What time is Cape Canaveral liftoff?

A “so Florida” factor to do is arising this vacation weekend: A SpaceX rocket launch.

SpaceX plans to ship a Falcon 9 rocket with a number of Starlink satellites into orbit Sunday, Aug. 31, the day earlier than the Labor Day vacation. And relying on climate and visibility, there could possibly be a present within the sky.

Liftoff for a Starlink launch is tentatively set the final day of August if issues go based on plan for the house company.

Rockets launch from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, Florida, in neighboring Brevard County, which is an hour east of the Orlando theme parks. Depending on cloud cowl, climate and visibility, folks from Daytona Beach to Melbourne Beach to Vero Beach may see a pleasant streak within the sky — given the proximity to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Below are ideas on the place to observe the rocket launch from this space and different issues to know. If there are modifications to the launch schedule, this story shall be up to date.

For questions or feedback, electronic mail FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For extra space information from the USA TODAY Network, go to floridatoday.com/space.

When is the following rocket launch in Florida? Sunday, Aug. 31: SpaceX Starlink 10-14

• Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch the following batch of Starlink web satellites into low-Earth orbit.

• Launch window: 7:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025

• Launch location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida

• Sonic booms for the Space Coast of Florida (Titusville, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne space): No

• Live protection begins 90 minutes earlier than liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: You can watch reside rocket launch protection from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY house reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will present up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly reside weblog, full with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/house, beginning 90 minutes earlier than liftoff. You can obtain the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is accessible within the App Store or Google Play, or sort floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

In Florida, we will greatest see a rocket launch in individual in case you’re anyplace on the Space Coast (Brevard County) or sure spots within the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County). Pro tip: If you do watch it in individual, get to your viewing vacation spot early and put together to remain later after the launch due to heavy site visitors.

Weather allowing and relying on cloud cowl, a SpaceX rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast could possibly be seen from Daytona Beach to Melbourne to Vero Beach. In some instances, a Falcon 9 rocket launch has been noticed as far south as West Palm Beach. When there’s a launch window in the midst of the night time or very early morning, there’s a chance for distinctive pictures — the rocket lights up the darkish sky and the contrail after makes for an ideal picture.

Can a rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral, Florida, be seen outdoors of Florida? Once once more relying on climate and on cloud cowl, sure. For instance, readers have submitted pictures or posted on social platforms photos of Falcon Heavy, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first phases, seen from Myrtle Beach.

A rocket launch generally is a deal with for the ears, too: On the Space Coast, a “rumble” might be heard or window-shaking might be anticipated in some elements of Brevard County after liftoff. And some rocket launches have an added bonus: The SpaceX boosters return to a drone ship within the Atlantic Ocean or, often, to the corporate’s touchdown zone at Cape Canaveral. If a booster returns to the touchdown zone, there is a sonic increase.

Best viewing spots to see NASA Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral, Florida, rocket launch

Pretty a lot anyplace in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch − in sure areas, you will get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. The greatest view to observe a rocket launch from the Space Coast is alongside the seashore. However, visibility will depend upon climate situations and folks ought to be sure to not block site visitors or rights of method on bridges and to observe posted guidelines at seashores.

If you might be viewing the launch alongside the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east immediately throughout the river.

If you might be farther south alongside the Indian River, look northeast.

Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff as a result of it’s nearly parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the seashore, look south alongside the shoreline, (you may even see the pad from some spots).

Some hotspots to take a look at:

• Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there is a cost to park.

• Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there is a cost to park, and entry to Canaveral National Seashore is not all the time granted relying on capability and time of day.

• Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is accessible on each side of Max Brewer Bridge.

• Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville

• Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville

• Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville

• Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (simply earlier than State Road 520 Causeway)

• Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island

• Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island

• Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port

• Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could possibly be parking prices.

• Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking price varies.

• Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a canine park, by the best way.

• Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could possibly be parking prices.

• Downtown Cocoa Beach, alongside Minutemen Causeway

• Tables Beach, 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach

• The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach

• Various parks, together with the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach

• Front Street Park close to Melbourne (U.S. 192) Causeway and U.S. 1 in Melbourne

• Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A

• Paradise Beach Park, aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (it is a beachside park)

• Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there’s a value to enter)

Where to observe a rocket launch in Indian River County, Florida

Sebastian Inlet State Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach, Florida (value to enter)

Wabasso Beach Park, 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso, Florida

Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach, Florida (free parking)

South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, Florida (free parking)

Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach, Florida

Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach, Florida

Where to observe a rocket launch in St. Lucie County, Florida

Pierce Inlet State Park, 905 Shorewinds Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida

Blind Creek Beachside North and South, 5460 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida

Blue Heron Beach, 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce, Florida

Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida

Dollman Park Beachside, 9200 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida

Herman’s Bay Beach, 7880 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida

John Brooks Park Beachside, 3300 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida

Middle Cove Beach, 4600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida

Normandy Beach in Jensen Beach, Florida

Pepper Park Beachside, 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce, Florida

Walton Rocks Beach, 6700 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida (canine park)

Waveland Beach, 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida

Where to observe a rocket launch in Martin County, Florida

House of Refuge and seashore, 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart, Florida

State Road A1A causeway in Stuart, Florida

Where to see Florida rocket launch in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach space

In Volusia County, instantly north of Brevard County — dwelling to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — you will get an ideal view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch. The greatest views to observe a rocket launch from listed below are alongside the seashore. Look due south. Recommended spots:

• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)

• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park.

• Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs alongside Florida’s East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To entry Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then journey east till it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.

• Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.

• Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill

• Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House again deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill

• Seminole Rest nationwide historic web site, 211 River Road, Oak Hill

• Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill

• Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill

• Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill

• Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill

• A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill

• Bird Observation Pier on River Road throughout from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above)

• Rose Bay in Port Orange, Florida

• seashores alongside New Smyrna Beach, Florida

• New Smyrna Beach Inlet, New Smyrna Beach lifeguard station

• Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, Florida

• Ormond-by-the-Sea in Ormond Beach, Florida

• George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater, Florida

This article initially appeared on Florida Today: What time is SpaceX Starlink rocket launch at Cape Canaveral, Florida?