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Your Gateway to Space

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Always Exploring at The Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has its origins in 1963 when NASA allowed self-guided tours and later when congress approved funding for a full scale visitor center, Spaceport USA.

Today, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sits on 42 acres and is America’s front row view to space travel past, present, and future. Historic artifacts, Kennedy Space Center tours, astronaut encounters, rocket launches, and models and simulation of future space travel.

Check Off Your Bucket List

Seeing a rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast is on many people’s bucket list, and there’s no way for a civilian to get closer to the action than through special viewing options offered by the Visitor Complex. Common options for major launches include “Feel the Heat” which gives you a front row seat at the viewing area at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, only 6 miles from the closest pad. 

May 6, 2024

Atlas V N22 | CST-100 Starliner Crewed Flight Test

This is the first crewed test flight of Starliner spacecraft. It will carry NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station.

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-56

A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

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Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-57

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Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-58

May 30, 2024

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 8-4

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 8-5

Upcoming Space Coast Launches

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the best place to watch a rocket launch on Florida's Space Coast! Check out what's launching soon

Unique Experiences

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is packed full of attractions and artifacts from America’s Space Program. Some of the experiences include:

• U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame – Pay your respects to the great heroes of the United States Space Program and learn about the early days of our journey to the stars
• Apollo/Saturn V Center – Until you’ve stood under it, you cannot understand how massive the Saturn V rocket is. Relive the entire Apollo program with various exhibits built around America’s trip to the moon
• Space Shuttle Atlantis – There are only 4 real space shuttles on display across the country, and we have one here! Space Shuttle Atlantis is presented in all its glory with it’s bay doors open. Don’t miss the Shuttle Launch Experience ride and the full scale replica of the Hubble Space Telescope
• Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex – Step into the modern era of Commercial Government collaboration in space. Check out a real SpaceX Falcon 9 booster and other artifacts from NASA’s commercial partners. Then step into Spaceport USA ride where you can virtually journey to the stars

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive early: There is so much to do at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and so little time to do it. Guests are often disappointed that when they choose to arrive later in the day they end up missing out on large sections of the experience. Your family can explore for 2 days and still not run out of things to discover
• Plan Ahead: Knowing which exhibits you want to and planning your route can help those with limited time get the most out of KSCVC. The Visitor Complex sometimes offers special viewing options for major launches, and this is the best way to get up close to the action, but this is also one of the closest spots to view normal launches as well. If you can time your visit with a launch attempt there are sometimes speakers and events centered around them as well.

• Protect Yourself: While most of the artifacts are inside air conditioned buildings, a good chunk of time is spent out in the Florida sun and rain walking between major attraction areas. KSCVC is surrounded by nature and swampland, and as such, bugs can become an issue at certain times of the day. Check the weather and pack sunscreen, rain gear and bug spray as appropriate
• Know Your Peak Seasons:  Like other Florida theme parks, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is usually busier around the holiday season, and times when families have vacations. Plan your trip accordingly, pack your patience, and be prepared for slightly longer lines

Related Yearly Events

• Yuri’s Night – April: Party with your fellow space nerds, astronauts, and more and celebrate Yuri Gagarin (the first human to leave Earth) and all things Space!
• Space Coast International Air Show – April/May:  South Brevard’s premiere Air Show takes over the skies above Melbourne
• Cocoa Beach Air Show – April/May:  Enjoy the waves and sun, while some of the greatest aircraft in the world put on a show above Cocoa Beach
• Thunder on Cocoa Beach – April/May: Get your adrenaline pumping as power boats and other watercraft race to be king of Cocoa Beach
• Taste of Space/Marstini Shake-Off – Oct-Nov: Sample the special menu at the Visitor Complex and enjoy special food and drink events all month
• Holidays in Space – Dec: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex goes all out for the holidays with special exhibits and decorations

Want to Keep Living Like an Astronaut?

• KSCVC Featured Attractions (7)
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• KSCVC Featured Restaurants (8)
• Cocoa Beach (1)
• Melbourne and the Beaches (1)
• Port Canaveral (6)
• Titusville (11)

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Playalinda Brewing Company- Hardware Store

Nestled in a renovated, 100 year old hardware store in historic downtown Titusville, Playalinda Brewing Company first opened its doors in 2014. Named after the Space City’s go-to beach, Playalinda has since become a gathering place for both locals and visitors alike. The variety of beers on tap is constantly…

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Hyatt Place Titusville / Kennedy Space Center

Watch the next Rocket Launch without leaving your room at Hyatt Place Titusville Kennedy Space Center. Make yourself at home in one of our 110 rooms including 8 suites. Kick back in the Cozy Corner with sofa-sleeper, or get more space to stretch out with our 550-square-foot one-bedroom suite. We…

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Preacher Bar is an escape from the chaos of everyday life. Here you will find a restaurant unlike any other in the Cocoa Beach area. The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly, yet the menu is upscale featuring craft cocktails and mouth watering entrees. Choose from items like the Scotch eggs,…

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American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame

Home to amazing space artifacts that you’re likely not going to find anywhere else, the American Space Museum & Walk of Fame houses artifacts donated by individuals, astronauts and space workers. How does this place differ from Kennedy Space Center? Well, to start, if you don’t have a full day…

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Nestled in Titusville, Florida, the Courtyard Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Center offers modern comfort amidst the coastal landscape. The spacious rooms provide a sanctuary with special space-themed touches, plush bedding, and contemporary furnishings. Enjoy the large outdoor resort-style pool with a children’s splash zone, cabanas, and a poolside bar. Savor…

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Cape Crossing Resort & Marina

Cape Crossing Resort & Marina offers the option to step away from the crowds and into a smaller more private setting. Townhomes – offer private garages and personal access to the units.  These two-story units give plenty of room to self-isolate even within your own family.  Giving you much needed space…

Space Coast Launches App

Are you obsessed with space? Download our Space Coast Launches App to watch a live stream of every rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center & Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida.

• Locate the exact spot on the horizon to watch during a live rocket launch using the Compass feature.
• Countdown every second with real-time launch clock on the main screen.
• Keep track of upcoming missions including current launch schedule, in-depth mission plans and rocket details.

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See a launch up close.

View a launch from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

All launches in Florida begin their journey on the launch pads of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station or Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers the closest public viewing of launches, as well as launch commentary, bleacher seating and access to exhibits and attractions. Launch viewing tickets are available for some — but not all — launches, depending on date and time of the launch. Contact Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at (855) 433-4210 for information on purchasing tickets.

On the day of the launch, plan to arrive early; the visitor complex opens at 9 a.m. Expect high attendance at the visitor complex and increased traffic throughout the local area. This likely will be the case before and after the launch. Save time by  purchasing tickets online  and accessing them on your phone at the front gate.

Items to bring

• Sun protection: sunscreen, hats, umbrellas and sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• Soft-sided coolers or lunch boxes
• Water in plastic bottles
• Cameras, tripods and binoculars
• Blankets or umbrella-style folding camp chairs carried in shoulder bags

For more detailed information, please see these online resources:

• See a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• How to watch a rocket launch

Other primary launch viewing locations, from north to south

• Marina Park: 501 Marina Road, Titusville (restrooms, parking)
• Sand Point Park: 101 N. Washington Ave, Titusville (restrooms, parking)
• Space View Park: 8 Broad Street, Titusville (parking nearby)
• Manzo Park: 3335 S. Washington Ave (US 1), Titusville (restrooms, parking)
• Rotary Riverfront Park: 4141 S. Washington Ave (US 1), Titusville (restrooms, parking)
• Kennedy Point Park: 4915 S. Washington Ave (US 1), Titusville (restrooms, parking)
• Westbound SR 528 Causeway over the Banana River Park (well off the right-of-way, near the water)
• Jetty Park: East end of Port Canaveral off George King Blvd. (restrooms, parking)
• Cocoa Beach Pier: 401 Meade Ave., Cocoa Beach (restrooms, parking)
• Alan Shepard Park: East end of SR 520, Cocoa Beach (restrooms, parking)
• Fischer Park: East side of SR A1A, 1/2 mile south of SR 520, Cocoa Beach (restrooms, parking)
• Lori Wilson Park: 1500 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach (restrooms, parking)

*Note: Mariners and pilots can learn about launch hazard areas and restrictions by calling (800) 470-7232. The United States Coast Guard broadcasts this information on Marine Band Channel 16. 

Traffic and safety tips

• Plan accordingly by leaving home at the appropriate time to deal with increased traffic flow
• Do not pull off alongside the road
• Be mindful of wildlife and traffic when exiting and returning to your vehicle
• Obey all speed limits, traffic signals and road signs
• Follow directions from security, police and/or emergency personnel 
• Pack drinks to stay hydrated and snacks (launch windows can be long)
• Wear proper clothes for the weather (it can change quickly in the Sunshine State)
• Bring a flashlight or headlamp for evening and early morning launches  

Live coverage on NASA TV

Can’t be here in person? Check out  NASA TV  for live coverage of launches. Multiple satellite and local cable providers also offer  NASA TV . You can also view the live stream on the NASA App and the agency’s  website .

Information on upcoming launches

Click here for NASA’s most up-to-date launch schedule

Ultimate Delta IV Heavy NROL-70

Join Star Fleet to watch the mighty Delta IV Heavy launch on the historic final mission of the legendary Thor-Delta rocket family, after hundreds of flights spanning nearly 70 years. The new launch date has been confirmed as Tuesday, April 9 at 12:53 PM EDT (16:53 UTC) with the top-secret NROL-70 mission for the US National Reconnaissance Office.

For this extended launch window spanning over four hours, we will be targeting an ocean-side viewing location just southeast of the launch safety area near 28° 30'N, 80° 28' W . This is around 4 miles / 7 km offshore of the pad and in an ideal spot downrange of the trajectory, closer and clearer than any other available location. In the event our captain judges the sea conditions to be too choppy to safely and comfortably experience the launch from this position, we will still go ocean-side, just potentially not quite as close, to a maximum of 8 mi / 12 km away.

LATEST LAUNCH UPDATE : As of the evening of April 5, the launch is GO for 12:53 PM EDT April 9, in a window that stretches until potentially as late as 6:51 PM in case of any delays. Weather conditions are currently looking relatively good for an ocean-side viewing position, and we are committed ocean-side with the boat we have chartered. We plan to take the larger Ocean Obsession II vessel out for this launch, which will provide a higher, more stable and more comfortable launch viewing platform.

We've created a WhatsApp group that you're welcome to join, where folks are coordinating carpooling, accommodations, travel tips and more, as well as for updates from and questions direct to the Star Fleet organizers! Be sure to check our Twitter , Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates on all our activities, as well as announcements of smaller/informal trips, and feel free to reach out over DM if you're interested in a private charter for a specific mission. Thanks!

