- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
SpaceX to Launch EchoStar XXV Satellite from Florida
Late-night liftoff on March 9-10 may be visible across coastal regions
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the EchoStar XXV satellite into geosynchronous orbit. The launch window extends from 11:15 p.m. ET on Monday, March 9, 2026, to 1:43 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Why it matters
The launch of EchoStar XXV represents the continued commercialization of space, with private companies like SpaceX playing a crucial role in deploying and maintaining satellite infrastructure. This trend is likely to continue, offering expanded access to communication and broadcasting services.
The details
The rocket's launch trajectory will be due east, and no sonic booms are expected. Residents in Volusia County, and potentially as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach, may be able to view the launch, weather and cloud cover permitting. Live coverage of the launch will begin 90 minutes before liftoff on floridatoday.com/space, featuring updates from the USA TODAY Network's Space Team.
- The launch window is from 11:15 p.m. ET on Monday, March 9, 2026, to 1:43 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The players
SpaceX
A private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk.
EchoStar XXV
A communications satellite that will be launched into geosynchronous orbit by SpaceX.
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
A space force station located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, which serves as a major launch site for many American spacecraft.
The takeaway
The upcoming SpaceX launch of the EchoStar XXV satellite highlights the growing role of private companies in the space industry, providing expanded access to communication and broadcasting services for the public.
