- The Falcon Heavy, made up of three Falcon 9 rockets, can be seen from the Treasure Coast, weather permitting and depending on cloud cover.
Godspeed, Falcon Heavy!
SpaceX’s massive rocket — more powerful than the space agency’s Falcon 9 — will potentially lift off this week from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Can you see a rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral near Vero Beach or Stuart, Florida?
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, rocket launches from the neighboring Space Coast may be visible in the Treasure Coast area.
Below is a calendar of upcoming rocket launches and suggestions for where to watch them from Indian River County, Martin County and St. Louis. Lucie County. If there are changes to the launch, this story will be updated.
Florida Missile Launch Calendar:Is there a departure today? Future 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 launch (morning, afternoon or night) from Florida’s Space Coast. Depending on the weather and cloud cover, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launches can be seen in the Treasure Coast sky — morning, afternoon or night from parts of Indian River County, Martin County or St. Louis County. Lucy. (The Falcon Heavy has three Falcon 9 rocket first stages.)
Weather radar for Port St. Lucie, Florida. Will weather cancel a rocket launch?
The National Weather Service-Melbourne radar is displayed, showing real-time conditions for the Treasure Coast (Indian River Stake, Martin County and St. Lucie County) and other parts of Florida.
Where can you see a Florida rocket launch in Indian River County? What does the Treasure Coast rocket launch look like?
The best vantage points to see a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, known as the Space Coast, is here along the beach. Visibility in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, 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 posted rules 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 have a view 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
Photos of the rocket launch from Vero Beach, Florida
Photo of the rocket launch from Stuart, Florida
Photos of the rocket launch from Jensen Beach, Florida
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.