Rocket Launch Viewing

Price : $99/person Launch Date : Tuesday, April 9 at 12:53 PM EDT (16:53 UTC) Key Times : Checkin 10:30 AM | Boarding 10:45 AM | Departure 11:00 AM Location : Sunrise Marina, 510 Glen Cheek Dr., Port Canaveral, FL 32920

• Great location to view all the key events of the launch
• Ocean-side view from as close as 4 miles / 7 km from launch pad
• Clear view of pad, rocket, liftoff and ascent from both locations
• Ocean-rated, large 60-person charter-certified deep-sea vessel
• Free parking, a guaranteed spot and no need to show up many hours early DELAY/SCRUB POLICY: Bookings are generally non-refundable.
• If the boat is unable to go out on the launch date for any reason, we will issue you a full refund
• If a launch delay is officially announced prior to the published checkin time, your bookings remain valid for the new date
• If you can’t make the backup date, you will be responsible for selling your ticket to others on standby, and we can help facilitate that as well
• Once you are checked in, or if you are not on board by the published boarding time, your booking will be considered used and will be non-refundable
• If due to extenuating circumstances you are no longer able to make the current launch date and time, please contact us and we will do our best to take care of you

See our details page for more information.

Check back soon!

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🚀 The 7 Best Kennedy Space Center Tours [2024 Reviews]

If space exploration interests you, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is the best place on Earth to see real-life space vehicles. In this modern facility filled with dozens of interactive attractions, you can learn everything there is to know about space. You can even speak with a veteran of the American Space Program.

However, there are many Kennedy Space Center trips from Orlando. Not every KSC tour guarantees you’ll meet with a real astronaut or see an active launch pad.

To help you decide, we’ve selected the 7 top-rated Orlando Kennedy Space Center adventures and review them below.

Best Tours of Kennedy Space Center

Quick answer: the 7 best rated kennedy space center tours for 2024.

• Kennedy Space Center with Transportation from Orlando
• Kennedy Space Center Day Trip with Transport From Orlando
• Kennedy Space Center & Airboat Tour
• Kennedy Space Center Tour & Chat with an Astronaut
• Kennedy Space Center with KSC Explore Tour
• Kennedy Space Center: Ultimate Space Experience
• Kennedy Space Center: Space Pass Entrance Ticket

Kennedy Space Center Tour Reviews

1. kennedy space center with transportation from orlando.

• Departure Point : Hotel pick-up
• Departure Time : 7:30 AM
• Duration : 9 hours
• Includes : Transportation, KSC entrance, Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, Vehicle Assembly Building & Mobile Rocket Launch Platform bus tour, Shuttle Launch Experience, and KSP Visitors’ Complex

This is the best value Kennedy Space Center tour. It enables you to experience everything there is to do and see at the space center. Space enthusiasts will appreciate this full-day experience where you and your family can immerse yourselves in everything space related.

Visit the fascinating exhibit about the Hubble Telescope and then watch the Hubble 3D IMAX movie. This opens your eyes to the distant stars, solar systems, and galaxies we can now view from Earth with the aid of this amazing technology.

Once you’ve seen where humankind is headed, see how we might get there. Enter the amazing Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit where you’ll come face to face with a real-life Space Shuttle that once flew in space and docked with the International Space Station (ISS). This exhibit also reveals the history of NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle Program.

There is so much to see at the Kennedy Space Center, and the bus tour of the Mobile Rocket Launch Platform and Vehicle Assembly Building enables you to appreciate the huge scale of this space-faring endeavor.

With transport from local resorts and full access to all of the Kennedy Space Center’s many exhibits and visitors’ complex, this is the best Kennedy Space Center adventure from Orlando for any space-loving family.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience, 2. kennedy space center day trip with transport from orlando.

• Departure Point : Hotel pick-up available
• Departure Time : 8:00 AM
• Duration : 10 hours
• Includes : Transportation, KSC entrance, Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, Vehicle Assembly Building & Mobile Rocket Launch Platform bus tour, Shuttle Launch Experience, KSP Visitors’ Complex, and dine with an astronaut

This Orlando Kennedy Space Center trip is ideal for the truly space-obsessed family. It offers the unique opportunity for you to dine with a genuine astronaut!

Have you ever dreamed of speaking with someone who has experienced living and working in a vacuum and without gravity? With this unique “dine with an astronaut”, you can. You and your kids can ask all those questions you always wanted to when you come face-to-face with one of the few people on Earth qualified to give you the answers you seek.

This long-day excursion to the Kennedy Space Center also gives you a behind-the-scenes experience at NASA’s launch headquarters. You’ll see the Space Shuttle launch pads from the vantage of a 4-floor observation deck.

In some of the many exciting exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center, you can take the helm of a Space Shuttle, reenact Neil Armstrong’s famous “giant step for mankind”, and feel what it’s like to float in outer space.

This is the best Kennedy Space Center excursion from Orlando for a fun-packed family adventure that ticks all the space-lover’s boxes. Before you go, make sure you write a list of all the questions you want to ask a space veteran.

3. Orlando: Kennedy Space Center and Airboat Tour

• Duration : 12 hours
• Includes : Transportation, KSC entrance, Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, Vehicle Assembly Building & Mobile Rocket Launch Platform bus tour, Shuttle Launch Experience, KSP Visitors’ Complex, meet an astronaut, and go for an airboat ride

This is the best Kennedy Space Center tour for anyone who also wants to experience the wonders of nature in Florida’s swamps. It features a 30-minute airboat ride along the St. Johns River and Lake Poinsett.

Hang onto your hats as your airboat tears along the river at adrenaline-pumping speeds of up to 45 mph. Once you’ve reached the best location to observe the unique flora and fauna of this special wilderness area, your boat will slow to a crawl as you snap photographs of cypress knees, wading birds, and, of course, alligators.

But you didn’t come to this part of Florida just to admire the amazing wildlife. At the Kennedy Space Center, you’ll get to walk beneath the giant Saturn V moon rocket and meet a real-life astronaut. This is your chance to ask anything you want about space when you meet a person who really knows the answers.

You’ll need all day to take in the many interactive exhibits at the space center. The highlight must be the Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit. At this unique exhibit, you’ll come face-to-face with a vehicle that entered space no less than 33 times during its 26-year career.

Get your cameras ready for the greatest adventure of your lives. Unless you’re chosen for the first manned mission to Mars, this Orlando space center adventure will be the closest you ever get to space.

4. Kennedy Space Center Tour and Chat with an Astronaut

This is the best Kennedy Space Center trip for people who want to experience what it’s actually like to be an astronaut. The latest interactive technology enables you to become an astronaut aboard a virtual space shuttle.

Arguably, the most thrilling experience is strapping yourself into the shuttle cockpit as you prepare for the countdown to an imminent launch. Feel the trepidation as you listen to the countdown and anticipate the chemical reaction and associated acceleration kick.

Be extremely careful as you pilot the space shuttle during a virtual extravehicular activity and dock your shuttle with the International Space Station. And when your flight is over, you have the arduous and dangerous task of gliding your shuttle to a landing on the re-entry slide.

But this Kennedy Space Center tour isn’t all virtual. You’ll get to speak and eat with a real-life astronaut. What’s more, you’ll see genuine space vehicles on display, including the rockets that took men to the moon and the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

This full-day Kennedy Space Center adventure is perfect for families who love everything space-related. There will not be a single dull moment, and you’ll likely want to visit again as soon as possible.

5. Kennedy Space Center With KSC Explore Tour

• Departure Time : 8.45 AM
• Includes : Transportation, KSC entrance, Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, Vehicle Assembly Building & Launch Complex 39A bus tour, Shuttle Launch Experience, and KSP Visitors’ Complex

This is the best Kennedy Space Center tour for visitors interested in the future of space exploration. This Orlando space excursion includes a visit to the launch pads now used by NASA’s new commercial partners, such as ULA and SpaceX. Witness with your own eyes the place history is made today.

This special space excursion from Orlando begins with an astronaut meet and greet welcome. You’ll get to speak with a real-life astronaut and learn firsthand about their experiences in outer space.

After an orientation tour, you are free to explore the many exciting interactive exhibits around the space center. This includes the Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit where you will see a genuine space shuttle posed as it appeared in space with its payload bay doors open and its camera boom extended.

A variety of high-tech simulators enable you to experience many of the more exciting parts of space exploration. Strap yourself in for a takeoff, practice the delicate maneuvers of docking the space shuttle with the International Space Station, and find out how it feels to float in a zero-gravity environment.

With many other exciting exhibits to experience, including 2 IMAX films and the Saturn V Rocket, there’s plenty to do and see during this day-long Florida space adventure. Get ready to make memories that will last a lifetime.

6. Kennedy Space Center: Ultimate Space Experience

• Departure Time : 8.30 AM
• Includes : Transportation, KSC entrance, Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, Discover KSC bus tour, Shuttle Launch Experience, KSP Visitors’ Complex, and lunch with an astronaut

If you prefer fully guided tours, this is the best Kennedy Space Center trip for you. It features the Discover KSC bus tour. On the Discover KSC bus tour, you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, and your bus accesses areas not seen on the regular launch pads bus tour.

This tour also provides you with the enviable experience of eating with an astronaut. An astronaut from NASA’s space program will join you for a buffet lunch and tell you about their experiences in training and in space. If your kids dream of becoming astronauts, this is their best opportunity to find out what it’s really like from someone who knows.

After the bus tour and lunch, take the time to fully explore the Kennedy Space Center. Walk under the mammoth Saturn V Space Rockets and go to visit the Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit. Nowhere else on Earth will you find so many genuine space vehicles on display.

With the latest interactive exhibits to experience, you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful time. Be an astronaut for the day and maybe prepare yourself to sign up for the first manned mission to Mars.

7. Kennedy Space Center: Space Pass Entrance Ticket

• Departure Point : 1275 NE 79th Street, Miami
• Departure Time : 7:00 AM, 2:00 PM
• Duration : 4 or 8 hours
• Includes : Boat charter, life vest & safety equipment, fishing gear, lures, fishing licenses, and cold bottled water

This is the best Kennedy Space Center tour for space lovers who like to organize things for themselves. You arrange your own transport to the space center, but your ticket is valid all day so that you don’t need to rush.

The one event you must plan your day around is your buffet meal with an astronaut. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet with a veteran of the American Space Program who can tell you all about their experiences in outer space.

There are over 60 interactive exhibits in the Kennedy Space Center visitors’ center. These fascinating exhibits enable you to see real space vehicles and discover how they work. You’ll also have the chance to touch a rock brought back from the moon.

If you’re thinking of applying to join the first manned mission to Mars, don’t miss out on all the simulations around the center. You can discover what it’s like to blast off into space, experience weightlessness, and learn how to dock a space shuttle to the International Space Station.

The highlight of this Kennedy Space Center trip is the Discover KSC bus tour. A knowledgeable guide will take you around the space center on a 2-hour guided tour. You’ll see areas not covered by the regular space center bus tour as well as seeing the launch pads used by the space shuttles when they were in operation.

Spend all day at Kennedy Space Center and see all you can. When your time is up, you won’t want to leave. And you’ll definitely want to come back again soon.

Orlando, Florida Travel Guide

The kennedy space center.

• Traveling in the Time of COVID

Airports & Entry

Planning tips, restaurants & eating out, nightlife & entertainment, getting around, accommodations, attractions.

The city of Orlando is famous world-wide. Many who have never stepped foot in the US can point to this fascinating city’s location on a world map. But Orlando isn’t famous because of its history or fine architecture. Instead, it is so well known because of a simple business decision made by the Walt Disney Company in the late 60s to build Walt Disney World in its southern suburbs.

The opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 was followed by the construction of other major theme parks in the area, such as Fun Spot America, Universal Studios Florida, the Holy Land Experience, and Legoland. This makes Orlando the world’s capital for theme park fanatics.

