(Update: An unidentified missile did launch and travel across the Atlantic Ocean at roughly 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Click here for more details.)
Unusual hazard warnings issued by federal agencies point to a possible hypersonic missile test launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Possible dates are Thursday, March 26, or Saturday, March 28, according to Coast Guard-Department of Homeland Security launch hazard maps.
No public announcements have been made, and FLORIDA TODAY left messages seeking information with Department of Defense media officials. In April 2025, a hypersonic missile streaked skyward at great speed during a test flight conducted by the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs.
Now, an online map shows an unspecified launch hazard area will extend from the Cape roughly 1,200 miles eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. In conjunction, a Coast Guard space operations hazard zone for mariners will take effect from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.
None of the Space Coast’s major launch providers have launches scheduled for either day. Here’s a look at the next two missions that have been publicly announced at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station:
In December 2024, the U.S. Army and Navy conducted an unannounced, successful Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon test from Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly 321 Launch space newsletter.
Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mystery notices hint at possible hypersonic missile test off Cape Canaveral
Reporting by Rick Neale, Florida Today / Florida Today
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