Editor’s note:SpaceX launch was scrubbed Tuesday with the next attempt Wednesday, June 19, which also is the federal holiday Juneteenth. FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team has more information below.
Original story posted Sunday, June 16:
A rush-hour rocket launch? At about the time hundreds of motorists will be heading home from work or dinner out, a SpaceX launch window begins.
AFlorida rocket launch is on the horizonthis week — maybe two — and the Treasure Coastshould get a great view of liftoff, weather permitting. A SpaceXFalcon 9 rocketwill potentially lift off Wednesday just after 5 p.m., carrying an Astra 1P satellite and another Falcon 9 rocket will deploy Starlink internet satellites.
Can you see a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral near Vero Beach or Stuart, Florida? Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, rocket launches from neighboring Space Coastcould be visible in the Treasure Coast area.
Below is acalendar for upcoming rocket launchesand suggestions on where to watch them from Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County. If there are changes to the launch(es), this story will be updated.
Florida rocket launch calendar:Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center
Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Rocket launch calendar for Florida
Here's what we know about the rocket launch missions, mentioned inFLORIDA TODAY's rocket launch calendarfor the month of June, which is updated frequently. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates because they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.)
FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage and livestream atfloridatoday.com/spacewith frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission. For questions or comments, emailSpace Reporter Rick Nealeat rneale@floridatoday.com or tweet him@rickneale1on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. You also can contact Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or tweet her@brookeofstarson X orInstagram.
Is there a rocket launch from Florida? Wednesday, June 19, or Juneteenth: SpaceX Astra 1P/SES-24
This mission − Astra 1P/SES-24 − will attempt to launch at 5:25 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 19, or Juneteenth, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This payload is a communications satellite for an SES and Astra partnership, which are European communication organizations. The Ku-band geostationary satellite, which was developed by Thales Alenia Space, will provide satellite TV service for Germany, France and Spain. According to the SES website, Astra satellites have been providing TV and radio for Germany since 1988.
- Mission:A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Astra 1P satellite, which will broadcast satellite TV channels across Germany, France and Spain, for Luxembourg-based satelliteoperatorSES.
- Launch:5:25 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June19; previously it was 5:35 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 18
- Location:Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Live coverage:If you want to watch live rocket launch coverage,FLORIDA TODAY's Space Teamwill provide updates atfloridatoday.com/space, starting about 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the freeFLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in theApp StoreorGoogle Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
When's the next Florida rocket launch? TBA: SpaceX Starlink 10-2 from Cape Canaveral
- Mission:A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will deploy a batch of Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket.
- Launch:TBA − SpaceX attempted to launch this mission three times June 12, June 13 and June 14 before operations ceased seconds before the scheduled launch.
- Location:Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
- Trajectory:Northeast
- Live coverage:If you want to watch live rocket launch coverage,FLORIDA TODAY's Space Teamwill provide updates atfloridatoday.com/space, starting about 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the freeFLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in theApp StoreorGoogle Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
Weather radar and forecast for Port St. Lucie, Treasure Coast of Florida
Where can I see a Florida rocket launch in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County? What does Treasure Coast rocket launch view look like?
The best views to watch a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, aka the Space Coast, is here along the beach. Visibility in Indian River County,St. Lucie Countyand Martin County, part of the Treasure Coast, will depend on weather conditions, and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. Look due north. Here are some recommended spots, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to farthest:
•Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch. That includesMelbourne Beach, which borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.
•Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
•Wabasso Beach Park, 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso
•Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
•South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
•Merrill Barber BridgeinVero Beach
•Alma Lee Loy BridgeinVero Beach
•Fort Pierce Inlet, 905 Shorewinds Drive
•Blind Creek BeachsideNorth and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce
•Blue Heron Beach, 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce
•Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
•Dollman Park Beachside, 9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
•Herman's Bay Beach, 7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
•John Brooks Park Beachside, 3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
•Middle Cove Beach, 4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
•Normandy Beachin Jensen Beach
•Pepper Park Beachside, 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,
•Walton Rocks Beach, which has a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
•Waveland Beach, 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
•House of Refuge and beach, 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
•State Road A1A causeway in Stuart
Rocket launch photos from Vero Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photo from Stuart, Florida
Rocket launch photos from Jensen Beach, Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her onTwitteror Instagram at@byjensangalang. Support local journalism.Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