But Orlando isn’t only about theme parks. It is also home to the internationally renowned Kennedy Space Center and a range of other cultural and educational sites. For example, there is Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Gatorland, and Orlando Museum of Art.

Orlando boasts easy access to a broad range of unique natural attractions. For example, it is a great base for exploring the fascinating wilderness areas of the Florida Everglades. You can enjoy a boat safari through this unique environment and admire the waterfowl and amphibians that make it their home.

The city is also surrounded by a near countless number of lakes, many of which are perfect fishing destinations. Florida is the sport-fishing capital of the world, and Central Florida around Orlando boasts the best freshwater bass fishing you can find. Thousands of keen anglers flock to Orlando every year to fish at Clear Lake, Lake Ivanhoe, Sarke Lake, Turkey Lake, Lake Underhill, Lake Tohopekaliga, and other fantastic angling spots.

Cape Canaveral on Florida’s eastern coast is less than an hour’s drive (55 miles) away from the city, making Orlando the best base for visiting the world’s most famous spaceport. Cape Canaveral has hosted space rocket experiments and exploration since 1949 when early rockets were tested here.

Since 1968, the Kennedy Space Center (KSS) has been the main launch site of NASA’s human spaceflight programs. Famous space missions such as the Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Skylab programs were based here. And today KSS is still a launch center for space flights, including the commercial SpaceX launches that so often feature in news reports.

Today, many iconic spacecrafts from NASA’s history are displayed at KSS, including the Space Shuttle Atlantis and a gigantic Saturn V space rocket. KSS also features a wealth of historical artifacts connected with space exploration and interactive attractions designed to entertain and educate the whole family.

Traveling in the time of COVID

Like many other destinations worldwide, some tours and visitor attractions in Miami may have adopted special procedures during the pandemic.

Wearing a mask may be mandatory in some locations, especially in enclosed public areas such as travel hubs and shopping malls. You may be expected to supply your own mask and wear it when you enter buildings.

It is in your own interest to keep your distance from other visitors who are not in your family group or bubble. You may be expected to keep your distance inside minibuses and other vehicles and when seated in restaurants.

At the time of writing, the State of Florida welcomes visitors but requires pre-travel testing for Covid-19 for visitors arriving from overseas not more than 3 days before traveling. Visitors must also sign an attestation that their documentation is genuine. Visitors will be required to hand over “covid-free” certification at the airport You can obtain the most up-to-date information directly from the Florida Health website.

The easiest way to travel to Orlando is by air. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a major travel hub for Central Florida. In 2019, MCO handled over 50 million passengers, though this dropped to 21 million in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Obviously, MCO is extremely busy 24/7. At the time of writing, the new South Terminal Complex is still under construction, which will help to handle the expected surge of visitors after the COVID restrictions are ended. However, even now, MCO has the well-trained staff and facilities to make your arrival and departure as painless as possible.

MCO is packed full of stores and restaurants alongside the other facilities you’d expect in such a busy airport. While many of the stores close by 5 pm and the restaurants by 8 pm, the Main Terminal McDonald’s is open from 5:30 am to 10 pm.

An interesting fact is that Orlando is the world’s biggest rental car market. You’ll find 10 major car rental companies at the airport on the Ground Transportation Level on the A-Side of the Terminal: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty. Avis, Budget, and Payless also operate on the B-Side. Given that MCO is only a short 15-minute drive from downtown Orlando and several of the local major attractions, renting a car is an easy option.

Lynx operate an airport bus service from the A-Side of the Main Terminal. Regular Shuttle Bus services operate from both the A-Side and the B-Side. Alternatively, taxis are available on both sides. You should expect taxi fares from MCO of around $45 to downtown Orlando and $65 to Walt Disney World.

If you are taking an international flight into Orlando, you will need your passport as well as authorization and your “covid-free” certification. If you play to stay fewer than 90 days, you will need an ESTA, Electronic System for Travel Authorization . This is a form of visa waiver.

Many people believe Orlando is the same year-round and an easy place to visit. Given that so many tourist-focused attractions are based around this city, this is partially true. However, there are some important facts you should take into consideration.

Here are a few tips. If you have questions about your visit that aren’t covered by this guide or other tips for visitors, leave us a message in the comments.

Tip #1: Go in Spring or the Fall

For fewer crowds and better weather, it is preferable to visit Orlando in the spring or the fall. If you must visit in summer due to your kids’ school holidays, go late in August when local children are back in school.

With 75 million visitors a year, there are always queues in Orlando. You should be prepared for this. Major US holidays should be avoided at any cost unless you want to be stuck in the longest queues at the airport and attractions. Especially avoid Spring Break, Thanksgiving, and Christmas — unless you have your heart set on seeing the special holiday season events and decorations.

Tip #2: Be Prepared for the Tropical Weather

When you see Orlando attractions on the TV or in films, the weather is always beautiful. There is a lot of truth to this. However, if you visit during the summer, it is important to prepare for the humidity and draining heat. The temperatures can reach as high as 100 0 F and the humidity 100%.

Brief but sharp thunderstorms are common, so light plastic ponchos you can don in a hurry are advisable. Ensure you use plenty of sunblock and consider wide-brimmed hats for added protection from the sun.

Tip #3: Enjoy Day Trip Tours but Book Ahead

With more theme parks and tourist attractions than any other city in the world, there are lots of tours available in Orlando. You might want to take a guided tour of the Kennedy Space Center or enjoy a safari in the Florida Everglades. However, with so many tourists pouring into Orlando, you should book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Tip #4: Spend at Least One Day in Nature

If you’re on vacation with your family, it’s tempting to spend all your time at theme parks. There are so many! However, if you do this, you will miss one of Orlando’s greatest benefits.

With the Florida Everglades on its doorstep plus more lakes than any other major destination, Orlando is a wonderful location for nature lovers. Whether you want to go kayaking on a lake, enjoy some quiet time fishing, or see the alligators in the Everglades, there are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors in Orlando.

Tip #5: Allow Plenty of Time at the Theme Parks

When you glance at those colorful park maps online, you might get the impression that you can walk from one ride to the next in a couple of minutes. Don’t be fooled! The Walt Disney World Resort, for example, is spread over an area of 47 square miles. It is not always practical to walk from one ride to the next and walking in the Florida sun can be tiring.

Allow plenty of time in your plans for enjoying all the rides and park attractions that you want to experience. And remember your young kids may become tired quicker than you expect in the tropical weather. Also note some rides and attractions are too scary for young children and some unsuitable for pregnant ladies.

As you can easily imagine, the large number of tourists regularly flocking to Orlando has given rise to a vast range of restaurants offering every kind of food you might want. Within the theme parks, there is a wide choice of fast-food outlets. However, these can be overpriced. Outside the parks, you will find many relatively inexpensive eating outlets.

A great place to visit is Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road. Here you’ll find the greatest range of choices in Orlando. Restaurant Row offers you the chance to sample some of this city’s finest restaurants and its culinary diversity.

Many seasoned Orlando visitors head for the restaurants for breakfast before hitting the theme parks. There are many “eat all you can” buffet-style restaurants that offer fantastic value for money.

In the afternoon and evening, watch out for Early Bird Specials. Because so many visitors stick to the theme parks until late, the restaurants outside the parks offer incentives to attract early diners.

Early Bird Specials are typically served at a la carte restaurants between 4 pm and 6 pm. Note that doggy bags are a norm in Florida a la carte restaurants, so don’t be shy about asking for one if you cannot finish your meal.

Also watch out for meal discount vouchers. You may find these scattered among the tourist leaflets at your hotel or even on display outside the restaurants. With the competition between eateries so intense, discount vouchers are common.

A quick visit to the Tourist Information Center will provide you with information about restaurants offering significant discounts and possibly a physical card that entitles you to discounts at participating restaurants. To encourage repeat visits, some restaurants offer an extra-large discount to returning customers who produce their last bill.

The profusion of theme parks in Orlando has led to an interesting broad range of evening dinner shows. If you ever wanted to attend a medieval banquet in a castle complete with jesters and jugglers, you’re in the right place.

Alternatively, eat with pirates or enjoy live wrestling while you eat. Whatever kind of entertainment you enjoy the most, you can probably find a dinner show in Orlando to suit you and your family’s taste.

Much like with the restaurants, the large number of visitors has given rise to a wide variety of nightlife in and around the city. You’ll find some of American’s top nightclubs, live music venues, and bars waiting to welcome you.

Two especially popular night spots are Disney Springs in Walt Disney World and Universal City Walk in the Universal Orlando Resort. These two locations offer a range of shows, bars, and night clubs to suit all tastes.

If you prefer a quiet evening and enjoy sampling unique craft beers, check out Orlando’s local brewery scene. There are many craft breweries to choose from, including the Crooked Can Brewing Co., Sea Dog Brewing Co., Ocean Sun Brewing, and Dead Lizard Brewing Co.

Due to the large number of visitors and the way the various theme parks are spread widely across the city, public transport is a viable way of getting around in Orlando. In fact, the LYNX bus is one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways of traveling within the city.

There are 60 LYNX routes that cost $2 per ride running at either 15-minute, 30-minute, or 1-hour intervals. And LYNX also operates a FREE loop bus service around downtown Orlando running every 5 minutes called LYMMO. Watch out for bus stops marked with a pink bus symbol or paw prints.

Many large Orlando hotels offer free shuttle bus services to the major theme parks and the airport. Check with your hotel before you travel.

If you’re looking for a more personal service from doorstep to doorstep, there are dozens of taxi companies in Orlando. The majority use a meter with a $2.23 standing charge followed by a $1.76 per kilometer rate. Uber is generally cheaper and growing ever more popular in Orlando.

However, as mentioned earlier, car hire is the most popular transport option in Orlando. This is a city designed with cars in mind, so the road network is well-built and maintained and there are ample parking facilities at all the major attractions. Driving yourself around offers the most flexibility and is the most convenient if you’re staying in a rented vacation villa.

Note that you’ll need a US or International Driving License to hire a car in Orlando. There are toll roads in the city, including the routes from the airport to Orlando’s main attractions. And the gas stations closest to the theme parks and the airport charge inflated gas prices.

With more tourists than residents, you’ll find a broad range of accommodation available in Orlando. There are thousands of rental homes close to the theme parks and major attractions, many with luxury amenities like a gym and a swimming pool. And there are over 450 resorts and hotels to choose from.

The best advice we can offer is to first decide what kind of accommodation best suits your family and then shop around. Generally, hotels inside the more popular theme parks will charge premium prices, and you can rent a villa a few miles from the gates for a fraction of the cost.

If you are traveling as part of a large family group, a vacation rental home will usually be your best value choice. But if you are traveling alone or just with your partner, you may find a hotel room more convenient and affordable.

The hotels are mainly clustered in three areas: International Drive, Kissimmee, and Lake Buena Vista.

If you are not hiring a car, International Drive (I-Drive) is your best option. Along the 11-mile length of I-Drive, you’ll find attractions, stores, restaurants, and hotels side by side. These attractions include The Orlando Eye, Aquatica, Sea World, and Universal Studios. Most of the hotels here offer free shuttle services to the major theme parks.

If you prefer somewhere quieter and away from the busy parks and attractions, you’ll like Kissimmee. It is only a short drive from Disney World and International Drive but far enough away to avoid the noise and crowds. You’ll find lots of high-quality vacation rental homes in this area. Kissimmee also makes a great base for exploring other parts of Florida beyond the city, such as the Kennedy Space Center.

