Not one, but two early morning rocket launches will (possibly) take off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on the same day.
The rocket launch doubleheader at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station could see a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket take off.
Below are suggestions on where to watch them and photos of past rocket launches as seen from the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange areas of Florida. There is also real-time weather radar to check for rainy conditions around the Fun Coast and other surrounding areas. For questions or comments, please 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 you see rockets launched in Florida?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, the SpaceX rocket launch should be visible from almost anywhere on the Space Coast. And minutes after takeoff there is usually a rumbling noise. If there is a launch window in the middle of the night or very early in the morning, there is a chance for unique photos: the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail behind it makes for a great photo.
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Mission: An operating plan advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration shows that SpaceX is targeting this time slot for its next Falcon 9 rocket launch. However, the company announced it will temporarily suspend launches after the upper stage of the NASA Crew-9 rocket crashed into the ocean outside the target zone on Saturday – so this mission status remains unclear.
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Start window: 4:05 to 8:35 a.m. EDT Friday, October 4
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Location: Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
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Live reporting: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which includes FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visual journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide timely updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting 90 minutes before launch. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
When is the next rocket launch in Florida? Friday, October 4: United Launch Alliance Vulcan Cert-2
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Mission: ULA will launch its second Vulcan rocket to seek Space Force certification for future national security missions. The first Vulcan flight took place in January.
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Launch: 6pm EDT Friday, October 4
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Location: Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
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Live reporting: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which includes FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visual journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide timely updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space starting two hours before launch. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
Weather radar for Daytona Beach, Florida. Will it cancel another rocket launch?
Shown 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 appear in the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise you may need to clear your cache.
In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County – home to the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station – you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south. Readers have also said they saw a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking fees may apply. New Smyrna Beach has 17 miles of white sandy 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.
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is located 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and a mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beach pride, according to the Volusia site County. The nearby riverfront park area is located on South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river at the park can be 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 the east coast of Florida in Volusia County and Brevard County. To reach Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249 and then drive east until it becomes State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill riverbank is the southernmost city in southern Volusia County.
• Sunrise ParkRiver Road 275, Oak Hill
• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House rear deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic SiteRiver Road 211, Oak Hill
• Riverbreeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewees Park178 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 Park232 Cummings St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
• Jimmie Vann Sunrise ParkRiver Road 275, Oak Hill. This location has approximately 300 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the City of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launch facilities.
• Municipal pier AC Delbert DeweesRiver Road 243, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 550-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill.
• Birdwatching pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 30-metre observation pier.
Rocket launch photo from Port Orange, Florida
Rocket launch photos from New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photos from Daytona Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photo from Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her further Tweet or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal: SpaceX Falcon 9, United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket launch information
