SpaceX to Launch EchoStar 25 Satellite from Cape Canaveral
SpaceX is targeting a launch of the EchoStar 25 satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch, initially scheduled for Monday, March 9, has been delayed and is now set for a launch window opening at 12:19 a.m. On Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Mission Details
The Falcon 9 rocket will carry the EchoStar 25 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit for DISH Network. This satellite will provide direct broadcast television services to DISH customers. The launch will follow a due-east trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean, a relatively uncommon path from Cape Canaveral.
Launch Window and Viewing Information
The launch window extends to 1:49 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 10. For those watching from Brevard County, Florida, the rocket will initially head east over the ocean. Unlike some previous launches that created visual phenomena in the sky, this launch is not expected to produce similar effects, but will offer a unique eastern trajectory.
Where to Watch
Live coverage of the launch will begin 90 minutes before liftoff and can be viewed at floridatoday.com/space. USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, including reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards, will provide live updates and a countdown clock.
Viewing Locations in Volusia County
Residents in Volusia County, north of Brevard County, may also be able to view the launch. Recommended viewing spots include:
- South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)
- Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, New Smyrna Beach
- Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore
- Oak Hill riverfront
- Sunrise Park, Oak Hill
- Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House back deck, Oak Hill
- Seminole Rest national historic site, Oak Hill
- Riverbreeze Park, Oak Hill
- Mary Dewees Park, Oak Hill
- Nancy Cummings Park, Oak Hill
- Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, Oak Hill
- A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, Oak Hill
- Bird Observation Pier, Oak Hill
- Rose Bay in Port Orange
- Beaches along New Smyrna Beach
- New Smyrna Beach Inlet
- Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach
- Ormond-by-the-Sea in Ormond Beach
- George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater
Watch on NASA+
NASA content, including some rocket launches, is available through NASA+ on desktop and mobile devices, as well as through Amazon Prime Video’s FAST channels. Watch the launch on YouTube.
Previous Launches
Recent SpaceX launches from Cape Canaveral have created notable visual effects, including a “jellyfish” phenomenon over Florida and a spectacle visible along the East Coast.