If you’ve come to Orlando because you’ve always dreamed of visiting Walt Disney World and intend to spend most of your time there, stay in Lake Buena Vista. It is the most convenient location for reaching all 5 Disney Parks. Lake Buena Vista is also a prime destination for outlet shopping and golfing.

As mentioned earlier, Orlando benefits from fine sunny weather year-round, but there are distinct seasonal variations. Orlando’s weather can be summarized into two seasons: one warm and dry, the other hot and wet.

From mid-October to April, the weather is typically warm and dry, with daily temperature maximums ranging from 70 0 F to 84 0 F and minimums from 49 0 F to 65 0 F. There is little rainfall during this period.

From May to mid-October, the weather tends to be hot but wet. The average daily temperature maximum hovers around 90 0 F and the minimum around 75 0 F. During the summer, there are frequent rainstorms that are short but sharp.

While hurricanes rarely hit Orlando, there is a small risk. The hurricane season occurs toward the end of the summer between mid-August and mid-October. There are often bargain vacation deals offered during this period, but it’s a good idea to check the Orlando weather updates before visiting.

Orlando boasts the world’s best selection of major theme parks and other must-see attractions, such as the Kennedy Space Center, the Holy Land Experience, and Central Florida Zoo.

You can’t possibly see everything during a single visit. Here is a brief selection of highlights.

Walt Disney World

It’s no big secret that the majority of tourists headed for Orlando go there to see the mouse. Walt Disney World is the world’s most visited resort welcoming 58 million guests per year before the pandemic.

Walt Disney World is divided into four parks, of which Magic Kingdom is the best known. That’s where you’ll find Cinderella’s Castle and all your favorite cartoon characters. Epcot Spaceship Earth is where you can visit other countries and experience different cultures.

The Hollywood Studios park offers visitors an insiders view of movie magic. There you can tour movie studios, see stunt people in action, and watch live special effects. If you’re interested in African animals, you’ll love the Kilimanjaro Safari Experience at Animal Kingdom where you can see big game animals running free in their natural habitats.

Universal Studios Florida

Not to be outdone by Disney, Universal Studios offer a combined working movie studio and theme park experience in Orlando designed with the help of Steven Spielberg.

There are 7 themed islands withing Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Each island is dedicated to a major theme franchise, such as the Marvel Superhero Island and the Jurassic Park Island. There you can meet your favorite movie characters and enjoy thrilling themed rides.

Many younger visitors are lured by the magic of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here you’ll find Hogsmeade village, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Orlando Sea World

This world-famous sea life center is renowned for its huge aquariums where you can enjoy whale and dolphin shows. A behind the scenes tour is a great way to learn about marine conservation as well as seeing the baby dolphins at play.

Sea World also features adrenaline-pumping rides including a selection of refreshing water rides. Those who enjoy roller coasters will be eager to ride the Kraken Virtual Reality Coaster, the Manta Coaster, and the Mako Hyper Coaster.

While you’re in Florida, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to get up close and friendly with a whole bunch of crocodiles, alligators, and other reptiles. Gatorland features daily shows and demonstrations where you can learn all there is to know about Florida’s most famous animals.

Gatorland also features 2 exciting ziplines: the Gator Gauntlet and the Screamin’ Gator. These ziplines zip you through the air over the crocodile and alligator pens. You might also enjoy the self-guided swamp walk and the Gator Gully Splash Park for younger visitors.

Tour Guides

The Ultimate Space Pass is our Editor's Choice for the best tour of the Kennedy Space Center

Robert Baker

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Rocket Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral

The best launch viewing guide on the internet since 2005.

Cape Canaveral is busier than ever, with record numbers of orbital launches the last couple of years.

This is the place for accurate information on where to watch:

Falcon 9, Atlas V, Vulcan, Starship, SLS, Delta IV-Heavy, Terran, New Glenn and other rockets.

UPDATED MAY 2, 2024

For quick info, just read this section

NEXT LAUNCHES & BEST PLACES TO WATCH

Atlas 5, first Starliner crew, May 6 @ ~10:34 p.m. EDT : Tickets are on sale for viewing from the Saturn V Center (5.4 miles, closest possible view). Otherwise, Port Canaveral (12.9 miles on 528 over the river) and Titusville (13.2 miles, best view on top of the Max Brewer bridge at Parrish Park) will be the best places to view.

Falcon 9, May 6 @ 11:34 a.m.-3:34 p.m. EDT (pad 40) : The KSC Visitor Complex should have viewing with admission from the Saturn V Center (6.3 miles, clear view). Playalinda Beach (6.3 miles at fence if allowed, or 7.2 at parking lot one) is otherwise the best place to view this launch. The Visitor Complex itself (6.7, no pad view) is another option, as are Port Canaveral (Rt. 528 over the Banana River, 11.6 miles with a clear view) and Titusville (13-14 miles) on the Max Brewer bridge, also with a clear view.

Falcon 9, May 7 @ 11:08 a.m.-3:34 p.m. ET (pad 39A) : Playalinda Beach (3.6 miles at parking lot one) is the best place to view this launch. The KSC Visitor Complex should have viewing with admission from the Saturn V Center (3.9 miles, clear view), as well as from the complex itself (7.4 miles, pad itself behind trees). Otherwise, the best view is Titusville, on top of the Max Brewer bridge or Parrish Park (11.3-12 miles) or along the river shore elsewhere (12), or at Port Canaveral on Rt. 528 (14.2), all of which offer clear views of the pad.

MORE UPCOMING LAUNCHES

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on May 6 at 11:34 a.m.-3:34 p.m. EDT . A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on May 7 at 11:08 a.m.-3:08 p.m. EDT . Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

ATLAS V & VULCAN

The next United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed astronaut mission to the ISS on  May 6 at ~10:34 p.m. EDT . The launch time gets ~22-26 minutes earlier each day. The next Vulcan rocket, flying its second mission, is scheduled for later this year.

Spectators watching a Falcon 9 night launch

Crowds watch an Atlas V lift off from Playalinda Beach

WHERE TO GET LIVE UPDATES

X is the best place. Here are a few accounts to stay updated on launch day:

@SpaceflightNow

@NASASpaceflight @SpaceX @ULAlaunch

You can watch a live webcast of every launch on your smartphone. They can be found at 1) SpaceflightNow.com for most launches, 2) at spacex.com for Falcon launches; ulalaunch.com for Atlas, Vulcan and Delta launches, or 3) on NASA TV for launches of any rocket if it is carrying a NASA payload. Keep in mind the webcast is usually on a delay of anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds or more, so the launch may take place while they still appear to be counting down.

If you have further questions, or want to know how to photograph launches, ask!

Finally, you can keep track of future Cape Canaveral launch dates right here on this page, or on the Spaceflight Now  launch schedule . If you have further questions, or want to know how to photograph launches, please  ask .

A Pad 39A Falcon 9 viewed from Playalinda Beach. Photo via Walter Scriptunas II

Reference map may best be viewed on larger screen; use zoom on phone

LAUNCH VIEWING FAQ

Where do the dates above come from and why don't other websites match?

The launch dates listed above are sourced from publicly available information only and are updated as soon as possible once such public information is available. This website is probably the most up-to-date place to see accurate dates. Sources include announcements by NASA, SpaceX, ULA (and other launch providers) as well as announcements by the U.S. Space/Air Force and commercial satellite customers, plus publicly-available launch hazard advisories issued for aviation and maritime purposes. They also come from trusted news media websites such as SpaceflightNow.com and other media sources if launch or satellite providers announce new dates publicly, such as with media advisories and press conferences. On occasion a new date may not appear here right away for various reasons.

Why do NASA.gov and KennedySpaceCenter.com not have all these dates or show different dates?

NASA.gov is the official NASA website and only lists launches that are run by NASA or have NASA payloads onboard. Years ago, they used to note the other launches or at least explain why they don't show the rest, but unfortunately NASA no longer even mentions other launches even if they take place at KSC. While the public thinks of all things space in terms of NASA, the MAJORITY of launches from Cape Canaveral are actually not NASA related. They are conducted by private companies such as SpaceX and ULA and launch payloads for the U.S. military/Department of Defense and for private entities such as television and mobile companies.

KennedySpaceCenter.com is not a NASA website, but rather the official website of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, operated privately and which runs the museum and bus tours in cooperation with NASA. More often than not, they do not post launch dates until very close to the launch time. They do not maintain a schedule of launches and are not recommended for keeping track of dates, only for buying tickets to view closer when applicable.

Where is the best place to view a launch? Sounds like a simple question?

It's not, really. It's only simple if you just want to see it from anywhere and don't care too much about how far you are.

Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center is a HUGE place, spanning approximately 17 miles north to south, and 12 miles east to west in terms of launch pads and the public viewing areas around the edges (see map above). Each of the rockets takes off from a different launch pad and every launch takes place at a different time of day. Therefore, the best place to view each launch depends on those factors. Which launch pad it is means different viewing spots are better. The time of day can determine whether a closer place (like Playalinda Beach) is open or not. And for many launches, the option to buy tickets from the Visitor Complex to get closer is also a factor. Depending on who you are, you might also have a preference to "simply get closer" or "I want to be the closest while still having a clear view of the pad so I can get good photos!" Some closer spots have obstructed views of the launch pad, with trees or other things in the way (sometimes the Visitor Complex is the closest place, but there is no clear view of any pad from there; rather you see the rocket about five to ten seconds after launch when it clears the tree line).

What about the best launch to come see? And how do I plan ahead?

The way to plan ahead is to be flexible and get flexible airline tickets if you are traveling, if at all possible. The good news is, it's so busy now that chances are high there will be a launch during your trip to the area. But if you want to see a specific launch, stay on top of the dates; keep checking back for delays and be ready to change your plans. In my opinion, the best launches to come to aren't necessarily the biggest ones. It's the best combination of getting the closest and also being either a night or twilight launch. If you have to be far away, or won't know until you get here, try and target a night or twilight launch. Also even better these days are those Falcon launches that return to land after first-stage separation. But they are not as common or always known far in advance. Contact me for more tips on this FAQ.

What is the deal with Playalinda Beach being open or closed at random sometimes? UPDATED OCTOBER 2023: Playalinda Beach sometimes closes without warning and without any predicable scenario, and the information they provide on closures and normal operating hours contradicts itself in places. The park generally opens at 6:00 a.m. ET year-round, and closes at either 6 or 8 p.m. ET depending on the season. They used to make the change with daylight savings time, but in 2023 they switched to the 6 p.m. closure in mid-October. When does the beach close otherwise? Previously, never open for crewed launches. But more recently, it was open for the Axiom-1 private crew mission and then the NASA Crew-5 mission in October 2022. (The beach will NOT be open for any launches of the SLS ever, because it is far too close to the pad.) The beach is generally never closed for any launches from pads other than 39, though on rare occasion it has been in the past if the payload was sensitive, such as planetary spacecraft or rovers powered by nuclear generators. It sometimes also closes without warning for Dragon cargo missions from pad 39A, due to wind/weather conditions posing a safety hazard.

The beach also sometimes closes after parking lots have filled up. Notices are sometimes issued before launches to the public warning that they will close access to the road to the beach once parking lots are at capacity. They do not want traffic jams on the single-lane road leading to the beach, as it is also an access point for KSC employees. The notices sometimes suggest that they will close 'when capacity is reached, or one hour before launch, whichever comes first.'

