Godspeed, Crew-12!
Four crew members from three space agencies, NASA’s Crew-12, will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.
If all goes according to plan, the launch will blast off from Florida’s East Coast in the early morning ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend.
Though rockets here launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, people from Volusia County can sometimes see this phenomenon.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover and trajectory, a rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast could be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach.
When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky, and the contrail after makes for a great photo.
Below is more information on the next rocket launch from Florida and suggestions on where to watch it from the Fun Coast. If there are changes to the launch, this story will be updated.
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporters Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com, Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or Eric Lagatta at elagatta@usatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
When is the next rocket launch in Florida? Thursday, February 12, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12
What is NASA Crew-12 mission in Florida about? Who are the astronauts?
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts arrived on Florida’s Space Coast Friday, Feb. 6, ahead of the launch. NASA is targeting Thursday, Feb. 12, for liftoff.
Crew-12 is scheduled to take flight from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station. They will board a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9, and their ISS target docking time is set a day later.
Crew-12 consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot (mission specialist), and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (mission specialist).
Where to see a Florida rocket launch from Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach area
In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County — home to Kennedy Space Center and 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. Recommended spots:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park.
• 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 access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
• Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill
• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest national historic site, 211 River Road, Oak Hill
• Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill
• Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill
• Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill
• A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill
• Bird Observation Pier on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above)
• Rose Bay in Port Orange, Florida
• beaches along New Smyrna Beach, Florida
• New Smyrna Beach Inlet, New Smyrna Beach lifeguard station
• Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida
• Ormond-by-the-Sea in Ormond Beach, Florida
• George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater, Florida
(This story has been updated with new information.)
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASA, SpaceX Crew-12 rocket launch in Florida. What time is liftoff?
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang, Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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