Anyone for dinner and a rocket launch? SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off Tuesday night 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 of upcoming rocket launches and how to watch SpaceX’s rocket launch this weekend.
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Here’s what we know about the rocket launches mentioned in FLORIDA TODAY’s rocket launch calendar for the month, which is updated frequently. (Check this link often for rocket launch times and dates, as they are routinely subject to change for various reasons).
FLORIDA TODAY, USA TODAY’s Florida network newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage 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 of X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.
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A navigational alert from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency indicates that a launch window for SpaceX’s next Starlink mission from the Space Coast will open on Tuesday evening.
Here are some details about SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 rocket launch:
- Mission: According to Geospatial and FAA consultations, this will be the Starlink 8-5 mission.
- Launch: 8:04 PM to 11:58 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 4
- location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- Trajectory: southeast
- Live stream: Starts 90 minutes before takeoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Almost anywhere in Brevard you will see the rocket launch. The best vantage point to watch a Space Coast rocket launch 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 posted beach rules.
If you’re watching the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east just across the river.
If you are further south along the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to watch takeoff because it is almost parallel to Runway 39A. At the beach, look south along the coast (you can even see the site from some places).
Some hotspots to check out:
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Please note that there is a parking fee.
- Playa Linda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Please note that there is a parking fee and access to Canaveral National Seashore is not always available depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note that there is parking on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park8 Broad St., Titusville
- Sand Point Park10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotary Riverfront Park4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Allen Shepherd Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking charges may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Pier401 Meade Ave. The parking fee varies.
- Laurie Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Laurie Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.
- Sydney Fisher Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking charges may apply.
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is an 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
- The Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
The best vantage points for watching a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, aka 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 be sure not to block traffic or bridge rights-of-way and follow posted beach rules. Look north. Here are some recommended locations, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to furthest away:
Almost anywhere in Brevard you will see the rocket launch. This includes Melbourne Beachwhich borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is an entrance fee)
- 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
- The Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
- Fort Pierce Entrance905 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 Blvd., Fort Pierce
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Park3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Dollman Park Beachside9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Herman Bay Beach7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- John Brooks Park Beachside3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Middle Cove Beach4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Normandy Beach in Jensen Beach
- Pepper Park Beachside3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,
- Walton Rocks Beachwhich has a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Waveland Beach10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Shelter House and Beach301 SE MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
- State road A1A in Stuart
Watching a rocket launch or waiting for that launch window while on the beach is a pretty cool thing to do in Florida.
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 a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
The best vantage points for watching a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look south. Readers also reported seeing rocket launches from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended places:
- Nova Smyrna South Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking fees may apply. New Smyrna Beach offers 17 miles of white sand 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 5.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to the Canaveral National Seashore, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beach boardwalk, according to the beach’s website Volusia County. The nearby riverfront park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river by the park can be a great place to watch manatees, dolphins and pelicans.
- Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida’s east coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To get to Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until you turn onto State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
- Oak Hill Riverbank is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
- Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill
- Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
- Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, Oak Hill
- Riverbreeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
- Mary Dewis 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.
- Jimmy Van Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill. This location has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the city of Oak Hill online. Amenities include a pavilion, picnic tables, and kayaking facilities.
- AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill’s website.
- Bird watching pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier.
Sangalang is lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
