When is the next missile launch from Florida? The mammoth SpaceX Falcon Heavy

The Falcon Heavy, made up of the first three stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, can be seen off the Space Coast, weather permitting.
Playalinda Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) is the closest place to watch the liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

Godspeed, Falcon Heavy!

SpaceX’s mammoth 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 outlying areas. Here’s more information about the rocket launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. If there are changes to the launch, this story will be updated.

Florida rocket launch schedule: Is there a departure today? SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center

Is there a missile launch from Florida? Next up is Tuesday, June 25: SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U

What is the SpaceX Falcon Heavy?

Falcon Heavy is the first three stages of the Falcon 9 rocket – which together give three times the height. The Falcon 9 hub is fully loaded with the rocket’s second stage and payload. The payload, in this case the NOAA satellite, is wrapped in fairing to protect it on its way to space.

By comparison, the Falcon 9 that launches the Starlink missions is a single rocket. Just one of these single rockets is 229.6 meters high with the second stage and has a diameter of 12 feet.

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 almost 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 galleries attached to this story show scenes of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket launches (morning, afternoon or night) from Florida’s Space Coast, which spans 72 miles of coastline from Mims and Titusville to Melbourne Beach and Grant-Valkaria.

The Falcon Heavy, which consists of three first stages of the Falcon 9 rocket, can be seen outside the Space Coast, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover.

Will it rain today in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida? Will weather cancel a rocket launch?

Featured is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows real-time conditions for the Space Coast and other parts of Florida.

Almost anywhere in Brevard, you’ll see a shot of a rocket launch. The best view to see a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should ensure they do not block traffic or rights of way on bridges and follow the rules in place on the beaches.

If you’re looking at the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river.

If you’re farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.

Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest place to see the liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. At the beach, look south along the shoreline, (you can even see the pad from some spots).

Some hot spots to check out:

Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there is a fee to park.
Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there is a fee to park and access to the Canaveral National Seashore is not always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
Park with a view from space8 Broad St., Titusville
Sand Point Park10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
Riverfront Rotary Park4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)
Cocoa Village, near parks and shops or near the docks
Various parks on Merritt Island
Carousel park1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road in Merritt Island
Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean in port
Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, parking charges may apply.
Cocoa Beach Castle401 Meade Ave Parking fee varies.
Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.
Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, parking charges may apply.
Cocoa Beach downtownalong Minutemen Causeway
Table Beach197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach
tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach
Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach
Pineda Street
Eau Gallie Causeway
Front Street Park near Melbourne (US 192) Causeway and US 1 in Melbourne
Indian promenade on Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A
Paradise Beach Parkaka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachfront park)
Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
Ambersands Beach Park12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
South Beach Park1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
Merrill Barber Bridge on the beach of Vero
Alma Lee Loy Bridge on the beach of Vero

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