- Falcon Heavy, consisting of three first Falcon 9 rocket stages, can be seen in Volusia County, weather permitting and cloud cover.
- Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to view the launch, as it runs nearly parallel to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Godspeed, Falcon Heavy!
The giant SpaceX rocket – more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 – may lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this week.
Do you see a rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral near Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast may be visible in the Volusia County area.
Here is the June calendar for upcoming rocket launches in Florida.
Below are suggestions on where to watch them and photos of past rocket launches as seen from the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange areas of Florida.
Here’s what we know. If there are any changes to the launch, this story will be updated.
Florida’s rocket launch calendar:Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions 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 SpaceX Falcon Heavy?
The Falcon Heavy consists of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages – which together provide three times the lift. The middle Falcon 9 is fully loaded with the rocket’s second stage and payload on top. The payload, in this case the NOAA satellite, is encased in fairings to protect it on its way to space.
By comparison, the Falcon 9 that launches Starlink missions is a single rocket. Only one of these single rockets with the second stage is 70 meters high and has a diameter of 3.5 meters.
With three of these Falcon 9 rockets, the monster Falcon Heavy is at the same height. However, it is much wider, giving it a width of 11 meters, which is comparable to almost three cars parked bumper to bumper.
How big is Falcon Heavy? What does SpaceX Falcon Heavy look like compared to Falcon 9 rockets?
Photo galleries accompanying this story show scenes from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch (morning, afternoon or night) from Florida’s Space Coast. Depending on the weather and cloud cover, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches can be seen across the Volusia County sky – morning, afternoon or night. Falcon Heavy has three Falcon 9 rocket first stages.
Weather radar for Daytona Beach, Florida. Will it cancel another rocket launch?
Shown is National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which displays 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, immediately north of Brevard County – home to the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station – you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look due south. Readers have also said they saw a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:
• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking fees may apply. New Smyrna Beach has 17 miles of white sandy 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 a launch:Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch, the best waterfront restaurants in Volusia County
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is located 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and a mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beach pride, according to the Volusia site County. The nearby riverfront park area is located on South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river at 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 the east coast of Florida in Volusia County and Brevard County. To reach Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249 and then drive east until it becomes State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
• Oak Hill riverbank is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
• Sunrise ParkRiver Road 275, Oak Hill
• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House rear deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Seminole Rest National Historic SiteRiver Road 211, Oak Hill
• Riverbreeze Park250 HH Burch Road, Oak Hill
• Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Facilities 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. Facilities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
• Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill. This location has approximately 300 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the City of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launch facilities.
• Municipal pier AC Delbert Dewees, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 500-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, according to the city of Oak Hill.
• Birdwatching pier on River Road across from the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 30-metre observation pier.
Rocket launch photo from Port Orange, Florida
Rocket launch photos from New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photos from Daytona Beach, Florida
Rocket launch photo from Ormond-by-the-Sea, Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her further Tweet or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.