTG-S1. This stream will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.

The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.

If you are planning to go and watch, be sure to be lightning aware and you might just need an umbrella.