Blue Origin’s New Glenn Set to Launch NASA’s ESCAPADE Twins — What to Know and Where to Watch

Godspeed, New Glenn

After scrubbed attempts on Nov. 9 and Nov. 12, Blue Origin’s second New Glenn rocket (NG-2) is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. The mission will carry NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, which will hold in a parking phase for about a year before firing their engines to begin a trajectory to Mars to study the planet’s magnetosphere.

Mission details

• Launch window: 2:57 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. ET, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025.
• Launch vehicle: New Glenn (second flight), one of the largest active rockets in operation.
• Launch site: Launch Complex 36, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Cape Canaveral, FL.
• Trajectory: Easterly.
• Sonic booms: None expected.

Visibility and viewing tips

Weather and cloud cover will determine how far the launch is visible. On clear days, launches from Florida’s Space Coast can be seen well beyond the pad — observers along the Atlantic coast from Jacksonville Beach down to West Palm Beach may catch the ascent, depending on trajectory and conditions. Launches in darkness or pre-dawn hours can create dramatic photos as the rocket and exhaust trail illuminate the sky.

Plan ahead for traffic, limited parking, and possible entry fees at popular vantage points. Bring binoculars or a telephoto lens for better views, and check local park rules before you go.

Live coverage

USA TODAY Network’s Space Team (FLORIDA TODAY reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards, plus visuals journalists) will provide live coverage starting two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. You can also download the FLORIDA TODAY app from the App Store or Google Play for updates and the live blog with a countdown clock.

Suggested Treasure Coast viewing locations

Below are recommended public vantage points along the Treasure Coast. Check each location for parking, entrance fees, and 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
• 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
• Dollman Park Beachside, Herman's Bay Beach, John Brooks Park, Middle Cove Beach, Normandy Beach — Jensen Beach & Fort Pierce
• Pepper Park Beachside, Walton Rocks Beach (dog park), Waveland Beach — Jensen Beach & Fort Pierce
• State Road A1A causeway and House of Refuge and beach, Stuart

For questions or reporting tips, contact FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For continuing coverage from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Note: Times and details are subject to change; always confirm the final launch status before traveling.