A morning rocket launch is planned – and depending on weather and visibility, the Fun Coast could see a display in the sky.
SpaceX will send another batch of Starlink satellites into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket for its next mission near Cape Canaveral. Keep scrolling for details.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a SpaceX rocket launch can be seen from anywhere on the Space Coast. A few minutes after take off, usually a noise. When the launch window is in the middle of the night or early morning, there is an opportunity for unique photos – the rocket lights up the dark sky and makes for a great photo.
For example, the SpaceX rocket launched on July 3, 2024, something that delighted our veteran photographers: “After the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 8-9 mission, Contrail hung like a ghost in the sky. Strawberry Moon and waning Jupiter,” says visual journalist Malcolm Denmark.
Similarly, visual journalist Craig Bailey captured images of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lighting up the sky after liftoff from Launch Pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station that day.
Check out the gallery below for stunning photos.
Can you watch a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral in Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast will be visible in the Volusia County area.
Below are suggestions for where to see them and photos of previous rocket launches, as seen from Florida’s Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and Port Orange areas. Real-time weather radar is available to check rain conditions around Fun Coast and other surrounding areas. For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY space reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Is the rocket launching today?Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida
Although SpaceX has not yet announced the mission, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational alert shows a 4½-hour launch window — indicative of a Starlink mission — from Cape Canaveral.
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch the next batch of Starlink Internet satellites into low Earth orbit.
- Launch the window: 9:20 a.m. EDT Tuesday, August 20 (early release window 5:20 to 9:50 a.m. EDT Tuesday, August 20)
- Location: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40
- Route: Northeast
- Live broadcast: Watch the rocket launch live USA TODAY Network’s space teamIt includes Florida Today space reporters Rick Neal and Brooke Edwards and visual journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denmark and Tim Short. Our space team will provide up-to-the-minute updates on a mobile-friendly live blog floridatoday.com/spaceStarts 90 minutes before departure. You can download it for free Florida Today AppIt is available App Store Or Google PlayOr type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
Weather radar for Daytona Beach, Florida. Will weather cancel rocket launches?
Featured is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows real-time conditions for the Fun Coast and other parts of Florida. The current date and time is displayed at the bottom right of this radar embed; Otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.
You can get a great view in Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County – home to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
From here the best views are along the coast to watch rocket launches. Look south. Readers also noted rocket launches from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended places:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking costs may apply. New Smyrna Beach has 17 miles of white sand beaches. An eclectic and quaint beach town with a reputation as the “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” New Smyrna Beach has always been a haven for surfers coming for the waves.
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, located 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park, features restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers, and nearly 800 feet of boardwalk. According to Volusia County’s site. The nearby riverside park area along South Atlantic Avenue has tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, a fishing pier and restrooms. The river in the park is 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 Florida’s east coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to Exit 249, then travel east until it becomes State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill Riverfront is South is the southernmost city in Volusia County.
• Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill
• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House Backyard, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, Oak Hill
• Riverbreeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewees Park178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Amenities include a rental building, playground, baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoor lounges, pavilions, picnic areas and grills.
• Nancy Cummings Park232 Cummings St., Oak Hill. Amenities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
• Jimmy Van Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill. According to the City of Oak Hill online, the site has about 350 feet of beautifully restored beach. Amenities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launch facilities.
• AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier243 River Road, Oak Hill. Amenities include a 520-foot observation deck with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill Side.
• Bird watching ship AC on River Road from Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation deck.
Rocket launch photo from Port Orange, Florida
Photos of the rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Photos of the rocket launch from Daytona Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photo from Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida
Sangalong is the lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her Twitter Or on Instagram @baizenchanglong. Support local journalism. Subscribe to Florida Newspapers.
