- The Falcon Heavy, made up of the three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, can be seen in Volusia County, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover.
- Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to watch the launch, as it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Godspeed, Falcon Heavy!
SpaceX’s mammoth rocket — more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 — will potentially lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this week.
Can you see a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or from Cape Canaveral near Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast could be visible in the Volusia County area.
Here is the June calendar for upcoming rocket launches in Florida.
Below are suggestions for where to watch them and photos of previous rocket launches from the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange, Florida areas.
Here’s what we know. This story will be updated if there are any changes to the launch.
Florida Rocket Launch Calendar:Is it launching today? Upcoming missions by SpaceX, NASA, ULA from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center
Is there a rocket launch from Florida? Next up is Tuesday, June 25: SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U
What is the SpaceX Falcon Heavy?
Falcon Heavy is the three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, which together give three times the lift. The center Falcon 9 is fully loaded with the rocket’s second stage and payload above. The payload, in this case a NOAA satellite, is enclosed in aerodynamic shrouds to protect it on its way into space.
By comparison, the Falcon 9 that launches the Starlink missions is a single rocket. Just one of these individual rockets is 229.6 feet tall with a second stage and 12 feet in diameter.
With three of these Falcon 9 rockets, the monster Falcon Heavy stands at the same height. However, it is much wider, giving it a width of 39.9 feet, which is comparable to nearly three cars parked bumper to bumper.
How big is the Falcon Heavy? How does the SpaceX Falcon Heavy compare to the Falcon 9 rockets?
The photo gallery attached to this story shows scenes of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch (morning, afternoon or evening) from Florida’s Space Coast. Depending on the weather and cloud cover, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches can be seen in Volusia County skies – morning, afternoon or night. The Falcon Heavy has three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Weather Radar for Daytona Beach, Florida. Will the weather cancel the rocket launch?
The National Weather Service-Melbourne radar is shown, showing real-time conditions for the Fun Coast and other parts of Florida.
Live beach webcam for Ormond Beach, Florida
Can’t see the Ormond Beach North webcam? Click on this link
In Volusia County, just north of Brevard County—home of the 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 view to watch the rocket launch from here is along the beach. Look directly south. Readers also mentioned seeing rocket launches from New Smyrna, Daytona and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended places:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), there may be parking costs. New Smyrna Beach offers 27 miles of white sand beaches. An eclectic and quaint beach town, despite its reputation as the “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” New Smyrna Beach has always been a haven for surfers who come for the waves.
Dinner and start:Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch, the best waterfront restaurant in Volusia County
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Marine Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beach boardwalk, according to the Volusia County website. A nearby riverside park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river near the park can be a great viewing spot for manatees, dolphins and pelicans.
• Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida’s east coast in Volusia and Brevard counties. To get to Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to Exit 249, then go east until it turns onto State Highway A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill Waterfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
• Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill
• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, Oak Hill
• Riverbreeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Amenities include a rental building, playground, baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoor restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas, and grills.
• Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill. Amenities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
• Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill. The site has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the City of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and a kayak launch facility.
• AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill.
• Bird watching pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Amenities include a 100-foot observation deck.
Image of a rocket launch from Port Orange, Florida
Photo of a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Photo of a rocket launch from Daytona Beach, Florida
Image of a rocket launch from Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida
Sangalang is the lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to Florida Newspapers.