Ready for a very late-night rocket launch? A SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is expected to lift off on Wednesday morning.
SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird broadband satellites in the very early morning hours on June 17.
Though rockets here launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, people on the Fun Coast 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, suggestions on where to watch it and how to watch some launches with NASA+ on Prime Video.
Watch NASA+ content with Amazon Prime Video
For questions or comments, email USA TODAY Network 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.
Wednesday, June 17, SpaceX Bluebird 8-10 Mission
Where can I watch a rocket launch in Florida?
A rocket launch with a northeast trajectory can be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach, Florida, which is about 160 miles north of Cape Canaveral (about a two-hour and 30-minute car ride, depending on which route you take).
Rocket launches with a southeast trajectory can be seen as far south as West Palm Beach, Florida, which is about 150 miles south of Cape Canaveral (about a two-hour-and-20-minute car ride).
Rocket launches are most visible from the Space Coast, where they launch from, and are often visible from the Treasure Coast and Volusia County as well.
Where to watch a SpaceX rocket launch near Daytona Beach, Florida
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 of a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south.
Recommended spots:
Watch some rocket launches with NASA+ on Prime Video
NASA content, including some rocket launches, is available to watch through NASA+ on desktop, both from its official site and YouTube. The platform is also available to download as a mobile app on smartphones.
All NASA+ content is also available to those who have Prime Video downloaded on any of their devices – whether it be a smartphone or smart TV.
Watch NASA+ content with Amazon Prime Video
The content, which does not require a Prime subscription to view, is one of Prime Video’s FAST channels (free ad-supported television). Viewers can find it under Prime’s Live TV section at the top of the screen when they open the app.
Lianna Norman and Jennifer Sangalang are trending reporters for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering rocket launches, Florida wildlife, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: SpaceX late-night rocket launch. Where to watch from Volusia County
Reporting by Lianna Norman, Jennifer Sangalang, Rick Neale, Brooke Edwards and Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lianna Norman, Jennifer Sangalang, Rick Neale, Brooke Edwards and Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
