Blue Origin’s New Glenn (NG‑2) is tentatively scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to Mars. The FAA lists a launch window of 2:45–5:11 p.m. ET with an east‑southeast trajectory; no sonic‑boom impacts are expected for the Space Coast. Live coverage begins two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. Recommended local viewing sites include Sebastian Inlet State Park, Ambersands and South Beach Park (Vero Beach), Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and multiple Jensen Beach locations.
Where to Watch Blue Origin’s New Glenn (NG‑2) Launch — Vero Beach, Fort Pierce & Port St. Lucie Viewing Guide
Blue Origin’s New Glenn (NG‑2) is tentatively scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to Mars. The FAA lists a launch window of 2:45–5:11 p.m. ET with an east‑southeast trajectory; no sonic‑boom impacts are expected for the Space Coast. Live coverage begins two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. Recommended local viewing sites include Sebastian Inlet State Park, Ambersands and South Beach Park (Vero Beach), Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and multiple Jensen Beach locations.
11:28, 08.11.2025Science
Where to watch Blue Origin’s New Glenn (NG‑2) launch from Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie
Blue Origin’s large New Glenn rocket is preparing for its second flight — NG‑2 — with a tentative liftoff scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, from Cape Canaveral. The mission will carry NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft toward Mars and is expected to be the Space Coast’s 94th orbital launch of the year.
Quick facts
Rocket: New Glenn, a two‑stage heavy‑lift vehicle named for astronaut John Glenn.
Height: 322 feet, with a roughly 23‑foot‑wide payload fairing.
Engines: First stage: seven BE‑4 engines. Upper stage: two BE‑3U vacuum engines.
Previous flight: Maiden launch on Jan. 16, 2025 — the upper stage reached orbit but the booster was lost on descent.
Mission overview
NG‑2 will loft NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, which will travel to Mars to orbit the planet and make coordinated observations of solar wind, space weather and the Martian magnetosphere. Blue Origin envisions New Glenn carrying commercial and government payloads — including Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites — on future missions. The first stage is designed for reuse, with an expected life of up to 25 flights.
Launch window and trajectory
A Federal Aviation Administration operations‑plan advisory lists the launch window as 2:45–5:11 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The planned launch site is Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with an east‑southeast trajectory. The advisory indicates no sonic‑boom impacts expected for the Space Coast (Titusville, Merritt Island, Melbourne area).
Visibility and viewing tips
Weather and cloud cover determine how far a launch can be seen; on clear days launches from the Space Coast can be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach and as far south as Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. Night or very early‑morning windows produce dramatic photos when the rocket and its contrail are illuminated against a dark sky.
- Bring binoculars or a small telescope for a closer look.
- Arrive early to secure parking and a clear view; some parks charge an entrance fee.
- Check live updates and the official launch status before you go — times are often adjusted for weather and range constraints.
Live coverage
USA TODAY Network’s Space Team will provide live coverage starting two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space, including a mobile‑friendly live blog, countdown clock and real‑time updates. You can also download the free FLORIDA TODAY app from the App Store or Google Play.
Recommended public viewing spots (Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, Stuart areas)
Below are suggested locations along the Treasure Coast and southern Space Coast that offer good sightlines when launches are visible from Cape Canaveral. Verify current park hours, fees and parking rules before you go.
- Sebastian Inlet State Park (9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach) — paid entry
- Wabasso Beach Park (1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso)
- Ambersands Beach Park (12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach) — free parking
- South Beach Park (1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach) — free parking
- Merrill Barber Bridge & Alma Lee Loy Bridge, Vero Beach (good elevated viewing points)
- Fort Pierce Inlet State Park (905 Shorewinds Drive, Fort Pierce)
- Blind Creek Beachside North & South (5460 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce)
- Blue Heron Beach (2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce)
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Park (3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce)
- John Brooks Park Beachside (3300 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce)
- Middle Cove Beach (4600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce)
- Pepper Park Beachside (3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce)
- Jensen Beach sites: Dollman Park Beachside (9200 S. Ocean Drive), Herman's Bay Beach (7880 S. Ocean Drive), Normandy Beach, Waveland Beach (10350 S. Ocean Drive), Walton Rocks Beach (6700 S. Ocean Drive)
- State Road A1A causeway, Stuart
- House of Refuge and beach (301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart)
Contact and further information
For questions or comments, reach FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale (rneale@floridatoday.com) and Brooke Edwards (bedwards@floridatoday.com) or USA TODAY Network reporter Eric Lagatta (elagatta@usatoday.com). For ongoing launch schedules and space coverage, visit floridatoday.com/space and consider subscribing for full coverage.
Note: Launch dates and windows are subject to change for technical or weather reasons. Always confirm the final launch status before traveling to a viewing site.