And were at the start of a second one, that were also pretending wont be a problem and trying to Blame It On The Gays like its the damn Reagan administration. Ill get into that here shortly, but first, just a rapid-fire update on some viewing options. Barring that, support is always welcome via my photo store or via Patreon. Every little bit is progress, even if Im learning to hate this WordPress editor. If you're positioned near the edge of a circle, Falcon 9 will barely come above the horizon and could be obscured by low clouds or haze. . You could happily view the launches from here or on the beach down the seashore as well, and it is still a beautiful place to watch in general, but the rocket will not become visible upon launch until it has cleared the tower and risen above the launch pad and berm directly across the inlet. The best launch viewing guide on the internet since 2005. LZ-1 is 8.8 miles. More info below. Its also a fairly limited option, unless Brevard County closes the bridge to traffic, which Im not certain they will. Closures for some daytime launches are possible, and the road leading to the beach also sometimes closes early, once parking lot capacity is reached or no later than one hour before launch when they do. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex is offering viewing packages again. I dont know if well see that again today, because those businesses will be open for normal hours on those days given its an afternoon launch.However, I also saw a lot of folk who own vacant land along the river or near to parks selling parking, like the riverfront land between 50 and Kirk Point, and the big empty lot running along Broad Street downtown. And were dependent on a map built on a dead persons google account, at that. Where do the dates above come from and why don't other websites match? It is open to the public. Playalinda Beach is the next closest place, and also is the best spot outside the space center, at just 4.8 miles from the launch pad once you walk down the beach (5.7 from the first parking lot area). SpaceX's triple-core Falcon Heavy rocket soared from Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, kicking off a complicated mission that boosted a powerful commercial communications satellite to orbit thousands of miles above Earth. I also reccomend a good pair of binoculars. It is now possible to view landings and some launches from off-shore on a boat. Edit history:17/August: Added traffic diagrams courtesy of Tom McCool, and updated KSC viewing package availability17/August (again): Updated Star*Fleet availability18/August: Jetty Park update and inclusion of Florida Todays hotels guide18/August (again): Updated Star*Fleet availability (again)19/August: Official statement from the Canaveral National Seashore on Playalindas closure20/August: Linked to twitter version of article, minor rearranging for parity with said thread, added potential of bridge viewing.21/August: Added full-county traffic flow plan. It doesnt happen often, so dont count on it and have a backup plan if its not available. from pad 40. They are conducted by private companies such as SpaceX and ULA and launch payloads for the U.S. military/Department of Defense and for private entities such as television and mobile companies. Playalinda Beach will be closed, both because its far too close to 39b, and because its well outside the parks operating hours. . The previous question linked shows that antares launches can be seen as far as 700km away. Two NASA astronauts, plus one astronaut from Japan and another from France, will cap their nearly 200-day stay on the space station, a mission that was known as Crew-2. Star*Fleet Tours will be offering both launch cruises($95) and pre-launch photo tours($120). One post a month isnt many to make, but with launches as infrequent as they are, its not like theres much to talk about otherwise! At that moment,the Dragon capsule will have risen to an altitude of 653,560 feet (123.8 statute miles), while moving at16,256mph (26,161 kph) and should be visible for a radius of about 900 statute miles from the point of Second Engine Cut Off (SECO). A few weeks ago I updated the sidebar, which I have no clue how I did. If you're west of the Cape, look low toward the east. Some closer spots have obstructed views of the launch pad, with trees or other things in the way (sometimes the Visitor Complex is the closest place, but there is no clear view of any pad from there; rather you see the rocket about five to ten seconds after launch when it clears the tree line). Viewed 79k times 11 I'll be in Miami this Thursday 30th of March and there is a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida (if it's not delayed). Bring food, or eat before you arrive, just in case. I saw the initial Falcon Heavy launch from