Cape Canaveral, FL – A pre-dawn rocket launch set for Friday morning could turn the dark sky over New Jersey and much of the East Coast into a brief light show, as SpaceX prepares to send four astronauts to the International Space Station.
The SpaceX Crew-12 mission is scheduled to lift off at 5:15 a.m. EST on February 13 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket will travel on a northeast trajectory along the Atlantic coastline, a path that could make the launch visible from Florida to parts of New England, depending on local weather conditions.
Because the launch is timed before sunrise, observers are expected to see a bright, fast-moving point of light climbing in the east-northeast sky. As the rocket ascends, its exhaust plume may catch sunlight even while the ground remains in darkness, creating what is known as a twilight effect.
In New Jersey, residents looking toward the east or northeast shortly after liftoff may have a clear view of the SpaceX launch if skies remain unobstructed. Coastal communities typically have the widest viewing angles, though inland areas could also see the ascent high above the horizon.
The mission was previously delayed earlier in the week due to weather, but officials have now set Friday’s early morning window for the launch of Crew-12.
- Launch scheduled for 5:15 a.m. EST Friday from Florida
- Visible along the East Coast, including New Jersey, weather permitting
- Four astronauts headed to the International Space Station
What viewers may see across the East Coast
In Florida, visibility is expected to be strongest across the peninsula, particularly along the coast. Farther north, residents in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and parts of New England may also catch a glimpse as the rocket tracks up the Atlantic seaboard.
Observers should look for a bright ascending light followed by a widening plume. The effect can appear larger and more luminous than a typical nighttime launch because the rocket climbs into sunlight while the ground remains in shadow.
The Falcon 9 will carry astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev to the International Space Station. The mission marks another crewed rotation to the orbiting laboratory as part of ongoing partnerships between NASA and SpaceX.
Live coverage of the launch will begin at 3:15 a.m. EST through NASA and SpaceX streaming platforms, offering viewers a close-up view of liftoff from Cape Canaveral and updates as the spacecraft heads toward orbit. Additional mission updates are expected through official NASA channels and regional coverage of the Florida spaceport at Cape Canaveral.
