- Falcon Heavy, consisting of three Falcon 9 rockets, can be seen from the Treasure Coast in good weather and depending on cloud cover.
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 Vero Beach or Stuart, Florida?
Weather permitting and cloud cover, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast could be visible in the Treasure Coast region.
Below is a calendar of upcoming rocket launches and suggestions for where to watch them in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County. If there are any changes to the launch, this article 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 accompanying 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 Treasure Coast skies – morning, afternoon or evening from parts of Indian River County, Martin County or St. Lucie County. (Falcon Heavy has three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket.)
Weather radar for Port St. Lucie, Florida. Will a rocket launch be canceled because of the weather?
Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows real-time conditions for the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County) and other parts of Florida.
Where can you see a rocket launch in Florida in Indian River County? What are the prospects for a rocket launch on the Treasure Coast?
The best view to watch a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, also known as the Space Coast, is from the beach here. Views in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, which are part of the Treasure Coast, will vary depending on weather conditions. People should be careful not to block traffic or the right of way on bridges and obey posted rules on beaches. Look due north. Here are some recommended spots, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to farthest away:
• You can watch the rocket launch from pretty much anywhere in Brevard. These include Melbourne Beachwhich borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.
• Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (admission fee applies)
• Wabasso Beach Park1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso
• 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
• Fort Pierce Inlet905 Shorewinds Drive
• Blind Creek Beach North and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce
• Blue Heron Beach2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce
• Frederick Douglass Memorial Park3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
• Dollman Park on the beach9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
• Herman’s Bay Beach7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
• John Brooks Park on the beach3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
• Middle Cove Beach4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
• Beach in Normandy in Jensen Beach
• Pepper Park on the beach3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,
• Walton Rocks Beachwith a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
• Waveland Beach10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
• House of Refuge and Beach301 SE MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
• Embankment of the state road A1A in Stuart
Rocket launch photos from Vero Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photo from Stuart, Florida
Photos from the rocket launch in Jensen Beach, 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.