- Falcon Heavy, consisting of three first stages of a Falcon 9 rocket, can be seen in good weather and depending on the cloud cover in Volusia County.
- Canaveral National Seashore is the closest location to watch the launch, as it is nearly parallel to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Safe journey, Falcon Heavy!
The giant SpaceX rocket – more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 – may launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center later this week.
Can you see a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral near Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach?
Weather permitting and cloud cover good, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast could be visible in the Volusia County area.
Here is the June calendar for upcoming rocket launches in Florida.
Below are suggestions for where to watch them, as well as photos of previous rocket launches from the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange areas of Florida.
Here’s what we know. If there are any changes at launch, this story will be updated.
Florida rocket launch calendar:Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA and ULA missions from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center
Is there a rocket launch from Florida? The next one is on Tuesday, June 25: SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U
What is SpaceX Falcon Heavy?
The Falcon Heavy consists of three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, which together generate three times the lift force. The middle Falcon 9 is fully loaded with the rocket’s second stage and the payload at the top. The payload, in this case the NOAA satellite, is encased in fairings to protect it on its way into space.
For comparison, the Falcon 9 that launches Starlink missions is a single rocket. One of these single rockets alone is 229.6 feet tall with the second stage and has a diameter of 12 feet.
With three of those Falcon 9 rockets, the monster Falcon Heavy is the same height. However, it is much wider, with a width of 39.9 feet, which is almost comparable to three cars parked bumper to bumper.
How big is the Falcon Heavy? How does the SpaceX Falcon Heavy compare to Falcon 9 rockets?
The photo galleries attached to this article show scenes from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch (morning, afternoon or evening) from Florida’s Space Coast. Depending on weather and cloud cover, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches can be seen in the skies of Volusia County – morning, afternoon or evening. Falcon Heavy has three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Weather radar for Daytona Beach, Florida. Will a rocket launch be canceled because of the weather?
Pictured is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows real-time conditions for the Fun Coast and other parts of Florida.
Live beach webcam for Ormond Beach, Florida
Can’t see the Ormond Beach North webcam? Click this link
In Volusia County, just north of Brevard County – home to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station – you’ll have a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
The best view to see a rocket launch is from the beach here. Look due south. Readers have also mentioned seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended locations:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking fees may apply. New Smyrna Beach offers 17 miles of white sand beaches. New Smyrna Beach is a diverse and scenic beach town that, despite its reputation as the “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” has always been a haven for surfers who come here for the waves.
Dinner and a start:Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch, the best waterfront restaurants in Volusia County
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, 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 a nearly 800-foot beach path, according to the Volusia County website. The nearby riverfront park is across South Atlantic Avenue and offers tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, a fishing pier and restrooms. The river at 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 reach Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to Exit 249 and head 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 Aft Deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, Oak Hill
• River Breeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewee’s Park178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a rental house, 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 diamond, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
• Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill. This site features approximately 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the City of Oak Hill online. Amenities include a gazebo, picnic tables and kayak launching areas.
• AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill website.
• Bird watching pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier.
Rocket launch photo from Port Orange, Florida
Photos of a 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
Sangalang is a senior digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Þjórsárden or on Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider a subscription to a Florida newspaper.