Juno Beach, Florida and have seen other launches including the Space Shuttle from various locations in Palm Beach County, I saw a rocket launch from mississippi once. Sand Point Park. EDIT HISTORY:1/sept: conclusion paragraph, notes on it being labor day weekend now.1/sept (again): general updates on the parks, port canaveral, and star*fleet. The Saturn V Center (5.4 miles), another stop on the KSC Visitor Complex tours, is an excellent option as well for Atlas V launches, accessed by taking the bus tour at the Visitor Complex with launch day tickets. Night launches are a bit of a challenge, as most viewing sites Id recommend are public parks along US1. Where is the best place to view a launch? Please check out the map above which has been annotated with markers noting where you cannot go, specifically where the gates to Kennedy Space Center are located. The further north you go, the closer you are to launch. ). Spectators are allowed to watch from the beach parking lot areas (3.6 miles distance at parking lot one, 4.0 by lot four), and sometimes may walk down the beach to get closer (2.7 miles at the fence). It only takes a minute to sign up. If you want a better view of the landing than the launch, go to Jetty Park or the beach south of the park. is a small park with a big pier and beach, but not the best place to watch Falcon or Atlas/Vulcan rockets take off, as the view of the pads themselves are hidden by a berm. Consult a map for this concern. All of these have roughly equivalent views, so Id just go for whichever one has room when you get here. Your KSC ticket will tell you when they expect you here, if you purchased viewing tickets with them. You can find him on Twitter and YouTube tracking lunar and solar eclipses, meteor showers and more. This location will not be offered for 39A launches. Live Space Station Tracking Map | Spot The Station | NASA Live Space Station Tracking Map Live Space Station Tracking Map The tracker shows where the Space Station is right now and its path 90 minutes ago (-1.5 hr) and 90 minutes ahead (+1.5 hr). If you have to be far away, or won't know until you get here, try and target a night or twilight launch. elevated view of launch, but the view is better for some launches (40 and 39A are best for photos). Port Canaveral's Route 528 (11.6 miles) is the closest and best spot otherwise, and the best place to go for off-hours launches. What is the deal with Playalinda Beach being open or closed at random sometimes?UPDATED OCTOBER 2022: Playalinda Beach sometimes closes without warning and without any predicable scenario, and the information they provide on closures and normal operating hours contradicts itself in places. The 20 April launch was days after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted SpaceX a license to launch the Starship via its Super Heavy rocket booster. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. This is going to be LOUD. Im happy to report those now point towards the Team email which means they should be accessible to me, and any future folk who join me here. NASA's SpaceX Crew Rescue and Recovery Last Updated: Aug 6, 2017 Editor: Mark Garcia From here you can be just 2.3 miles from an Atlas V launch (closest viewing of any rocket), 3.4 miles for a Falcon 9 launch from pad 40, and 8.9 miles for Falcon landings at LZ-1. A lot of the same advice applies from the previous article. For quick info, just read the Next Launches section below, Falcon 9, May 4 @ around 3:29 a.m. EDT or later (pad 40): Due to the early morning time, the best places to view this launch are Port Canaveral (Rt. Starlink's satellites will be launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on The older chains like Starlink-1, 2, 3 etc have spread out and are no longer visible as a chain, that's why this app doesn't include them anymore. Jetty Park ($16/car) is among the best places to witness a booster landing, and by far one of the closest at around 6 miles distance from the landing zones. pic.twitter.com/FPEKuGzN0X. What about other sites, or can I see the launch from Orlando Miami etc? For off-hours/night launches, when no tickets are being sold by the Visitor Complex and Playalinda Beach is closed, the best options for Atlas V launches are Port Canaveral on Route 528, or on the river in Titusville, both at 13 miles distance. One is pad 39A (, ), formerly the home of the Space Shuttle from 1981 to 2011 and the Apollo Saturn V from 1967 to 1973. Carolinas to Virginias: Look toward the south-southeast about 3 to 6 minutes after launch. For Pad 40, the best spot for Falcon 9 launches when available is the LC-39 Observation Gantry, at just 3.4 miles away, via tickets sold through the KSC Visitor Complex. . Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches from pad 40. Follow these accounts to stay updated on launch day: @SpaceflightNow@SpaceX@ULAlaunch@torybruno. Photo via. Consider combining your launch viewing with a tour of KSC and save time. The distance to the landing zone from the boat is similar to on land. It is, however, the best place to watch the Falcon 9 first stages land back at Landing Zone 1. ESPECIALLY bug spray, youll get eaten alive on these muggy florida autumn nights. Jetty Park is closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Nicole, and will not reopen until after the launch. with KSC Visitor Complex tickets, at 3.9 miles away. 406) which leads towards Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Playalinda Beach. clearly, you slould be able to. SpaceX has a launch site at Kennedy Space Center, which is 520 miles from the nearest city. I may even end up offering to volunteer with them again, if they need an extra hand with check-ins or another guide for the boats.As of August 21st, Star*Fleet has sold out of Launch Day tickets. The launch will also be webcast live, with commentary from SpaceX corporate headquarters in . , at 3.9 miles away. This post is going to serve as addendum to the original post, so make sure youve read that. 528 over the Banana River, 11.6 miles and clear view) or Titusville (~14 miles) on the Max Brewer bridge or anywhere along the river. rev2023.4.21.43403. That means, all going well, it will launch within that span of time. When the beach is closed for launch, the road block is set up just east of the Max Brewer Bridge/Parrish Park in Titusville. The closest parking at the beach (28.655N, 80.632 W) is located 3.6 miles from Falcon 9 pad 39A, 5.8 miles from Atlas V Pad 41 and 7.2 miles from Falcon 9 Pad 40. *If you are signed up for alerts please note that you will only receive alerts for flyovers that will reach a Max Height of at least 40. In general, the seashore is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Daylight Saving Time days (March to November) and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time days. Whether you tune into the likes of NASAs official webcast, or the wealth of independent enthusiast media like Everyday Astronaut, NASASpaceflight, and so many more, youre bound to see a whole lot of the launch that we wont be able to see in the moment, the video feeds and so on. I can see them from the opposite side of Florida with the naked eye given correct atmospheric conditions. Please also avoid locations such as the cruise ship parking decks at Port Canaveral, which are deemed off limits for this use by Port authorities. They will all treat you well. Special thanks to @Delta_IV_Heavy, @FalconGridFin, @DragonWindow and JohnEric for their significant contributions (past and present) to the operation of this site. 528 over the Banana River, 11.6 miles and clear view) or Titusville (~14 miles) on the Max Brewer bridge or anywhere along the river. Being a crewed launch, the KSC Visitors Complex will be offering paid viewing via their. The livestreams have access to SO MANY camera views, cameras placed all across the pads, looking at the engines, mounted on the lightning towers, there are so many things you cant see through a pair of binoculars from 10 miles away.Having seen how well some of the coverage was handled, Im all the more confident in recommending, especially in the face of this continued pandemic, that you stay in. When available, tickets are now sold for viewing. Im trying to pick up all the pieces that Wayward left behind. Arrive early. SpaceX has launched astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and returned them to Earth for NASA since 2020. NASA satellite crash not source of mysterious flash of light above Ukraine capital, agency claims, See Mercury's giant, comet-like tail in stunning new image as it passes close to the sun. No launch is worth it, not even this one. If you want a better view of the landing than the launch, go to Jetty Park or the beach south of the park. The Falcon 9 that went off a few days ago rattled my house just a little, this is going to be an order of magnitude louder. If its not on this list, I cant promise itll be available for viewing. If the launch delays past 6 a.m., Playalinda Beach could be an option (6.3 miles at fence if allowed, or 7.2 at parking lot one or along road, partially obstructed views for photos), The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on. I think they already had the race last weekend, so that leaves a whole lot of hotel space free up there. