Astro RadarWatch a rocket launch from Florida
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, on Florida's Space Coast.
Next launches from Florida
- Amazon Leo LV-01 Vulcan VC6L · Space Launch Complex 41
- Cygnus CRS-2 NG-25 Falcon 9 · Space Launch Complex 40
Where people watch
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Three ticketed launch viewing areas, offered for some launches: the Main Visitor Complex, beside Space Shuttle Atlantis; the Banana Creek viewing area at the Apollo/Saturn V Center; and the Gantry at LC 39, the closest, sold in addition to daily admission and not used for launches from LC 39A or LC 39B.
Distances given by the Visitor Complex: Main Visitor Complex: SLC 41 7 mi (11 km), SLC 40 7 mi (11 km), LC 39A 7 mi (12 km); Banana Creek: SLC 41 5 mi (9 km), SLC 40 6 mi (10 km), LC 39A 4 mi (6 km); The Gantry at LC 39: SLC 41 2 mi (4 km), SLC 40 3 mi (6 km).
Can I see the next launch from here? It is 7 mi (12 km) from Space Launch Complex 41, well inside the 124 mi (200 km) at which a daylight launch is usually seen, so in clear weather the climb is in plain view; trees, buildings and the horizon can hide the pad itself.
Source: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Check it for hours, fees and launch day closures.
Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore
A National Park Service beach north of the Kennedy pads. The Park Service closes parts of it for some launches at the request of NASA Launch Security; for one LC 39A launch everything from parking area 13 south to the Playalinda Road Gate closed until the launch or a scrub. Check the park's notices before you go.
Can I see the next launch from here? It is 8 mi (12 km) from Space Launch Complex 41, well inside the 124 mi (200 km) at which a daylight launch is usually seen, so in clear weather the climb is in plain view; trees, buildings and the horizon can hide the pad itself.
Source: National Park Service. Check it for hours, fees and launch day closures.
Space View Park, Titusville
A Brevard County park on the Indian River in Titusville, across the water from Kennedy Space Center.
Can I see the next launch from here? It is 14 mi (22 km) from Space Launch Complex 41, well inside the 124 mi (200 km) at which a daylight launch is usually seen, so in clear weather the climb is in plain view; trees, buildings and the horizon can hide the pad itself.
Source: Brevard County. Check it for hours, fees and launch day closures.
Jetty Park, Port Canaveral
A Port Canaveral park at the mouth of the port, south of the Cape Canaveral pads.
Can I see the next launch from here? It is 12 mi (20 km) from Space Launch Complex 41, well inside the 124 mi (200 km) at which a daylight launch is usually seen, so in clear weather the climb is in plain view; trees, buildings and the horizon can hide the pad itself.
Source: Port Canaveral. Check it for hours, fees and launch day closures.
First launch?
- Launch times move and launches scrub, often on the day. Check the launch's page here, or the provider's, before you set off.
- Public areas near the pads can close for a launch. Check the place's own page on the day.
- The rocket is seen much farther than the pad: a daylight launch out to about 124 mi (200 km), a night launch's flame out to about 249 mi (400 km). Astro Radar works out where to look from your ZIP code (a modeled estimate).
- The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sells launch viewing for some launches; it lists only officially announced dates.
