HOUSTON — Two Houston astronauts are headed to Florida to embark on the first rocket launch from American soil since 2011. ... The launch is the final test flight for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, and the first time NASA astronauts will test the spacecraft systems in orbit.

Why do rockets launch from Houston?

It was selected for two reasons: the fact that it is relatively near to the equator compared with other U.S. locations; and the fact that it is on the East Coast. An East Coast location was desirable because any rockets leaving Earth's surface and traveling eastward get a boost from the Earth's west-to-east spin.

Where do rockets launch from in USA?

Cape Canaveral is located along the East Coast of the United States so rockets can be safely launched to the east over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.