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, water, a powerbank, maybe some snacks. How about saving the world? Keep in mind the webcast is usually on a delay of anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds or more, so the launch may take place while they still appear to be counting down. Thanks for all the support, kind words, and for helping me stick around help you with your launch viewing journeys. Were just over two weeks out from Artemis I, and I finally remembered how to get into the WordPress for the site.Ive been responding to the email inquiries, I just couldnt get in to make the actual post.So, lets get down to brass tacks. Ive been getting emails since the beginning of January asking about the Crew-6 flight, given how late in the night its slated to depart. It offers the best line of sight for Falcon 9 launches. The way to plan ahead is to be flexible and get flexible airline tickets if you are traveling, if at all possible. 528), and be 8.3 miles from landing and have a clear view of both launch pads even though they are 10-13 miles away. As of August 18th, the Canaveral Port Authority has outlined its plan for Artemis I in a recent meeting. However, if you are looking for a nice beach day with a launch from farther away, or a nice photo such as a nighttime long exposure over the ocean, this is still a nice place to watch. For some launches, the first stage of the Falcon rocket will return and land back at Cape Canaveral about eight minutes after liftoff. LZ-1 landings are 8.3 miles away. Most places in Titusville close around 9pm, so if you want a bite to eat thats nicer than what youd get from one of our few 24-hour convenience stores, you might wanna bring it with you. For example, Route 401 down near Cape Canaveral was closed to launch viewing for good in 2018. Upon 2nd stage shutdown, the point of [the] plume pulled away from the huge fan shaped cloud, & continued as a point of light to the east. When the Falcon 9 first stage is scheduled to make a land-based landing back at the Cape, however, you should consider watching from Port Canaveral because it has a much closer view of the landing and therefore is a good spot for both. The launch will be visible for about two minutes and forty four seconds. After something like 3 years of absence, the Falcon Heavy rocket is returning to service with the USSF-44 mission for the Space Force. A Falcon 9 will launch the Arabsat Badr 8 communications satellite from pad 40 on, The first flight of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket will use the same launch pad as Atlas when it sends the Peregrine lunar lander to the moon on, The next and penultimate United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Heavy rocket will launch NROL-68 for the National Reconnaissance Office on. Consult a map for this concern. ) In every email inquiry Ive answered so far, Ive said to arrive no later than sunrise. Distance from the Visitor Complex to Pad 40 is 6.7 miles; to Pad 41 is 7.2 miles; and to Pad 39A is 7.4 miles. It also crosses I-95, allowing for easy access from the north and south alike. Your ticket with Star*Fleet has a rendezvous time. The launch is scheduled for approximately 9:40 a.m. EDT. They do not want traffic jams on the single-lane road leading to the beach, as it is also an access point for KSC employees. Another matter of note was the extent to which businesses were offering paid overnight parking. That made it less convenient for a lot of people to drop everything and come down. on the Banana River offers the clearest view in the Port Canaveral area. That wont be the case this weekend. Starlink Mission: SpaceX's 100th Successful Flight. The launch is currently scheduled for Saturday, September 3rd with a two-hour launch window opening at 2:17 p.m. and lasting through 4:17 p.m. pic.twitter.com/rWzw0jknYx. No direct launch pad view means that the launch pad itself, on the horizon, is obstructed by trees or something else. Party on, dudes. LZ-1 landings are 8.3 miles away. I get back as quickly as Im able, hell, I was answering an inquiry while I was in the emergency room last weekend. With the November 16th attempt finally closing in, its time to talk about how to watch it fly, again! FALCON FIRST STAGE LANDINGS AT LANDING ZONE 1, For some launches, the first stage of the Falcon rocket will return and land back at Cape Canaveral about eight minutes after liftoff. He writes about astronomy forNatural History magazine, theFarmers' Almanacand other publications. That sides a pain to climb even with my mountain bike geared down. Note also, that the huge Vehicle Assembly Building blocks the view of individual pads as seen from certain, very specific locations. Next closest is the Saturn V Center, accessible. The park has a $15 entrance fee per car ($5 for Brevard county residents) which must be. What about the best launch to come see? I won't be able to drive north to be on time at Cape Canaveral to see it. Twitter is the best place. Whether you choose to watch downtown from Space View, or point south like Manzo, Rotary Riverfront, or Kennedy Point, youll have a good time.
