An early morning rocket launch is potentially scheduled to lift off Wednesday − and depending on weather and visibility, there could be quite a show in the sky above the Space Coast.
Below are suggestions on where to watch the rocket launches from around Brevard County and other things to know. If there are changes to the launch schedule, this story will be updated.
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Where can the SpaceX launch be seen in Brevard County?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, SpaceX’s rocket launches should be visible from almost anywhere in Brevard County. And minutes after liftoff, there’s typically a rumble.
When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo.
Is there a rocket launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida
When is the next SpaceX rocket launch in Florida? No earlier than Wednesday, Dec. 4: SpaceX Starlink 6-70
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Mission: A 4½-hour launch window for a SpaceX Starlink mission will open early Wednesday morning, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.
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Launch window: 3:29 a.m. to 8 a.m. EST
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Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
Space Coast weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today?
This is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real time for the Space Coast and other parts of Florida.
The current date and time should be on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch − in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. 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 make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at 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 are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots).
Some hotspots to check out:
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Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there’s a charge to park.
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Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there’s a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn’t always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
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Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge.
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Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville
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Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
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Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
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Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)
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Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
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Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island
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Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port
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Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.
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Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies.
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Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.
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Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.
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Downtown Cocoa Beach, along Minutemen Causeway
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Tables Beach, 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach
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The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach
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Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach
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Front Street Park near Melbourne (U.S. 192) Causeway and U.S. 1 in Melbourne
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Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A
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Paradise Beach Park, aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachside park)
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Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
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Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
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South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
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Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach
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Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launch this week: Here’s how to watch Wednesday’s launch