When the beach is closed for launch, the road block is set up just east of the Max Brewer Bridge/Parrish Park in Titusville.

What about KARS park, or those bleachers on Rt. 401 outside of the South Gate to the Space Force Station?

These are the two other sites I am asked about most frequently. Because of the small capacity of these locations, an increase in viewers could cause them to close in the future (and the bleachers are now closed as of Fall 2023).

KARS park is a NASA-run recreation site off State Road 3 just north of Rt. 528. It's a fairly large area with grass and trees along the water, and RV park sites. However, they do now offer the public the opportunity to come in and watch launches for a small $5 cash fee (information current as of mid-2023). It offers a clear view of most pads, though not 39, and a small advantage in some cases (for example, for Falcon 9 launches off pad 40, the distance is 10.2 miles instead of 11.6 down at Rt. 528). If too many people begin to show up for viewing here in the long-term, however, it may no longer be allowed.

As I predicted would happen, the bleachers on Rt. 401 are now permanantly off limits due to safety concerns and multiple traffic accidents following an increase in visitors.

What about other sites, or can I see the launch from Orlando Miami etc?

The focus of this website are the spots that are simply the closest and/or offer the clearest view for photos. As long as skies are clear, night launches are easily visible from anywhere in Florida and sometimes further up the U.S. coast, especially at twilight. Daytime launches are also visible from afar, if you look closely.

What about all those other roads that look closer on the map? Please do not try to view launches from Rt. 402/406 outside of Playalinda or along Rt. 405. Please check out the map above which has been annotated with markers noting where you cannot go, specifically where the gates to Kennedy Space Center are located. Any roads inside of these gates are not accessible to the public. Outside of this, other roads lead to private or government property and pulling over in your car is not permitted. For example, Route 401 down near Cape Canaveral was closed to launch viewing for good in 2018. The small bleacher stand near the gate to the Cape is also no longer allowed as of 2023. Similarly, viewing along the Rt. 405 causeway leading from Titusville to the Kennedy Space Center is not allowed. If you stop here you may be chased away by security without warning. Rt. 406/402 and S.R. 3/Kennedy Parkway North leading to Playalinda Beach is a very narrow road with no shoulder, lined with canals and high tree growth on all sides. This is not a launch viewing location and you risk being chased away by security if you attempt to park here, and you also make it difficult for employees to get to work on time. It's worth noting that if too many people begin to view launches from these types of locations, they may be closed off in the future completely. Please also avoid locations such as the cruise ship parking decks at Port Canaveral, which are deemed off limits for this use by Port authorities.

Why are SLS and Pad 39B or others not mentioned in the detailed section below?

SLS is only expected to launch every year or two. I will provide details as launch approaches in the top section. Other rockets that may launch here in the future will be added only when they become frequent, such as Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket from Complex 36.

What does it mean when you write "no direct launch pad view"?

No direct launch pad view means that the launch pad itself, on the horizon, is obstructed by trees or something else. And so when the launch takes place, you cannot get that great classic photo of the rocket lifting off from the pad with the pad and horizon in it. Instead, you will see the rocket as soon as it clears the trees or other obstruciton, within a few seconds of launching. For photos, it means you can only get a closeup shot of the rocket and sky behind it, or perhaps an undesirable foreground object.

A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED PADS

If you just want a quick summary of upcoming dates and the best places to watch them, stick to the top of this page. If you want to learn more details on viewing sites and the differences between the launch pads relative to them, keep reading. This section will be periodically updated as new rockets take off from different launch pads, depending on how often they launch.

This first section gives visitors an overview on the best places for each type of rocket and launch pad. The second section further down this page gives more details on and more of an overview based on the viewing sites specifically. Just make sure you know what rocket it is that you are planning to go see lift off, because the first thing to learn is that each one is different and takes off from a different location, with each of these launch pads separated by miles in a south-to-north direction.

FALCON LAUNCHES FROM PAD 39A

Falcon 9 rockets launch from two pads. One is pad 39A ( 28.608 N, 80.604 W ), formerly the home of the Space Shuttle from 1981 to 2011 and the Apollo Saturn V from 1967 to 1973. The closest place to view a 39A launch is Playalinda Beach at 3.6 miles, when open. Spectators are allowed to watch from the beach parking lot areas (3.6 miles distance at parking lot one, 4.0 by lot four), and sometimes may walk down the beach to get closer (2.7 miles at the fence). Playalinda Beach is normally open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during daylight savings time summer hours or 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during standard time winter months (Note: In October 2023, they made the switch to 6 p.m. closure several weeks earlier than usual), and closes for some Falcon launches including most crew launches. Next closest is the Saturn V Center, accessible with KSC Visitor Complex tickets , at 3.9 miles away. Tickets are not sold for every launch, however, and are usually available only for late-night launches for bigger launches like astronaut crews or Falcon Heavy. At 7.4 miles but with no direct view of the pad, is the Visitor Complex itself, available with tickets. If none of those are open, Titusville is the best place to view Falcon 9 launches from pad 39A, at 11.3 to 12 miles away. The best spot, specifically, is on top of the Max Brewer Bridge (Rt. 406) which leads towards Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Playalinda Beach. Anyplace along the river in Titusville is good, with clear views. Finally, Port Canaveral (Rt. 528), at over 14 miles away, is another option. When the Falcon 9 first stage is scheduled to make a land-based landing back at the Cape, however, you should consider watching from Port Canaveral because it has a much closer view of the landing and therefore is a good spot for both. The same goes for watching from Jetty Park pier and beach. More info below.

Update, August 2023: A note for photographers or anyone else who likes the view of the pad to be perfectly clear. As seen from the Max Brewer bridge, there is now a building under construction between you and pad 39A that blocks a portion of the launch pad. The view is a little better on the lower east and west ends of the bridge.

FALCON LAUNCHES FROM PAD 40

Falcon 9 rockets also launch from Complex 40 ( 28.562 N, 80.577 W ). For Pad 40, the best spot for Falcon 9 launches when available is the LC-39 Observation Gantry, at just 3.4 miles away, via tickets sold through the KSC Visitor Complex. Playalinda Beach (6.3 miles at fence if allowed, 7.2 at parking lot one, at least partially obstructed views in most places) and the Saturn V Center (also 6.3 miles but clear view) are also options. The Visitor Complex itself is 6.7 miles from the pad but offers no view of the pad itself (obscured by the tree line). Port Canaveral's Route 528 (11.6 miles) is the closest and best spot otherwise, and the best place to go for off-hours launches. The Port area is also best if the launch includes a first-stage landing. The same goes for watching from Jetty Park pier and beach. More info below.

FALCON FIRST STAGE LANDINGS AT LANDING ZONE 1

For some launches, the first stage of the Falcon rocket will return and land back at Cape Canaveral about eight minutes after liftoff. Landings take place at Landing Zone 1, which used to be called Launch Complex 13 ( 28.486 N, 80.545 W ), used from the 1950s-70s. As the pad is about 5.6 miles south of Complex 40 and 9.2 south of pad 39A, the best viewing is different than for launch. The best place to see the landings (if you prefer to be closer to landing than launch) is Jetty Park, which is 6.0 miles from the landing site (but from which launch pads 40 and 39 are much farther and not directly visible themselves). Alternatively you can stick with Port Canaveral (Rt. 528), and be 8.3 miles from landing and have a clear view of both launch pads even though they are 10-13 miles away. From the Saturn V Center (11 miles), landings are mostly visible but will come down behind or between buildings on the horizon. Playalinda Beach (12.8 miles) and other northern areas are not recommended if viewing landing is your concern due to their distance, but you can still see them. For photographers looking to get a great photo of the landing specifically, it is rather difficult to achieve a clean shot from any location, but Jetty Park is the best one. Port Canaveral is the best place for a photographer to get a decent shot of both launch and landing combined. It is now possible to view landings and some launches from off-shore on a boat.  Star Fleet Tours  is offering viewing from what appears to be the best location yet in terms of a clear shot of the landing. The distance to the landing zone from the boat is similar to on land.

ATLAS & VULCAN LAUNCHES FROM PAD 41

Atlas V & Vulcan rockets launch from Pad 41 ( 28.583 N, 80.583 W ). The closest possible launch viewing of any rocket launch from Cape Canaveral is offered for these sometimes, at just 2.3 miles away at the "LC-39 Observation Gantry", by buying tickets through the  Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex . Keep in mind this site could deemed off-limits at the last minute due to wind direction (a safety concern) because of the short distance to the pad, but this has only happened a couple of times so far. Playalinda Beach is the next closest place, and also is the best spot outside the space center, at just 4.8 miles from the launch pad once you walk down the beach (5.7 from the first parking lot area). It is also the closest free or low cost (national park entrance fee) viewing site. However, it is not open for night launches (operating hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during daylight savings time summer months, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during standard time winter months. although in October 2023 they switched to the 6 p.m. closure time in mid-October). The Saturn V Center (5.4 miles), another stop on the KSC Visitor Complex tours, is an excellent option as well for Atlas V launches, accessed by taking the bus tour at the Visitor Complex with launch day tickets. The Visitor Complex itself is 7.1 miles away, but offers no direct line of sight to the pad itself, which is behind the tree line. You'll see it once it lifts off. For off-hours/night launches, when no tickets are being sold by the Visitor Complex and Playalinda Beach is closed, the best options for Atlas V launches are Port Canaveral on Route 528, or on the river in Titusville, both at 13 miles distance.

OTHER LAUNCH PADS

As newer rockets make their debut and become common, I will add information for them. If they are rare, I will only mention their upcoming launch at the top of the page.

A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT THE VIEWING SITES

WITH TICKETS: LC-39 OBSERVATION GANTRY, SATURN V CENTER, VISITOR COMPLEX First, make sure you  sign up for email alerts  so you know when tickets are going on sale. The LC-39 Observation Gantry ( 28.595 N, 80.618 W ) is a viewing tower that is one of the stops on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex bus tour. From here you can be just 2.3 miles from an Atlas V launch (closest viewing of any rocket), 3.4 miles for a Falcon 9 launch from pad 40, and 8.9 miles for Falcon landings at LZ-1. This location will not be offered for 39A launches. The Saturn V Center ( 28.605N, 80.669 W ), a stop on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex bus tour, offers a great view of Falcon 9 launches from Pad 39A at just 3.9 miles away, a clear 5.4 mile clear view of Atlas/Vulcan Pad 41 and a 6.3 mile clear view of Falcon Pad 40.  For LZ-1 Falcon landings, it is 11.2 miles and generally clear. The Saturn V Center is a beautiful museum housing one of the only three Saturn V moon rockets left. It was beautifully restored and opened to the public in 1996. This is a sight not to be missed on any visit to KSC, along with the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at the Visitor Complex. Consider combining your launch viewing with a tour of KSC and save time. It also allows you to watch launches without sitting around and waiting; instead you can tour the museum during the wait.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the independent museum and tour operator for the Kennedy Space Center. I highly recommend taking at least the main bus tour to see, up close, this incredible and historical place. Other tours to see different facilities up close are also offered, and each includes the main bus tour and Saturn V Center in addition to the Visitor Complex itself & Space Shuttle Atlantis which is on display there. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC) itself ( 28.523 N, 80.682 W ) offers viewing (again, when open), but with no truly clear view of the pads themselves. You will only see the rocket once it has launched and cleared the trees and buildings in front of you. Fine for watching, not so great for liftoff photos. Distance from the Visitor Complex to Pad 40 is 6.7 miles; to Pad 41 is 7.2 miles; and to Pad 39A is 7.4 miles. LZ-1 is 8.8 miles.

