A SpaceX rocket carrying astronauts could blast off from Florida’s Space Coast this week.
Can liftoff be seen in the Palm Beach County area? If the conditions are right, yes!
Axiom’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station was originally aiming to launch in late May, but has been delayed several times. Its latest delay on June 13 was due to leaks on the ISS. As of Monday, June 23, a new launch time has been set for Wednesday, June 25.
When it does launch, a SpaceX Dragon capsule with four astronauts in it will be carried by a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Though rockets launch in Florida from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, people in Palm Beach County can sometimes see this phenomenon.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast could be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to as far south as Vero Beach and 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 about the SpaceX rocket launch in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them from here.
For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
When is SpaceX rocket launch from Florida? Wednesday, June 25: SpaceX-Axiom Space Ax-4
Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch?
Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.
Where to see a Florida rocket launch in Palm Beach County: What does a West Palm Beach rocket launch view look like?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, some rocket launches from the Space Coast can be visible in Palm Beach County. When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, with a southeast trajectory, there’s an opportunity for unique photos. Some examples include United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it’s about 150 miles.
What the views look like: Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral spotted in West Palm Beach
Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral can often be seen from Palm Beach County, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north. Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way.
If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include:
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: SpaceX-Axiom rocket launch in Florida may be visible in Palm Beach County: What time is liftoff?
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang, Rick Neale, Lianna Norman and Kimberly Miller, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
