Godspeed, New Glenn: Blue Origin’s massive rocket is about to take flight – and it may be visible outside of Florida.
The company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos is preparing for New Glenn’s launch, a mission it refers to as NG-2, tentatively set for Sunday, Nov. 9, from Cape Canaveral.
Depending on weather and cloud cover, Floridians (and visitors) from Tallahassee to Miami – and beyond – could see it light up the sky after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to Blue Origin.
A day before launch, the company posted a New Glenn-2 rocket launch trajectory and visibility map, posted below: “Our second New Glenn launch may be visible to those in the regions below, depending on weather conditions. Here’s when and where to look to the skies!”
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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 rocket launch is extra special because of the potential to see it in other states. 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 Blue Origin’s powerful New Glenn rocket, how to watch the NASA Blue Origin rocket launch and suggestions on where to watch it from Florida and beyond.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket stands at 322 feet tall.
That includes a nearly 23-foot-wide fairing that is designed to carry cargo to orbit. The rocket’s first stage is powered by seven of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines, while the upper stage, which flies in orbit, operates with two of the company’s BE-3U engines designed for the vacuum of space.
The first stage is also made to be reusable for at least 25 flights, according to Blue Origin.
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Blue Origin’s New Glenn is due to propel NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft on their trek to Mars, where it will orbit the Red Planet and take simultaneous observations of solar winds and space weather. The ESCAPADE spacecraft will eventually study the Martian magnetosphere. Launch window will be from 2:45 p.m. to 4:13 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, with blastoff from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Blue Origin provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the New Glenn-2 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 + 30 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County
2: Launch + 60 seconds: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando
3: Launch + 90 seconds: Visibility extends to St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach
4: Launch + 120 seconds: Visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Bradenton, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, parts of Palm Beach County
5: Launch + 150 seconds, Blue Origin New Glenn rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida: Tallahassee, parts of the Big Bend area of Florida; Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago and Palm Beach; the West Coast of Florida; Southeastern Georgia
6: Launch + 180 seconds, Blue Origin New Glenn rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these states:
7: Launch + 210 seconds, Blue Origin New Glenn rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these states:
8: Launch + 240 seconds, Blue Origin New Glenn rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida and may be visible in these areas:
The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by Blue Origin.
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.
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Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