WITHOUT TICKETS: PLAYALINDA BEACH, TITUSVILLE and PORT CANAVERAL & THE BEACHES

Playalinda Beach (National Park site admission fee, 28.655 N, 80.630 W ) is one of the best places to watch Falcon 9 launches from pad 39A and Atlas/Vulcan launches from pad 41, but only when it is open. The beach is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during summer daylight-savings time, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during winter standard time (though in October 2023, they made the switch earlier than usual). Closures for some daytime launches are possible, and the road leading to the beach also sometimes closes early, once parking lot capacity is reached or no later than one hour before launch when they do. The beach is also closed completely for some launches, sometimes with little warning. It has normally been closed for NASA crew launches, but was open for the Crew-5 launch in October 2022 most recently. The closest parking at the beach ( 28.655N, 80.632 W ) is located 3.6 miles from Falcon 9 pad 39A, 5.8 miles from Atlas V Pad 41 and 7.2 miles from Falcon 9 Pad 40. You can also sometimes walk down the beach to the security fence and get as close as 2.7 miles for pad 39A Falcon launches, 4.8 miles for Atlas V and 6.3 miles for pad 40 Falcon launches. They frequently do do not allow you to walk down the beach so keep in mind the parking lot may be the limit when you arrive. For Falcon first stage landings, the distance is 12.8 miles. The entrance fee to Playalinda Beach is $20 per car, or is included with a National Park Service annual pass.

Titusville ( 28.620 N, 80.800 W  for the Rt. 406 Max Brewer bridge) is the best free, off-site location to watch Falcon 9 launches that take place from Pad 39A. Anywhere on the Indian River along US 1 or Rt. 406, can be used to view these or any of the other rocket launches as well, and the view is clear in most places. Distances to pad 39A average around 12 miles (11 on the east side of the bridge); pad 41 is 13 to 14 miles and pad 40 is around 14 miles. Note also, that the huge Vehicle Assembly Building blocks the view of individual pads as seen from certain, very specific locations. Consult a map for this concern.

The Beachline/Route 528 ( 28.405 N, 80.645 W ) on the Banana River offers the clearest view in the Port Canaveral area. Distances from Route 528 to each pad vary from 11.6 miles to pad 40, 12.9 to pad 41, and 14 to pad 39A. LZ-1 landings are 8.3 miles away. All offer clear views of the pad across water. Exploration Tower , located at Port Canaveral, provides an elevated view of launch, but the view is better for some launches (40 and 39A are best for photos). The view from the top is partially obstructed by poles for Atlas/Vulcan launches. It offers the best line of sight for Falcon 9 launches from pad 40. Exploration Tower is not always available for launch viewing. When available, tickets are now sold for viewing. However, the tower is often rented out for VIP parties and not open for launch viewing. Jetty Park ( 28.4083 N, 80.5873 W ) is a small park with a big pier and beach, but not the best place to watch Falcon or Atlas/Vulcan rockets take off, as the view of the pads themselves are hidden by a berm. This will change in the future as Blue Origin's big rocket resumes the use of Pad 36. It is, however, the best place to watch the Falcon 9 first stages land back at Landing Zone 1. You could happily view the launches from here or on the beach down the seashore as well, and it is still a beautiful place to watch in general, but the rocket will not become visible upon launch until it has cleared the tower and risen above the launch pad and berm directly across the inlet. If you are a photographer aiming for launch photos from here, be sure to plot out which way to look on the horizon using maps. The park has a $15 entrance fee per car ($5 for Brevard county residents) which must be booked online ahead of time. As you go farther south along the beach, the launch pads do become a little more visible on the horizon, but you are also getting farther and farther away from them. As mentioned, Jetty Park is the best place to watch the Falcon first stage landings, at 6.0 miles away. If you want a better view of the landing than the launch, go to Jetty Park or the beach south of the park.

Cocoa Beach extends southward from Jetty Park/Cape Canaveral and gets progressively farther from all pads. However, if you are looking for a nice beach day with a launch from farther away, or a nice photo such as a nighttime long exposure over the ocean, this is still a nice place to watch.

REFERENCE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

If you are looking for a sample photo from a particular place or with a particular lens and you can't find it here, please  contact me  and I will do my best to show you or provide photo tips!

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VISIT. LEARN. EXPLORE.

Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum

Legacy Wall

PRESERVE HISTORIC ARTIFACTS

EXPLORE OUR COLLECTION

DISCOVER SPACEFLIGHT HISTORY

Since opening to the public in 1966, the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum (Formerly known as the Air Force Space and Missile Museum) has introduced millions of visitors to the history of rocketry and space flight.

Our goal is to collect, restore, and exhibit items of historical significance which relate to the development and heritage of U.S. Space Force space launch activities.

Our facilities include the Space & Missile Museum exhibits at Launch Complex 26, Launch Complex 5/6, and the surrounding areas as well as the Sands Space History Center .

Explore the History of the Space Program!

We’re passionate about sharing the history of the Space Force’s space and missile programs.

Learn more about our exhibits and artifacts, schedule a tour of our museum facilities, and plan your visit today!

Museum Facilities

Missiles & rockets, missile components, payload & reentry vehicles, support hardware, history markers & displays, plan your visit.

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is a working military facility, which means visiting the Museum at Launch Complex 26 and the surrounding grounds is permitted by certified tours only.

However, our Sands Space History Center is located just outside the gate and is open to the public free of charge!

SCHEDULE A MUSEUM TOUR

VISIT OUR HISTORY CENTER

LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING LAUNCHES

Our museum facilities and historic launch complexes are on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station which has several active launch complexes with upcoming space expeditions and launches that visitors won’t want to miss.

From standard satellite launches to sending astronauts to the International Space Station, click the link below for more resources and schedules on upcoming launches activities on the Space Coast!

First Americans in Space

Explorer i satellite, missile & rocket artifacts, "missileer" archives, explore our archives, support the museum.

Your donations supports the ongoing programs, refurbishment of displays, and general support for maintaining the history of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and The United States Space Program.

From shopping at our gift shops, donating to our Foundation or securing a Tile on our Legacy Wall to help continue Museum operations and programs, your support is much appreciated!

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Volunteer tour guides add unique insight to the museum visit. Many guides are retired military personnel, past and present space program employees, or amateur space historians, all eager to share their colorful personal experiences.

Sign up today to receive more info and contact us with any questions or further inquiries.

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Cape canaveral tours: history of the space coast.

Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center

NASA Globe at Kennedy Space Center

Astronaut handprints at the Space Walk of Fame Museum

Kennedy Space Center's "Rocket Garden"

By Amy Shepherd Nance

Learn about space history through Cape Canaveral tours, including Cocoa Beach and Titusville -- also referred to as Florida's Space Coast.

Cocoa Beach has cool kitsch. A weekend here might include a stop at the Surf Museum, shopping at a tiki gallery and a trip down I Dream of Jeannie Lane (yes, it’s a real street). Yes, master. This is a beach town with a sense of humor and a serious case of nostalgia – a lively, beloved throwback that also happens to occupy a crucial spot on America’s timeline.

Cocoa Beach and its environs, including Titusville and Cape Canaveral , are all part of the Space Coast, a designation that emphasizes the area’s rich ties to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s John F. Kennedy Space Center. All manned spaceflight in the United States has lifted off from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex pays tribute to circa-1960s space culture (the Mercury 7 team flew six times between 1961 and 1963), especially in its collection of rare memorabilia at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. It's a must-see when you visit Cape Canaveral. 

Outside the Kennedy Space Center, which your Cape Canaveral tours will include, the beachy landscape still has the power to evoke the moment when the popular imagination was gripped by the possibilities of space travel. In the early days, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Alan Shepard, John Glenn and the rest of the Mercury 7 crew tooled around what was known as Missileland, U.S.A., where crowds once gathered on the beach to watch launches through binoculars – and still do.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, when the Air Force’s missile test center was well established on Cape Canaveral and the space program was tuning up, the local population swelled from 23,000 to 70,000. The town’s character also became more expansive: Motels named after space themes such as The Sea Missile and Satellite popped up alongside trippy diners like The Moon Hut. These mod motels hosted launch parties out by their pools for industry-insiders and boasted extravagant signage. We pay homage to the “Mercury 7” era with top sights from the time of Mercury and Apollo.

Visit Cape Canaveral's Historic Sites

John f. kennedy space center.

Think of this place as the base camp around which the other Space Coast sites orbit. The Visitor Complex is command central for families looking to engage with the universe, which feels awfully close here.

At the complex’s U.S Astronaut Hall of Fame, commissioned by the Mercury 7, you’ll find Gus Grissom’s smaller-than-you’d-expect space suit (the original flight capsules were only 6 feet by 10 inches high). The Sigma 7 Mercury craft is also on display, as well as Deke Slayton’s on-board knife, in place, if necessary, to pry open the capsule door. You’ll see Mercury 7 equipment and hardware, Gordo Cooper’s cue cards from the first TV broadcast from space, transmission recordings, space rocks and dirt.

KSC has added new ways to experience space other than just buying astronaut ice cream in the gift shop; you can now go through astronaut training as part of the Astronaut Training Experience program at the Astronaut Hall of Fame, feel what it's like to launch aboard the space shuttle on the Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, smell the moon and have lunch with a real astronaut.

Riverside Presbyterian Church

In 1962, John Glenn and his family worshipped at Riverside Presbyterian Church at 3400 N. Atlantic Ave. on the A1A. It was here that Glenn was mobbed by autograph seekers; Glenn also spoke from the pulpit of what is now the church’s Knox Hall.

Space Walk of Fame Museum

This riverwalk at 8 Broad St. in Titusville (which includes a Mercury monument with a giant “7” and astronaut handprints) includes interactive displays and plaques that celebrate the achievements of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts, as well as the hundreds of engineers, mechanics and others who made the space program possible. Head to the accompanying museum at 4 Main St. to see launch consoles and Titan memorabilia. The museum even has Soviet space memorabilia. Look across the water and you can see the mammoth (and historic) Vehicle Assembly Building in the distance.

La Quinta Inn Cocoa Beach (Formerly Cape Colony Resort)

In 1962, the original Mercury 7 astronauts invested in this hotel, which was originally called the Cape Colony Resort. You’ll find a plaque commemorating the 7 outside by the front pool entrance.

Cocoa Beach

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS

Canaveral Tours

Explore the Natural Wonders and Historical Monuments of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island

Merritt Island Wildlife Tour

Spaceflight and lighthouse tour, cruise ship port of call, lighthouse & spaceflight tour.

Read Our Reviews Here

Cape Canaveral Lighthouse & Spaceflight Tours transports you on a journey through the evolution of exploration as we visit the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse that guided the first explorers around the Florida coast, to the location that propelled our ships into orbit, and look toward the new frontier of planetary travel.

