Falcon 9 SpaceX launches direct television satellite for EchoStar March 9, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith The launch of the EchoStar 25 satellite was SpaceX’s first launch to a geosynchronous transfer orbit so far this year. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 12:19 a.m. EDT (0419 UTC)).