A rocket launch during rush hour? Around the time hundreds of motorists return home from work or dinner at a restaurant, a SpaceX launch window begins.
A Florida rocket launch 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 shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday, carrying an Astra 1P satellite, and another Falcon 9 rocket will deploy Starlink internet satellites.
Below is a schedule of upcoming rocket launches and suggestions for where to watch them. If there are any changes to the launch(s), this story will be updated.
Florida rocket launch schedule:Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center
Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Florida rocket launch schedule
Here’s what we know about rocket launch missions, mentioned in FLORIDA TODAY’s rocket launch schedule for June, which is frequently updated. (Check this link often for rocket launch times and dates, as they are regularly subject to change for various reasons.)
FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, offers interactive coverage of launches and live streaming at floridatoday.com/space with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes more, depending the mission. For questions or comments, email or tweet Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com. @rickneale1 on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. You can also contact space reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or tweet her. @brookeofstars on X or Instagram.
Is there a rocket launch from Florida? Tuesday June 18: SpaceX Astra 1P/SES-24
- Assignment: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Astra 1P satellite, which will broadcast satellite television channels across Germany, France and Spain, for Luxembourg satellite operator SES.
- Launch: 5:35 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 18
- Location: Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Station
- Live: If you would like to watch live coverage of a rocket launch, the FLORIDA TODAY space team will provide updates at floridatoday.com/space, starting approximately 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, available on the App Store or Google Play, or tap floridatoday.com/space in your browser.
When will the next rocket launch take place in Florida? TBD: SpaceX Starlink 10-2 from Cape Canaveral
- Assignment: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will deploy a batch of Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket.
- Launch: TBD – SpaceX attempted to launch this mission three times on June 12, 13 and 14 before operations ceased seconds before the scheduled launch.
- Location: Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Station
- Path: Northeast
- Live: If you would like to watch live coverage of a rocket launch, the FLORIDA TODAY space team will provide updates at floridatoday.com/space, starting approximately 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, available on the App Store or Google Play, or tap floridatoday.com/space in your browser.
Will it rain today in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, or Cape Canaveral, Florida?
Almost anywhere in Brevard you will have a view of the rocket launch. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should ensure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and follow the rules posted on beaches.
If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly 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 liftoff as it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline (you can even see the pad from some places).
Some hot spots to discover:
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Please note, parking is chargeable.
- Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note that parking is chargeable and access to the Canaveral National Seashore is not always granted based on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note that parking is available on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
- Park Space View8 Broad Street, Titusville
- Pointe-Sable Park10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotary Riverfront 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 Drive, Merritt Island
- Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island
- Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean in port
- Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Be careful, there may be parking fees.
- Cocoa Beach Pier401 Meade Ave. Parking fees vary.
- 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. Be careful, there may be parking fees.
- Downtown Cocoa Beachalong the Minutemen Causeway
- Beach Tables197 SR A1A, satellite beach
- Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach
- Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach
- Pineda Causeway
- Chaussée de l’Eau Gallie
- Front Street Park near Melbourne (US 192) Causeway and US 1 in Melbourne
- Indialantic Walk to Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A
- Paradise Beach Parkaka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachfront park)
- Sebastian Entrance Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (entrance fee)
- 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
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.