Canaveral Tours provides tours of the Canaveral Lighthouse and Canaveral Space Force Station. Our 4-hour tour provides the History of the Cape from early settlers to current space programs. The tour takes you to the lighthouse, where you are provided a guided tour by a Lighthouse Foundation guide. The tour route includes “abandoned in place” launch complexes from the beginning missile program. Visit Launch Complex 26 and step inside the blockhouse where we launched our first satellite into space. See the Redstone rocket on display that sent Alan Shephard and Gus Grissom into space. Walk where we first launched a man into space. Many exhibits of space artifacts and operations for the space program. Special events and private tours are also available.

Wildlife Group Tour

Our tour takes your group of up to 10 guests to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore and Indian River, home to over 500 species of wildlife including many that are threatened and endangered. A variety of habitats are found in the 140,000 acres and 24 miles of barrier island, including coastal dunes, saltwater marshes, pinewood flats, and hardwood hammocks. This protected area around the Kennedy Space Center and NASA facilities was created for the purpose of providing habitats for migratory birds, wildlife diversity, endangered and threatened species, and to grant access for recreation, observation, and education of wildlife activities.

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• Festivals and Events

Your Guide to the Kennedy Space Center Rocket Launches & Events

The Kennedy Space Center is a world-renowned launch facility located on Merritt Island in Florida. It has been the site of some of humanity's most historic and groundbreaking space exploration achievements, beginning with Alan Shepard's first American flight into space in 1961. Stay on this page to learn about all the Kennedy Space Center launches as well as exciting programs that are taking place!

Kennedy Space Center Launches

Kennedy Space Center offers visitors the opportunity to get a close look at rocket launches from its premises. All the viewing locations for the launches are just a few miles/kilometers from the launch pads. This gives its viewers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness rockets and space shuttles blast off into outer space.

Keep in mind that the Visitor Complex does offer launch tickets for rocket launches, however, they are available only in addition to the daily admission tickets. Take a look at the Kennedy Space Center event calendar for upcoming launches and viewing opportunities.

*Launch dates, timings, and viewing opportunities are subject to change. They can be affected by technical and mechanical issues, range operations, and the weather. Changes can take place in advance or even at the last minute.

Kennedy Space Center Launches & Events Schedule

1. Meet an Astronaut: Bob Cenker

Astronaut Appearance

Date: 9 April 2024 - 11 April 2024

Location: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Learn all the ways of an astronaut from Bob Cenker during your next visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex!

2. NET Aril 09, 2024 | ULA Delta IV Heavy NROL-70

Rocket launch

Date: 9 April 2024 at 12:53pm

Location: Apollo / Saturn V Center and Main Visitor Complex

Watch a ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket launch the NROL-70 mission from Kennedy Space Center. The mission for the National Reconnaissance Office will take off from Space Launch Complex 37 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This is the 16th and final launch of a Delta IV Heavy rocket.

3. Meet an Astronaut: Steve Swanson

Date: 12 April 2024 - 15 April 2024

Meet astronaut Steve Swanson during the Astronaut Encounter, Chat With An Astronaut. Make use of the autograph opportunities and don’t forget to click pictures!

4. Meet an Astronaut: Mark Lee

Date: 16 April 2024 - 20 April 2024

Astronaut Mark Lee will participate in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. He will also sign autographs after the meet and greet so bring your pens, cameras and questions!

5. Fly With An Astronaut

Date: 19 April 2024 - 21 April, 2024

Take a guided tour behind the gates of Kennedy Space Center, eat lunch and launch into space aboard the Shuttle Launch Experience® with an astronaut during this exclusive program.

6. Meet an Astronaut: John D. Bartoe

Date: 21 April 2024 - 25 April 2024

Head over to Kennedy Space Center and meet astronaut John D. Bartoe during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Take advantage of the autograph opportunities!

7. Meet an Astronaut: Jim Newman

Date: 26 April 2024 - 30 April 2024

Meet astronaut Jim Newman during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Bring your pens for autograph opportunities and your questions!

8. NET May 2024 | ULA Atlas V Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test

Rocket Launch

Date: May 2024

Location: Space Launch Complex 41 • Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

The Crew Flight Test will demonstrate the ability of Starliner and the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket to safely carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

9. Meet an Astronaut: Anna Fisher

Date: 1 May 2024 - 4 May 2024

Catch Anna Fisher during the Astronaut Encounter, Chat With An Astronaut and get a few autograph opportunities.

10. Meet an Astronaut: Fred Gregory

Date: 5 May 2024 - 8 May 2024

Astronaut Fred Gregory will participate in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. He will also sign autographs after the meet and greet so bring your pens, cameras and questions!

11. Meet an Astronaut: John D. Bartoe

Date: 9 May 2024 - 12 May 2024

12. Meet an Astronaut: Bob Thirsk

Date: 13 May 2024 - 16 May 2024

Meet astronaut Bob Thirsk during your next trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex!

13. Meet an Astronaut: Charlie Walker

Date: 17 May 2024 - 20 May 2024

Learn all the ways of an astronaut from Charlie Walker during your next visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex!

14. Meet an Astronaut: John Herrington

Date: 21 May 2024 - 24 May 2024

Astronaut John Herrington will participate in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. He will also sign autographs after the meet and greet so bring your pens, cameras and questions!

15. Fly With An Astronaut

Date: 24 May 2024 - 26 May 2024

Go on a guided tour with an astronaut behind the gates of Kennedy Space Center in this exclusive program that lets you enjoy lunch on and experience a simulated space launch aboard Shuttle Launch Experience®.

16. Meet an Astronaut: Guy Gardner

Date: 25 May 2024 - 28 May 2024

Meet astronaut Guy Gardner during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Bring your pens for autograph opportunities and your questions!

17. Meet an Astronaut: Norm Thagard

Date: 29 May 2024 - 1 June 2024

Astronaut Norm Thagard heads back to the visitor complex to meet and greet you in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut experiences. Head over to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to meet this veteran NASA astronaut during your visit.

18. 2024 U.S. Astronaut Hall Of Fame® Induction

Date: 1 June 2024 at 11:00am

Location: Bottom Floor of Space Shuttle Atlantis®

The 2024 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® Induction Ceremony will be hosted at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at 11:00 am.

19. Meet an Astronaut: Brian Duffy

Date: 2 June 2024 - 5 June 2024

Learn how one becomes an astronaut and what an astronaut does in his day-to-day work with Brian Duffy during your next trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex!

20. Meet an Astronaut: Steve Smith

Date: 6 June 2024 - 11 June 2024

Meet veteran NASA astronaut Steve Smith for an unforgettable experience at Kennedy Space Center.

21. Fly With An Astronaut

Date: 7 June 2024 - 9 June 2024

Take a guided tour aboard the Shuttle Launch Experience® with an astronaut during this exclusive program. You get to eat lunch in and experience a simulation of launching into space in this attraction.

22. Meet an Astronaut: Norm Thagard

Date: 12 June 2024 - 14 June 2024

Learn all the ways of an astronaut from Norm Thagard during your next visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex!

23. Meet an Astronaut: Terry Wilcutt

Date: 15 June 2024 - 18 June 2024

Meet astronaut Terry Wilcutt during Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Get his autograph and make use of this opportunity to ask all your questions about being an astronaut!

24. Meet an Astronaut: John Fabian

Date: 19 June 2024 - 22 June 2024

Astronaut John Fabian will participate in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. He will also sign autographs after the meet and greet so bring your pens, cameras and questions!

25. Meet an Astronaut: Ken Cameron

Date: 23 June 2024 - 26 June 2024

Head over to Kennedy Space Center and meet astronaut Ken Cameron during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Take advantage of the autograph opportunities!

26. NET June 25, 2024 | SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U

Date: 25 June 2024

Location: Launch Complex 39A • Kennedy Space Center

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the GOES-U mission for NASA.

27. Meet an Astronaut: Barbara Morgan

Date: 27 June 2024 - 28 June 2024

Location: Kennedy Space Center

Catch Barbara Morgan during the Astronaut Encounter, Chat With An Astronaut and get a few autograph opportunities.

28. Meet an Astronaut: Bill McArthur

Date: 29 June 2024 - 2 July 2024

Meet astronaut Bill McArthur during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Bring your pens for autograph opportunities and your questions!

29. Meet an Astronaut: Mike Baker

Date: 3 July 2024 - 6 July 2024

Meet astronaut Mike Baker during Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut experience. Bring your camera, your questions and your pens for an autograph!

30. Meet an Astronaut: Mike Foreman

Date: 7 July 2024 - 10 July 2024

Astronaut Mike Foreman will participate in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. He will also sign autographs after the meet and greet so bring your pens, cameras and questions!

31. Meet an Astronaut: Charlie Walker

Date: 11 July 2024 - 15 July 2024

Head over to Kennedy Space Center and meet astronaut Charlie Walker during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Take advantage of the autograph opportunities!

32. Fly With An Astronaut

Date: 12 July 2024 - 14 July 2024

Take a guided tour behind the gates of Kennedy Space Center with an astronaut. Eat lunch and launch into space aboard the Shuttle Launch Experience® during this exclusive program.

33. Meet an Astronaut: Ken Cameron

Date: 15 July 2024 - 17 July 2024

Learn how one becomes an astronaut and what an astronaut does in his day-to-day work with Ken Cameron during your next trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex!

34. Meet an Astronaut: Marcos Pontes

Date: 18 July 2024 - 23 July 2024

Astronaut Marcos Pontes heads back to the visitor complex to meet and greet you in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut experiences. Head over to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to meet this veteran NASA astronaut during your visit.

35. Meet an Astronaut: Roger Crouch

Date: 24 July 2024 - 27 July 2024

Meet astronaut Roger Crouch during the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. Bring your pens for autograph opportunities and your questions!

36. Meet an Astronaut: Kathryn Thornton

Date: 28 July 2024 - 31 July 2024

Astronaut Kathryn Thornton will participate in the Astronaut Encounter and Chat With An Astronaut. She will also sign autographs after the meet and greet so bring your pens, cameras and questions!

37. NET October 10, 2024 | SpaceX Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper

Date: 10 October 2024

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's icy moon for NASA.

38. April 2024 | SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 7-28

Date: April

Location: Space Launch Complex 40 • Cape Canaveral Space Force Base

SpaceX launch of a batch of Starlink v2-mini satellites for their second generation high-speed low earth orbit internet satellite constellation.

39. NET MAY 6, 2024 | ULA Atlas V Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test

The Crew Flight Test (CFT) will demonstrate the ability of Starliner and the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket to safely carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Kennedy Space Center Launch Viewing Areas

Main Visitor Complex

The main viewing area in the Visitor Complex is located next to the Space Shuttle Atlantis®, which is in the North Atlantis Lawn. It has live launch commentary and visitors can see the rocket once it clears the tree line.

Distances to Launch Pads :

• To Atlas V SLC-41: 7.1 miles/11.4 kilometers (approximately)
• To Falcon 9 SLC-40: 6.7 miles/10.8 kilometers (approximately)
• To Delta IV SLC-37: 7 miles/11.3 kilometers (approximately)
• To SpaceX LC-39A: 7.5 miles/12 kilometers (approximately)

Amenities and Inclusions :

• This location comes with bleacher and lawn seating with minimal viewing obstructions. Viewers also get to witness live commentary during the launch.
• Access to main Visitor Complex attractions, shows, dining, and retail if the launch is during operational hours.

