SpaceX Dragon launch: Watch take-off of Falcon 9 Nasa cargo mission to ISS live online

The sixth SpaceX cargo mission to the International Space Station is set to take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Currently, the US Air Force says there is a 60% chance of favourable conditions for take-off, due for 4.33pm EDT (9.33pm GMT).

The company's Falcon 90 rocket will launch from the site, with the Dragon spacecraft carrying supplies for Nasa astronauts on board the ISS – including an espresso maker for Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

Dubbed the ISSpresso, the machine was created by Italian coffee company Lavazza and engineering company Argotec. It was supposed to be sent to the space station in January but the original shipment was lost in a launch explosion.

The forthcoming launch will be broadcast on Nasa TV and can be watched online below. Live coverage of the event will begin at 3.30pm EDT.

"[SpaceX's] Falcon 9 rocket will lift off at 4:33 pm, carrying its Dragon cargo spacecraft to the station," Nasa said in a statement. "Dragon is filled with more than 4,300 pounds of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support about 40 of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during the space station's Expeditions 43 and 44."

Investigations launching on Dragon include research into how to counteract cell damage caused by microgravity, which could lead to treatment breakthroughs of osteoporosis and muscle-wasting conditions.

"After about five weeks at the space station, Dragon will return to Earth filled with more than 3,000 pounds of cargo including crew supplies, hardware and computer resources, science experiments, and space station hardware."

SpaceX also plans to attempt another soft landing of its Falcon 9 rocket on to a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean in the hope of finding ways to make spaceflight more affordable.

However, the company has failed to do this so far, with the last attempt in January crashing into the platform and bursting into flames.

If the launch fails to take place because of bad weather, it will be rescheduled for 4.10pm EDT on 14 April.