A missile launch is likely to take place early in the morning. Scheduled – Depending on the weather and visibility, The Space Coast could be in for a treat. In the sky.
SpaceX will send another batch of Starlink satellites into space on a Falcon 9 rocket on its next mission near Cape Canaveral. Keep scrolling for details.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a SpaceX rocket launch should be visible from almost anywhere on the Space Coast. Minutes after liftoff, there’s usually a roar. When there’s a midnight or very early morning launch window, there’s a roar. Unique photo opportunity – the rocket lights up the dark sky and the trailing lines then follow. Makes a great picture.
For example, the SpaceX rocket launch on July 3, 2024, was one event that delighted our veteran photographers: “After the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on the Starlink 8-9 mission, a trail of smoke appeared in the sky like a ghost next to the waning strawberry moon and the planet Jupiter,” according to photo journalist Malcolm Denmark.
Similarly, photo journalist Craig Bailey captured the exhaust of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lighting up the pre-dawn sky after it lifted off from Launch Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station that day.
Check out the photo gallery below for stunning images.
Can you see a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, rockets can be launched from the nearby Space Coast. May be visible in the Volusia County area..
Below are suggestions for places to watch and photos of past rocket launches as seen from the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange areas of Florida. There’s also a real-time weather radar to check for rainy conditions around the Fun Coast and other surrounding areas. For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY space reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Is there a rocket launch today? SpaceX and NASA’s Upcoming Launch Schedule From Florida
Although SpaceX has not yet announced the mission, a navigational advisory from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency shows a 4 1/2-hour launch window — suggesting a Starlink mission — from Cape Canaveral.
- a task: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch the next batch of Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit.
- Launch window5:20-9:50 AM EST Tuesday, August 20
- location: It will be announced later.
- path: North East
- Live coverage: You can watch live coverage of the missile launch from USA TODAY Space Teamwhich includes FLORIDA TODAY space correspondents Rick Neal and Brooke Edwards and visual journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denmark and Tim Short. Our space team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog on floridatoday.com/spaceStarts 90 minutes before takeoff. You can download the free version Florida Today Appand is available in App Store or Google PlayOr type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
Weather Radar in Daytona Beach, Florida. Will Weather Cause Missile Launch Cancellation?
Pictured is the National Weather Service’s radar in Melbourne, showing real-time conditions for the Fun Coast and other parts of Florida. The current date and time are shown in the lower right of this embedded radar; otherwise, you may need to clear the cache.
In Volusia County, just north of Brevard County — home to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — you can get a great view of Rocket launches by SpaceX, NASA, or United Launch Alliance.
The best views of the rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look directly south. Readers have also reported seeing the launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking may apply. New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sandy beaches. Despite its reputation as the “shark bite capital of the world,” New Smyrna Beach has always been a haven for surfers who come for the waves.
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Located 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore, Bethune Beach has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and about 800 feet of beachfront pier. According to the Volusia County websiteThe park area adjacent to the river is located across South Atlantic Avenue and includes tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a children’s playground, a fishing pier, and restrooms. The river adjacent to the park can be a great place to see manatees, dolphins, and pelicans.
• Apollo Beach in Canaveral National Seashore (South of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along the east coast of Florida in Volusia County and Brevard County. To reach Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to Exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow Highway A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill River Banks Is it The southernmost city in southern Volusia County..
• Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill
• Goodrich Seafood & Oyster Bar Back Deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, Oak Hill
• Riverbreeze Park250 H.H. Birch Rd, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewees Garden178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Amenities include a rental building, children’s playground, baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoor restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas, and grills.
• Nancy Cummings Garden232 Cummings Street, Oak Hill. Facilities include a children’s playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
• Jimmy Van Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill. This location has approximately 350 feet of beautifully restored beach, according to the city of Oak Hill website. Amenities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launching facilities.
• AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Dock243 River Road, Oak Hill. Amenities include a 520-foot observation deck with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill website.
• Bird Watching Pier On River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100′ observation pier.
Rocket launch photo from Port Orange, Florida
Rocket launch photos from New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photos from Daytona Beach, Florida
Photo of the rocket launch from Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida.
Sangalang is a senior digital producer for the USA TODAY Network in Florida. You can follow her on twitter Or Instagram on @byjensangalangSupport local journalism. Consider subscribing to a newspaper in Florida..
“Beer aficionado. Gamer. Alcohol fanatic. Evil food trailblazer. Avid bacon maven.”