Will people in West Palm Beach see rockets in the sky? one so Things in Florida will happen before Valentine’s Day weekend.
When United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket launches from the East Coast, most Florida residents will likely see 3 million pounds of liftoff thrust.
That is, whether their city fell on the ULA Vulcan launch visibility map (see below), and whether they were awake at liftoff.
As of Tuesday, February 10, the launch time will be 3:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with a two-hour launch window from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket will follow an eastward trajectory toward geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 22,000 miles.
Depending on weather and cloud cover, Floridians (and tourists) can see it lighting up the sky as it lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as far away as Jacksonville, Cape Coral and Miami. It can be seen across much of Florida, according to ULA.
Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami, and even Nassau in the Bahamas have produced ULA’s Vulcan visibility maps.
The ULA rocket will be equipped with four solid rocket boosters to launch national security missions into low-Earth orbit, providing a spectacular show for audiences.
God bless! Here is a list of all rockets launching in 2026 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, Florida
We can best witness this moment in Florida, especially if you are anywhere on the Space Coast (Melbourne, FL area), Pleasure Coast (Daytona Beach area), or Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach, and Fort Pierce).
This satellite rocket launch is very special because it is possible to see it from other areas besides the launch pad. In the past, readers have submitted photos or posted photos on social platforms of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy, which consists of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach. Other rocket launches were spotted in New Jersey and Georgia.
Here’s information about ULA’s powerful Vulcan rocket, how to watch the launch of U.S. Space Force Rocket 87, and suggestions for where to watch the launch from Florida and beyond.
What time does the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? When will United Airlines launch the Soyuz Vulcan?
Florida residents will likely see 3 million pounds of thrust when United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan lifts off on power from its twin methane main engines and four side-mounted solid rocket boosters. The launch will take place from Cape Canaveral on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The rocket will follow an eastward trajectory toward geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 22,000 miles.
United Launch Alliance’s USSF-87 national security mission is scheduled to take off from Launch Complex 41 at the U.S. Space Force facility at 3:30 a.m. on the Thursday before the 2026 Valentine’s Day holiday. Launch window will be extended to 5:30 a.m.
The unmanned Vulcan will deploy Space Force payloads into geostationary orbit.
Which cities can see the ULA Vulcan rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida?
What does 3 million pounds of takeoff thrust look like? You might see it when United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket lifts off on power from its twin methane main engines and four side-mounted solid rocket boosters. Launch is scheduled for 3:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket will follow an eastward trajectory toward geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 22,000 miles.
ULA provides a helpful graphic (see above) showing the launch of the Vulcan rocket along with its expected flight path and launch visibility. notes: Florida’s Space Coast is located in Brevard County and includes Titusville, Mims, St. John’s Harbor, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor Beach, Indianlantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria, and Sebastian.
emissionSpace Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bislow, northern Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill
1: Launch +60 secondsSpace Coast, Orlando, 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, including PLF jettison or payload fairing separation and jettison: 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, including solid rocket booster jettison Separate from boostervisibility 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 covering most of Florida to the Bahamas
6: Launch + 210 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch visibility covering most of Florida to the Bahamas, including Nassau
7: Launch + 240 seconds, ULA Vulcan rocket launch field of view covers most of Florida to the Bahamas, including Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
8: Launch + 270 secondsthe ULA Vulcan rocket launch field of view covers most of the east coast of Florida to the Bahamas, Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
9: Launch + 300 secondsthe ULA Vulcan rocket launch field of view covers most of the east coast of Florida to the Bahamas, Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
10: Launch + 330 secondsthe ULA Vulcan rocket launch field of view covers most of the east coast of Florida to the Bahamas, Nassau, Bermuda and the Caribbean
The above guidelines are estimates based on charts provided by ULA.
Photos of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida
How to watch a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. What time does ULA Vulcan take off?
Time and place: Comprehensive coverage of the launch, including the start of the webcast with live tweets and updates Two hours before departure Visit floridatoday.com/space (you can type this in your mobile browser) for in-depth coverage. Ask questions and talk to our Florida Today space team reporters Rick Neal and Brooke Edwards. You can also watch coverage through the Florida Today app, available in the App Store or Google Play. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or enter floridatoday.com/space Go into your browser. Florida Today is part of the USA TODAY Network.
For the latest news and launch schedules from Space Force Station Cape Canaveral 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 chief digital producer at USA TODAY Network. follow her twitter or Instagram @byjensangalang. Support local journalism.
This article originally appeared in The Palm Beach Post: Rocket launch could take place at Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach. When will it take off?
