Anyone up for dinner and a rocket launch? A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket may take off Tuesday evening, carrying Starlink internet satellites.
Weather permitting, the rocket launch will be visible in the skies over the Treasure Coast and Space Coast on the night of Tuesday, June 4. Below is a calendar for upcoming rocket launches and how to watch the SpaceX rocket launch this weekend.
Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Rocket launch calendar for Florida
Here’s what we know about the rocket launch missions listed in this month’s FLORIDA TODAY rocket launch calendar, which is updated regularly. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates, as these may be routinely changed for various reasons).
FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage at floridatoday.com/space with frequent updates on launches 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.
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Is SpaceX launching from Florida? Tuesday June 4: SpaceX Starlink
A navigation alert from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency indicates a launch window will open Tuesday evening for SpaceX’s next Starlink mission from the Space Coast.
Here are some details about the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch:
- Mission: According to an advisory from Geospatial and FAA, this will be the Starlink 8-5 mission.
- Launch: 8:04 PM to 11:58 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 4
- Place: Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Procedure: southeast
- Live coverage: Begins 90 minutes prior to launch at floridatoday.com/space.
You can get a view of the rocket launch almost anywhere in Brevard. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility depends on weather conditions and people should ensure they do not block traffic or passage on bridges and that they follow the rules on beaches.
If you’re watching the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look directly east, across the river.
If you’re further south along the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to view the launch as it runs almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. At the beach, look south along the coastline (you can even see the path from some spots).
Some hotspots to check out:
- Jetty Park beach and pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Please note that parking charges apply.
- Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Please note: parking charges apply and access to 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. Please note: parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park8 Broad St., Titusville
- Zandpuntpark10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotating park on the river4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Please note, parking fees may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Pier401 Meade Ave. The parking rate varies.
- Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. By the way, Lori Wilson Park has a dog park.
- Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Please note, parking fees may apply.
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (entrance fees apply)
- Ambersands beach park12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
- South Beach Park1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
- Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
The best views to see a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, also called the Space Coast, are along the beach.
Visibility in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, all part of the Treasure Coast, will depend on weather conditions, and people should take care not to block traffic or passage on bridges and to stay on the beaches follow the rules. Look due north. Here are some recommended places, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to farthest:
You can get a view of the rocket launch almost anywhere in Brevard. That includes Melbourne beachthat borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (entrance fees apply)
- Wabasso beach park1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso
- Ambersands beach park12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
- South Beach Park1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
- Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
- Fort Pierce Inlet905 Shorewinds Drive
- Blind Creek Beach North and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce
- Blue Heron Beach2101 Blue Heron Boulevard, Fort Pierce
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Park3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Dollman Park on the beach9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Herman’s Bay Beach7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- John Brooks Park on the beach3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Middle Cove beach4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Normandy beach in Jensen Beach
- Pepper Park on the beach3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,
- Walton Rocks Beachwith a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Waveland Beach10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Refuge house and beach301 SE MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
- National highway A1A causeway in Stuart
Watching a rocket launch or waiting for that launch window while at the beach is a beautiful activity in Florida.
In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County – home to the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station – you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south. Readers have also said they saw a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:
- South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking fees may apply. New Smyrna Beach has 17 miles of white sandy beaches. An eclectic and quaint beach town, 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.
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- Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is located 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and a mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beach pride, according to the Volusia site County. The nearby riverfront park area is located on South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river at the park can be a great viewing spot for manatees, dolphins and pelicans.
- Apollo Beach at 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 and then drive east until it becomes State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
- Oak Hill riverbank is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
- Sunrise ParkRiver Road 275, Oak Hill
- Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House rear deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
- Seminole Rest National Historic SiteRiver Road 211, Oak Hill
- Riverbreeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
- Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a rental building, playground, baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoor restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas and grills.
- Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
- Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill. This location has approximately 300 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the City of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launch facilities.
- Municipal pier AC Delbert Dewees, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 500-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill.
- Birdwatching pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 30-metre observation pier.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her further Tweet or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.