- The SpaceX Falcon Heavy, made up of the three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, could potentially be seen in Palm Beach County, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover.
- It’s about 120 miles from Melbourne Beach to West Palm Beach. Seeing a rocket launch in Palm Beach County is a special event.
When the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, can Palm Beach County residents see it?
It’s possible that people in West Palm Beach and Greenacres have reported seeing the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch (see video and photos below).
SpaceX’s mammoth Falcon Heavy rocket — more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 — will potentially lift off this week. Depending on the weather, the Falcon Heavy should be visible from almost anywhere on the Space Coast and in areas outside the District, possibly hundreds of kilometers away.
Here’s more information about the rocket launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This story will be updated if there are any changes to the launch.
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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. Melbourne Beach to West Palm Beach is about 120 miles.
The Falcon Heavy, which consists of the three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, can potentially be seen outside the Space Coast, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover.
Will it rain today in Cape Canaveral, Florida? Will weather cancel the SpaceX rocket launch?
The National Weather Service-Melbourne radar is shown, showing real-time conditions for the Space Coast and other parts of Florida.
Can you see a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or from Cape Canaveral, Florida in West Palm Beach?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, some rockets launching from Cape Canaveral or NASA’s Kennedy Space Center may be seen in Palm Beach County, Florida. Some examples include the launch of United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket and SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. “Heavy” means that the rockets have three rocket first stages, while the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has only one. Photos and video from the Palm Beach Post and shared on social media show the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket visible in West Palm Beach — on some occasions.
Videos, tweets from the SpaceX rocket launch near Cape Canaveral in West Palm Beach, South Florida
Photos, tweets from rocket launch seen in West Palm Beach, 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.