- Falcon Heavy, consisting of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, can be seen in Volusia County, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover.
- Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to watch the liftoff as it is nearly parallel to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Good luck, Falcon Heavy!
The gigantic SpaceX rocket – more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 – could lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this week.
Can you see a rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral near Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast may be visible in the Volusia County area.
Here is the June schedule for upcoming rocket launches in Florida.
Below are suggestions on where to watch them and photos of previous rocket launches seen from the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange areas of Florida.
Here’s what we know. If there are any changes to the launch, this story will be updated.
Florida rocket launch schedule:Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center
Is there a rocket launch from Florida? The next one will take place on Tuesday June 25: SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U
What is SpaceX Falcon Heavy?
The Falcon Heavy is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, which together provide three times the lift. The central Falcon 9 is fully loaded with the rocket’s second stage and payload on top. The payload, in this case the NOAA satellite, is enveloped in fairings to protect it during its journey to space.
By comparison, the Falcon 9 that launches Starlink missions is a single rocket. Just one of these unique rockets towers 229.6 feet tall with the second stage and has a diameter of 12 feet.
With three of these Falcon 9 rockets, the monster Falcon Heavy stands at the same height. However, it’s much wider, giving it a width of 39.9 feet, which is comparable to nearly three cars parked bumper to bumper.
How big is Falcon Heavy? How does SpaceX Falcon Heavy compare to Falcon 9 rockets?
Photo galleries attached to this story show scenes of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch (morning, afternoon or night) from Florida’s Space Coast. Depending on weather and cloud cover, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches can be seen in Volusia County skies morning, afternoon or night. Falcon Heavy has three Falcon 9 rocket first stages.
Weather radar for Daytona Beach, Florida. Will the weather cancel a rocket launch?
Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which displays real-time conditions for the Fun Coast and other areas of Florida.
Live Beach Webcam for Ormond Beach, Florida
Don’t see the Ormond Beach North webcam? Click on this link
In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County – home to the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Station – you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launching.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south. Readers also mentioned seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended places:
• New Smyrna South Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking fees may apply. New Smyrna Beach has 17 miles of white sand beaches. An eclectic and picturesque beach town, despite its reputation as the “shark bite capital of the world,” New Smyrna Beach has always been a paradise for surfers who come for the waves.
Dinner and launch:Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA Rocket Launch, Best Waterfront Restaurants in Volusia County
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and 1 mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral State Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of oceanfront sidewalk, according to the Volusia County website. The neighboring riverfront park is across South Atlantic Avenue and features tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground , a fishing pier and toilets. The river near the park can be a great viewing point for manatees, dolphins and pelicans.
• Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore stretches along the east coast of Florida in Volusia and Brevard counties. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to Exit 249, then continue east until it becomes State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill Riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
• Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill
• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House rear patio, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, 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, outhouses, pavilions, picnic areas and grills.
• Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings Street, 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 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the Town of Oak Hill online. Amenities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launching facilities.
• AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Amenities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, the Town of Oak Hill website states.
• Birdwatching Pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier.
Photo of rocket launch from Port Orange, Florida
Photos of rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photos from Daytona Beach, Florida
Photo of rocket launch from Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida
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.