A rush hour rocket launch? Around the time hundreds of drivers are heading home from work or dining out, a SpaceX launch window begins.
A rocket launch in Florida is on the horizon this week — maybe two — and the Space Coast should have a great view of the liftoff, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off Tuesday just after 5 p.m., carrying an Astra 1P satellite, and another Falcon 9 rocket will deploy Starlink Internet satellites.
Below is a calendar of upcoming rocket launches, suggestions for where to watch them. If there are changes to the launch(s), this story will be updated.
Florida rocket launch schedule:Is there a departure today? SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center
Is there a missile launch in Florida today? Missile launch calendar for Florida
Here’s what we know about the rocket launches featured in FLORIDA TODAY’s June launch calendar, which is updated frequently. (Check this link often for rocket launch times and dates, as they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.)
FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, offers interactive launch coverage and live streaming at floridatoday.com/space with frequent launch updates at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission. For questions or comments, email Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or tweet him @rickneale1 on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. You can also reach Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or tweet her @brookeofstars on X or Instagram.
Is there a missile launch from Florida? Tuesday, June 18: SpaceX Astra 1P/SES-24
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Astra 1P satellite, which will broadcast satellite TV channels across Germany, France and Spain, for Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES.
- Start: 5:35 PM EDT Tuesday, June 18
- Location: Launch of Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Live coverage: If you’d like to watch live coverage of the rocket launch, FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team will provide updates at floridatoday.com/space beginning approximately 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available on the App Store or Google Play, or write floridatoday.com/space in your browser.
When is the next rocket launch in Florida? TBA: SpaceX Starlink 10-2 from Cape Canaveral
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will deploy an array of Starlink Internet satellites, which are packed inside the 230-foot upper part of the rocket.
- Start: TBA – SpaceX attempted to launch this mission three times on June 12, June 13 and June 14 before operations ceased seconds before the scheduled launch.
- Location: Launch of Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Trajectory: northeastern
- Live coverage: If you’d like to watch live coverage of the rocket launch, FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team will provide updates at floridatoday.com/space beginning approximately 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available on the App Store or Google Play, or write floridatoday.com/space in your browser.
Will it rain today in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida?
Almost anywhere in Brevard, you’ll see a shot of a rocket launch. The best view to see a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should ensure they do not block traffic or rights of way on bridges and follow the rules in place on the beaches.
If you’re looking at the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river.
If you’re farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to see the liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. At the beach, look south along the shoreline, (you can even see the pad from some spots).
Some hot spots to check out:
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there is a fee to park.
- Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there is a fee to park and access to the Canaveral National Seashore is not always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
- Park with a view from space8 Broad St., Titusville
- Sand Point Park10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Riverfront Rotary Park4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)
- Cocoa Village, near parks and shops or near the docks
- Various parks on Merritt Island
- Rotary Park1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
- Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road in Merritt Island
- Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean in port
- Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, parking charges may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Castle401 Meade Ave Parking fee varies.
- Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.
- Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, parking charges may apply.
- Cocoa Beach downtownalong Minutemen Causeway
- Table Beach197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach
- tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach
- Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach
- Pineda Street
- Eau Gallie Causeway
- Front Street Park near Melbourne (US 192) Causeway and US 1 in Melbourne
- Indian promenade on Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A
- Paradise Beach Parkaka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachfront park)
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
- Ambersands Beach Park12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
- South Beach Park1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
- Merrill Barber Bridge on the beach of Vero
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge on the beach of Vero
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for the USA TODAY-Florida Network. Follow him I tweet or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
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