KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The countdown is on for Thursday's SpaceX launch of a communications satellite for the country of Bangladesh.

  • SpaceX set to launch communications satellite
  • Launch will feature 'upgraded' Falcon 9 rocket
  • Satellite will serve rural areas of country of Bangladesh
  • Watch the launch live on Spectrum News or stream on website

This will be the first time the company will use its upgraded Falcon 9 rocket, making it what SpaceX says is more reliable and easier to reuse.

On board the rocket is Bangladesh's first geostationary communications satellite to help provide services to rural areas of the country.

Thursday's launch window opens at 4:12 p.m. EDT and closes at 6:22 p.m. EDT.

The Falcon 9 will take off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.