- Falcon Heavy, consisting of three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, can be viewed outside the Space Coast when the weather is good.
- Playalinda Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) is the closest location to watch the launch, as it is almost parallel to Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad 39A.
Safe journey, Falcon Heavy!
The giant SpaceX rocket – more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 – may launch this week.
Depending on weather conditions, the Falcon Heavy should be visible from nearly anywhere along the Space Coast and in areas beyond. Here’s more information on the rocket launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. If there are any changes to the launch, this article will be updated.
Rocket launch calendar for Florida: Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA and ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, 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 accompanying this article show scenes from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch (morning, afternoon or evening) from Florida’s Space Coast, which includes 72 miles of coastline from Mims and Titusville to Melbourne Beach and Grant-Valkaria.
Falcon Heavy, which consists of three first stages of a Falcon 9 rocket, can be seen outside the Space Coast when the weather is good and the clouds are cloudy.
Will it rain today in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, 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 Space Coast and other parts of Florida.
You can watch the rocket launch from pretty much anywhere in Brevard. The best view of a rocket launch is from the beach on the Space Coast. However, visibility is dependent on weather conditions and people should be careful not to block traffic or the right of way on bridges and to follow posted rules on the beaches.
If you watch the launch on the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, you will be looking directly east across the river.
If you are further south on the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach, or Canaveral National Seashore, is the closest place to watch the launch, as it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. From the beach, look south along the shoreline (from some spots you can even see the ramp).
Some hotspots to check out:
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Please note that parking is subject to a fee.
- Playa Linda Beach1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Please note that parking is subject to a fee and access to Canaveral National Seashore is not always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note: Parking is available on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park8 Broad St., Titusville
- Sand Point Park10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotary Park on the river bank4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)
- Cocoa Village, near the parks and shops or near the docks
- Various parks on Merritt Island
- Rotary Park1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
- Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island
- Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean in port
- Alan Shepard Park299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking fees may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Pier401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies.
- Lori Wilson Park1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. There is also a dog park in Lori Wilson Park.
- Sidney Fisher Park2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking fees may apply.
- Downtown Cocoa Beachalong the Minutemen Causeway
- Tables Beach197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach
- ebb and flow on SR A1A in Satellite Beach
- Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach
- Pineda Dam
- Eau Gallie Dam
- Front Street Park near Melbourne (US 192) Causeway and US 1 in Melbourne
- Indialantic Promenade at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A
- Paradise Beach Parkalso known as Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beach park)
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (admission fee applies)
- 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
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
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.