SpaceX rocket launch this Tuesday: List of Florida’s best beaches, parks and sights

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Anyone up for dinner and a rocket launch? A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off Tuesday evening, carrying the Starlink Internet satellites.

Weather permitting, the rocket launch will be visible in the skies over the Treasure Coast and Space Coast on the night of Tuesday, June 4. Below is a calendar for upcoming rocket launches and how to watch the SpaceX rocket launch this weekend.

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Here’s what we know about the launch missions featured in FLORIDA TODAY’s frequently updated launch calendar for the month. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates, because they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons).

FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, offers interactive launch coverage at floridatoday.com/space with frequent launch updates at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission.

For questions or comments, email Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or tweet him @rickneale1 on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.

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A National Geospatial Intelligence Agency floating alert indicates a launch window will open Tuesday evening for SpaceX’s next Starlink mission from the Space Coast.

Here are some details about the upcoming launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket:

  • Mission: According to a geospatial and FAA advisory, this will be the Starlink 8-5 mission.
  • Start: 8:04 PM to 11:58 PM EDT Tuesday, June 4
  • Location: Launch of Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
  • Trajectory: EAST
  • Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

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
  • 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.
  • 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 in Vero Beach
  • Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach

The best views to see a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, otherwise known as the Space Coast, is along the beach.

Visibility in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, all part of the Treasure Coast, will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and follow rules posted on beaches. Look north. Here are some recommended spots, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to farthest:

Almost anywhere in Brevard, you’ll see a shot of a rocket launch. This includes Melbourne Beachwhich borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.

  • Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
  • Wabasso Beach Park1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso
  • 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
  • Fort Pierce Entrance905 Shorewinds Drive
  • Blind Creek by the beach North and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce
  • Blue Heron Beach2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce
  • Frederick Douglass Memorial Park3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
  • Dollman Park on the beach9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
  • Herman’s Bay Beach7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
  • John Brooks Park on the beach3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
  • Middle Bay Beach4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
  • Normandy Beach at Jensen Beach
  • Pepper Park on the beach3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,
  • Walton Rocks Beachwhich has a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
  • Waveland Beach10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
  • The Shelter House and the beach301 SE MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
  • State road A1A causeway in Stuart

Watching a rocket launch or waiting for that launch window while on the beach is a cool Florida thing to do.

In Volusia County, just north of Brevard County—home to the Kennedy Space Center and 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 see a rocket launch from here are along the beach. Look south. Readers have also reported seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended points:

  • South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), parking charges may apply. New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sand beaches. An eclectic and quirky 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.

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  • Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral Seashore National Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of boardwalk, according to Volusia County site. The riverside park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river near 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 Florida’s East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns onto State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
  • Oak Hill Riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
  • Sunrise Park275 River Road, Oak Hill
  • Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
  • Seminole Rest National Historic Site211 River Road, 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 site has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the City of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launch facilities.
  • AC Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, the city of Oak Hill says.
  • Bird Watching Fort on River Road opposite the AC Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation deck.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for the USA TODAY-Florida Network. Follow him I tweet or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

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