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Artemis II launch today, SpaceX tomorrow. See liftoff from Daytona, New Smyrna
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Artemis II launch today, SpaceX tomorrow. See liftoff from Daytona, New Smyrna

Florida Today4/1/2026

All eyes are on NASA's massive Space Launch System spacecraft on launch day, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This rocket launch near Cape Canaveral, Florida will send four astronauts further in space than any humans before them.

By the way, Artemis II isn't the only rocket launch from Florida this week. SpaceX is planning a much more routine rocket launch for Thursday, April 2, with a northeast trajectory (see below).

The second under NASA's multibillion-dollar moon program, the Artemis II mission will send three Americans and one Canadian on a 10-day journey around the moon and back. While no landing is in store for the astronauts, the mission serves as a vital test flight to lay the groundwork for humans to make it back to the surface in as little as two years.

Along the way, the Artemis II astronauts will make history, venturing about 250,000 miles in space - further than the record-setting Apollo 13 mission - while seeing sights of the far side of the moon that no human has ever laid eyes upon.

As of 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 1, all signs are looking positive that the mission will get off the ground.

"NASA's Artemis II closeout crew is now completing one of the most critical steps before launch: preparing and closing the crew module hatch to the Orion spacecraft," NASA said in a 3:17 p.m. update.

Rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and people in and around Brevard County (aka the Space Coast) usually have the best chance at seeing this phenomenon in the sky.

But pending weather conditions and cloud cover, the Artemis II mission's SLS rocket launch could be visible for most of Florida to parts of Georgia, according to NASA.

Here's when and how to watch the Artemis II and SpaceX Starlink launches and the visibility map for tonight's historic Artemis II liftoff.

For questions or comments, email USA TODAY Network Space Reporters Rick Neale at [email protected], Brooke Edwards at [email protected] or Eric Lagatta at [email protected]. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Is there a rocket launch from Florida today? Next launch is Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026

  • NASA's Artemis II mission: 3 NASA astronauts and a Canadian astronaut will venture around the moon and back during a 10-day flight, helping pave the way for future crewed lunar exploration missions.

  • Launch: 6:24 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with a two-hour window

  • Launch trajectory: East

  • Launch location: Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida

  • Sonic booms for the Space Coast of Florida: No

  • Live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team coverage: Starts hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

SpaceX Starlink 10-58 on Thursday, April 2, 2026

  • Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.

  • Launch window: 7:52 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 2.

  • Trajectory: Northeast.

  • Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

  • Sonic booms: No.

  • Live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

Countdown clock to NASA Artemis II rocket launch from Florida

How to watch Artemis II rocket launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. What time is liftoff?

When and where: Full coverage of the launch, including a live webcast with a countdown clock, live tweets, traffic and updates on the progression toward launch, kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on launch day, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 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.

Can you see a Florida rocket launch in Daytona, New Smyrna Beach? Where to see Artemis II liftoff

Here's a tip: Leave early to allow yourself plenty of time to navigate rush hour/spring break traffic, time to find parking and get situated.

In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County -- home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station -- you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch. The best views to watch a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south. Recommended spots:

  • South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)

  • Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park.

  • Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida's East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.

  • Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.

  • Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill

  • Goodrich's Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill

  • Seminole Rest national historic site, 211 River Road, Oak Hill

  • Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill

  • Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill

  • Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill

  • Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill

  • A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill

  • Bird Observation Pier on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above)

  • Rose Bay in Port Orange, Florida

  • beaches along New Smyrna Beach, Florida

  • New Smyrna Beach Inlet, New Smyrna Beach lifeguard station

  • Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida

  • Ormond-by-the-Sea in Ormond Beach, Florida

  • George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater, Florida

Watch Artemis II rocket launch from Florida with NASA on Prime Video

NASA content, including some rocket launches and the highly anticipated Artemis II mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is available to watch through NASA+ on desktop, both from its official site and YouTube. The platform is also available to download as a mobile app on smartphones.

All NASA+ content is also available to those who have Prime Video downloaded on any of their devices - whether it be a smartphone or smart TV.

Watch NASA+ content with Amazon Prime Video

The content, which does not require a Prime subscription to view, is one of Prime Video's FAST channels (free ad-supported television). Viewers can find it under Prime's Live TV section at the top of the screen when they open the app.

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.

Originally published by Florida Today

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