Space

Here's How To Watch A Rocket Launch In Person

At a Glance

Rockets launch from several places in the U.S., but Florida has the most liftoffs and easiest access.
There are several viewing spots along Florida's Space Coast.
Weather often dictates whether a launch goes or is scrubbed.

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Seeing a rocket launch in person could be an amazing addition to your summer vacation.

Rockets launch from several places in the U.S. throughout the year, including Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

But Florida is king when it comes to your chances of seeing a rocket launch up and close and personal.

A record 72 launches took place last year at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, or KSC, and nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Of those, 24 were between May 1 and September 1, according to Florida Today.

The space center is located near Titusville in Brevard County, about an hour east of Orlando. The area is, appropriately, known as Florida's Space Coast.

When Is The Next Rocket Launch?

Launch dates are usually posted online about one or two weeks ahead of time, but sometimes earlier. Several websites update the schedules regularly, including Florida Today and SpaceflightNow. On launch day, those same websites as well as multiple social media feeds post live updates and schedule changes caused by technical problems or other issues.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries the company’s Dragon spacecraft on lift off from Florida with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission members aboard in this 5-minute long exposure taken on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
(NASA/Joel Kowsky) — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries the company’s Dragon spacecraft with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission members aboard in this 5-minute long exposure taken on Thursday, March 2, 2023.
(NASA/Joel Kowsky)

They'll also let you know if the launch includes a Falcon 9 booster landing. If so, make sure you stick around to see the booster (or sometimes two) glide back down to land, followed by sometimes massive sonic booms.

Where's The Best Place To Watch?

Tickets to the closest viewing areas sell out fast on the KSC visitor center’s website.

But there are dozens of free viewing spots within just a few miles. Some frequented by locals include beaches in the towns of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach. Causeways along State Road 528, also called The Beachline Expressway, as well as parks and public spaces in the town of Titusville are also great spots to watch.

One caveat: The Weather

“Summer in Central Florida is a combination of thunderstorms using organized chaos theory and brutally sultry heat and humidity,” weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles said. “Thunderstorms are common most afternoons and occasionally hurricanes can threaten.”

About half of all Florida launch scrubs are related to weather. The U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron posts launch-day forecasts that include the probability of a scrub due to things like storms, winds or lightning.

You’ll also need to keep a close eye on the heat in order to stay safe while viewing.

“Temperatures are in the 90s almost every afternoon, but it commonly feels closer to 100 degrees,” Belles said. “Have a heat and hydration plan if you're going to be outside.”

Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.