Who’s up for an evening rocket launch? A rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is scheduled to lift off this week.
SpaceX plans to send a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Rockets here launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and people in and around Brevard County usually have the best chance at seeing this phenomenon in the sky.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover and trajectory, a rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast is sometimes visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach.
When there’s a nighttime launch window 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 in person (or virtually via the USA TODAY Network’s Space Team).
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.
When is the next rocket launch from Florida? Tuesday, February 24, SpaceX Starlink 6-110
Where to watch SpaceX rocket launch in Melbourne, Rockledge, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Florida
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch − in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility 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.
If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river.
If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline (you can even see the pad from some spots).
Some hotspots to check out:
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launch this week. When to watch liftoff from Florida
Reporting by Lianna Norman, Jennifer Sangalang, Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
