Feb. 9, 2026, 5:18 p.m. ET
- Florida rocket launches have been seen as far as Myrtle Beach, Georgia and New Jersey.
- USA TODAY Network’s Space Team will cover the launch, 2 hours before liftoff, at floridatoday.com/space.
- ULA’s Vulcan rocket should be visible for most of Florida pending weather and clouds.
- Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami and Nassau made United Launch Alliance’s rocket visibility map.
What does 3 million pounds of liftoff thrust look like? A large chunk of Florida residents may see it when United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket launches from Florida.
That is, if their city falls on the ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility map (see below), and if they’re awake at the time of liftoff.
This so Florida thing is coming up ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend.
As of Monday, Feb. 9, launch time will be 3:30 a.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket will take an easterly trajectory, en route to a geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles high.
Depending on weather and cloud cover, Floridians (and visitors) as far as Jacksonville, Cape Coral and Miami could see it light up the sky after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to ULA.
Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami and even Nassau in the Bahamas made ULA’s Vulcan rocket visibility map.
The ULA rocket will be equipped with four solid rocket boosters to launch a national security mission into low-Earth orbit — giving a great show to those watching.
In Florida, we can best see this moment in person, particularly if you’re anywhere on the Space Coast (Melbourne, Florida, area), the Fun Coast (Daytona Beach area) or the Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce).
This satellite rocket launch is extra special because of the potential to see it in other areas far beyond the launch pad. In the past, readers have submitted photos or posted on social platforms pictures of SpaceX Falcon Heavy, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach. Other rocket launches have been spotted in New Jersey and Georgia.
Below is information on ULA’s powerful Vulcan rocket, how to watch the U.S. Space Force-87 rocket launch and suggestions on where to watch it from Florida and beyond.
What time is the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? When does United Launch Alliance Vulcan liftoff?
Florida residents may see 3 million pounds of thrust when United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan lifts off on the power of its twin methane main engines and four side-mounted solid rocket boosters. Launch will be Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, from Cape Canaveral. The rocket will take an easterly trajectory, en route to a geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles high.
United Launch Alliance’s USSF-87 national security mission is scheduled to lift off at 3:30 a.m. Thursday ahead of the 2026 Valentine’s Day holiday, taking flight from Launch Complex 41 at the U.S. Space Force installation. The launch window will extend until 5:30 a.m.
The uncrewed Vulcan will deploy a Space Force payload into geosynchronous orbit.
Which cities can see ULA Vulcan rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida?
ULA provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Vulcan rocket launch and its intended flight path and launch visibility. Note: Cities in the Space Coast of Florida, which is in Brevard County and measures 72 miles of coast, include Titusville, Mims, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria and Sebastian.
Launch, Space Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bithlo, the northern part of the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill
1: Launch + 60 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County, St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area
2: Launch + 90 seconds, which includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach
3: Launch + 120 seconds, visibility extends to St. Augustine, Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach
4: Launch + 150 seconds, which includes solid rocket booster jettison and booster separation, visibility extends to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach
5: Launch + 180 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility extends across most of Florida to the Bahamas
6: Launch + 210 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility extends across most of Florida to the Bahamas, including Nassau
7: Launch + 240 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility extends across most of Florida to the Bahamas, including Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
8: Launch + 270 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility extends across most of Florida’s East Coast to the Bahamas, Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
9: Launch + 300 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility extends across most of Florida’s East Coast to the Bahamas, Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
10: Launch + 330 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility extends across most of Florida’s East Coast to the Bahamas, Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by ULA.
Photos of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida
How to watch rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. What time does ULA Atlas V liftoff?
When and where: Full coverage of the launch, including a live webcast with live tweets and updates, kicks off two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space (you can type this on your browser on your phone) and will feature in-depth coverage. Ask our FLORIDA TODAY space team reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards questions and strike up a conversation. You also can watch coverage via the FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser. FLORIDA TODAY is part of the USA TODAY Network.
For the latest news and launch schedule 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 Space newsletter or subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism.
