A so Florida thing is coming up − and on a holiday, too: A Memorial Day morning rocket launch is on the schedule.
SpaceX plans to kick off the federal holiday with a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, delivering more Starlink internet satellites to orbit. The liftoff is set for no earlier than 7:41 a.m. Monday, May 25, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. If needed, SpaceX has until 11:41 a.m. to make the launch window.
The mission, known as Starlink 10-47, will launch 29 of the company’s Starlink satellites to orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket will travel on a northeast trajectory after liftoff.
The rocket’s first stage booster will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Though rockets here launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, people on the Treasure Coast can sometimes see this phenomenon.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover and trajectory, a rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast could be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach.
When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky, and the contrail after makes for a great photo.
Below is more information on the next rocket launch from Florida and suggestions on where to watch it.
► Is there a launch today? NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin rocket launch schedule in Florida
For questions or comments, email USA TODAY Network Space Reporters Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com, Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or Eric Lagatta at elagatta@usatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Monday, May 25, 2026 Memorial Day: SpaceX Starlink 10-47
Where does SpaceX launch from in Florida?
Rockets in Florida launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and people in and around Brevard County usually have the best chance at seeing a rocket light up the sky.
Where can I watch a rocket launch in Florida?
A rocket launch with a Northeast trajectory can be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach, Florida, which is about 160 miles north of Cape Canaveral (about a two-hour and 30-minute car ride, depending on which route you take).
Rocket launches with a Southeast trajectory can be seen as far south as West Palm Beach, Florida, which is about 150 miles south of Cape Canaveral (about a two-hour-and-20-minute car ride).
Rocket launches are most visible from the Space Coast, where they launch from, and are often visible from the Treasure Coast and Volusia County as well.
Where to watch a rocket launch in Sebastian, Vero Beach, Florida
Where to watch a rocket launch in Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, Florida
Where to watch a rocket launch in Stuart, Florida
Watch rocket launches with NASA on Prime Video
Watch NASA+ content with Amazon Prime Video
NASA content, including some rocket launches, is available to watch through NASA+ on desktop, both from its official site and YouTube. The platform is also available to download as a mobile app on smartphones.
All NASA+ content is also available to those who have Prime Video downloaded on any of their devices – whether it be a smartphone or smart TV.
The content, which does not require a Prime subscription to view, is one of Prime Video’s FAST channels (free ad-supported television). Viewers can find it under Prime’s Live TV section at the top of the screen when they open the app.
Lianna Norman and Jennifer Sangalang are trending reporters for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, rocket launches, Florida wildlife, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Memorial Day holiday rocket launch in Florida. When is SpaceX liftoff?
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang, Lianna Norman, Brooke Edwards, Rick Neale and Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