Banana Creek Launch Viewing Area

This viewing location is adjacent to the Apollo/Saturn V Center and offers outdoor bleacher seating with views of launch pads across the Banana Creek. If the Apollo/Saturn V Center is open during the launch window it also includes Apollo Program exhibits and offers a close-up look at the world’s largest rocket, the Saturn V.

Distance to Launch Pads :

• To Atlas V SLC-41: 5.4 miles/8.7 kilometers (approximately)
• To Falcon 9 SLC-40: 6.2 miles/10 kilometers (approximately)
• To Delta IV SLC-37: 8 miles/12.8 kilometers (approximately)
• To SpaceX LC-39A: 3.9 miles/6.27 kilometers (approximately)
• Bleacher seating and open lawn area (available on a first-come, first-served basis).
• Access to the Apollo/Saturn V Center when open, as well as dining and shopping. Note that the Apollo/Saturn V Center may be closed on account of private events or due to other operational concerns.

The First Launch at the Kennedy Space Center

On November 9, 1967, the first ever launch took place at Kennedy Space Center at Launch Complex 39 with the first flight test of the 363-foot-tall Saturn V. This rocket was part of the Apollo 4 mission. The rocket’s power of 7.5 million pounds of thrust had a major impact reaching the Launch Control Center (LCC), Press Site and spectators, all three miles away.

This first launch was a part of John. F Kennedy’s vision to build a rocket to the moon. Launches continue to happen at the Kennedy Space Center at regular intervals even today. 

Historic Launches at the Kennedy Space Center

Apollo Program

• From 1967 to 1973 there were a total of 13 Saturn V launches.
• The first of two uncrewed flights, Apollo 4, in 1967, was also the first rocket launch from KSC.
• The first launch of Saturn V with a crew took place in December 1968. This was the Apollo 8’s lunar orbiting mission.
• The following two missions which were Apollo 9 (Earth Orbit) and Apollo 10 (lunar orbit), tested the Lunar Module .
• Apollo 11 which was launched from Pad A on July 16, 1969, made the first Moon landing on July 20.
• The Apollo program concluded at KSC with the launches of missions 13 through 17 from 1970-72.

• Skylab was the first United States space station launched by NASA.
• It was engaged for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974.
• The main functions were an orbital workshop, a solar observatory, Earth observation, and hundreds of other experiments.
• The last Saturn V launch put the Skylab space station in orbit. 
• In 1979, when it was not able to be re-boosted by the Space Shuttle, its orbit decayed and disintegrated in the atmosphere.

The Space Shuttle Program

• The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by NASA.
• It accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011.
• Shuttle Discovery and Shuttle Atlantis were the orbiter vehicles that were part of the program for space exploration.
• The Shuttle is the only winged and crewed spacecraft to have achieved a successful orbit and landing.

Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs)

• Since 1958, NASA and the military worked together on robotic mission launches.
• In the 1960s, NASA had two robotic mission launches a month and the frequent number of flights allowed for quick evolution of the vehicles.
• From the 1950s up until 1978, Kennedy Space Center chose the rocket and payload processing facilities for all robotic missions that were launched in the United States.
• Kennedy Space Center carried out this function for commercial and foreign missions as well.

Space Station Processing

• During the 1990s, the Kennedy Space Center began to work with other NASA centers as well as international partners to prepare for processing before the launch of the Space Shuttle.
• It utilized its experience processing the 22 Spacelab missions in the Operations and Checkout Building to understand ISS processing.
• Today, the Kennedy Space Center continues to process International Space Station payloads from across the world before launch along with developing its experiments for on orbit.

Present Programs at the Kennedy Space Center

• Commercial Crew Program : It provides commercially-operated crew transportation service to and from the International Space Station (ISS) under contract to NASA.
• Exploration Ground Systems Program: NASA is currently designing the next heavy launch vehicle for continuation of human spaceflight.
• Launch Services Program: This is responsible for NASA's oversight of launch operations and countdown management, providing added quality and mission assurance.
• Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa): This is an initiative to invite more students into the field of science, mathematics, technology, and engineering.
• Artemis Program: The main goal of this is to return humans to the moon, specifically the lunar south pole, by 2024.
• Lunar Gateway: This is a planned small space station in lunar orbit intended to serve as a solar-powered communication hub.
• International Space Station Payloads: This is a framework that has been adopted by the International Space Station to support various types of hardware.
• Camp KSC : Educational camps in KSC for schoolchildren in spring and summer that focuses on aviation and robotics.

Book Kennedy Space Center Tickets & Tours

Frequently asked questions about kennedy space center launches & events.

The Kennedy Space Center has regular launches and events that take place. Keep an eye out for a rocket launch, an astronaut encounter, and other exclusive events here !

The next launch from Kennedy Space Center is the NASA Psyche Mission taking place on 5 October. This mission will send a spacecraft to study an asteroid of the same name.

On November 9, 1967, the first-ever launch took place at the Kennedy Space Center at Launch Complex 39. This was the first flight test of the 363-foot-tall Saturn V .

Some of the most historic Kennedy Space Center launches include the Apollo missions, the Saturn V , Skylab, and Shuttle Discovery. 

No, you need to purchase tickets to visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and view any launches that are taking place. You can book your tickets here . 

Yes, viewing a rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you don't want to miss. 

Yes, seating is available at the various Kennedy Space Center launch viewing areas, however, they are subject to a first-come, first-served basis.

There are 3 main Kennedy Space Center launch viewing areas - the main Visitor Complex , the Banana Creek at the Apollo/ Saturn V Center, and the LC-39 Observatory Gantry.

Yes, guests can view rocket launches from the main Visitor Center or the Banana Creek at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. To access the LC-39 Observatory Gantry, you must purchase an additional ticket.

The viewing areas at the Kennedy Space Center are just a few miles away from the launch pads with minimal obstructions.

The Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center has several original rockets on display. Visitors also have access to the Apollo/ Saturn V Center .

The Kennedy Space Center is famous for being NASA’s primary launch center of human spaceflight.

Kennedy Space Center was built in Florida because it is relatively close to the equator compared to other locations in the country. This makes it an ideal launch site.

The first Cape Canaveral rocket launch was of a V-2 rocket on 24 July 1950.

Significant rocket launches have take place from Cape Canaveral . The V-2 rocket Bumper, NASA's Project Mercury & Gemini space flights, and the Saturn I and IB rockets used in the Apollo missions, were all launches from Cape Canaveral.

Cape Canaveral is an ideal location to launch space flights because the linear velocity of the Earth being strongest towards the equator, which is the case in this area. Rockets are launch eastward in the same direction as the Earth's rotation to take advantage of this force. Additionally, the proximity of Cape Canaveral to the ocean leaves room for fewer accidents.

About Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center Tours

Cape Canaveral Launch Schedule

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Upcoming SpaceX launch: Starlink mission may lift off Monday night from Cape Canaveral

Editor's note: Facing a poor Monday weather forecast, SpaceX is now targeting 6:17 p.m. EDT Tuesday for launch.

Original story: Fresh off the heels of a back-to-back rocket launch doubleheader , SpaceX is targeting Monday night for its next Starlink mission from Florida's Space Coast, per the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

NGA and Federal Aviation Administration navigational warnings show a launch window will open at 6:40 p.m. EDT Monday, then extend into the night until 11:11 p.m. However, SpaceX has yet to publicly announce this mission.

SpaceX launched the Starlink 6-51 mission Wednesday evening from NASA's Kennedy Space Center , then — just more than 24 hours later — launched the Starlink 6-52 mission Thursday night from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station .

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming rocket launch schedule for SpaceX, ULA, NASA in Florida

In similar fashion, Monday's Starlink 6-53 mission would send a new batch of broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit in a southeasterly trajectory aboard a 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket.

The Space Coast's next orbital launch will be the 30th of the year thus far .

For the latest updates and news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit  floridatoday.com/space .

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories,  click here .) Contact Neale at [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

Wharf expansion worth $2.1 billion boosted by Cape Canaveral's space industry could be coming

In the coming decades, the Space Coast’s booming commercial space economy may prompt a $2.1 billion northward expansion near Port Canaveral, creating a new large-scale wharf stretching parallel with the Banana River shoreline along Cape Canaveral Space Force Station property.

Thursday morning, Space Florida released a 67-page feasibility study detailing the ambitious proposal, which could require seven construction phases across a 50-year span to accommodate the space industry's future maritime needs.

Why build the wharf? Led today by SpaceX, the Cape's future launch providers will use drone ships, marine vessels and smaller boats to transport and retrieve rocket boosters, fairings and capsules. For example, one Falcon 9 launch can generate ocean recovery operations for all three of these components.

"You start to project out what SpaceX is doing now. Then you start to add other launches by companies like Blue Origin, and increasing launches from ULA with Vulcan. Plus, all of the other players like Relativity and Stoke and Firefly and Vaya, and all the companies that are out there in development right now," Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long said.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming rocket launch schedule for SpaceX, ULA, NASA in Florida

Describing Port Canaveral's projected wharf demand by the commercial space industry, Long said, "if you're an airport, and you have too few runways to support the demand, you would add another runway."

What large-scale Port Canaveral expansion would include

Funding and timeline estimates for the conceptual expansion remain undetermined, Long said. The study proposes a long-term, large-scale expansion that would:

• Create a new wharf cutting northward through the Middle Turning Basin (Poseidon Basin) that runs along the Banana River shoreline.
• Remove some buildings and infrastructure used by the Space Force and U.S. Army — including the Sands Space History Center — which would be rebuilt elsewhere. Space Force officials declined comment.
• Realign State Road 401 along the west side of the expanded basin.

The ambitious study’s project area encompasses land or channels under the jurisdiction of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Canaveral Port Authority, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Today, SpaceX fairing recovery vessels and drone ships — some bearing Falcon 9 first-stage boosters — are routinely seen in the vicinity of cruise ships along Port Canaveral's North Cargo Berth area.

However, the Space Florida study projects the commercial space industry may outgrow this port area within five years because of limited space, potential congestion and lack of shipyard operations, among other factors.

Port Canaveral CEO John Murray made that clear in his latest annual State of the Port presentation to community leaders.

"This port can't handle everything," Murray said. "We alone cannot accommodate the projected maritime needs. It's that simple."

In his presentation, Murray said the port is "committed to the space industry," but also has its other cargo and cruise operations to consider. Port Canaveral is the world's second-busiest cruise port, and also has a growing cargo business, handling commodities ranging from petroleum to lumber.

"We've always grown up with them, side by side, since the 1950s," Murray said, referring to the space industry. "We do support the launch recovery operations right now from SpaceX. We have other parties that are getting ready to do the same. There could be as many as 10 more launch service providers with maritime assets."

Port expansion study involved many space companies

A kickoff meeting for the Space Florida port study took place in February 2023. Eleven commercial space companies provided input, ranging from SpaceX, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance to young ventures like Vaya Space, Phantom Space and Stoke Space.

Space companies will need cranes, office space, equipment storage space and room for other functions along the wharf. Due to the proprietary nature of operations, most companies recommend they will need 5 acres to 15 acres landside, the study said.

The Space Florida study projected that there would be a demand for 197 launch recovery operations by 2028; 571 by 2053; and 1,252 by 2073. It said each operation would require the use of four marine vessels, on average.

These projections also include potential sea-based launches from launch pads atop marine vessels. Example: Space Perspective, a Titusville company, hopes to soon start launching tourists to the edge of space aboard its hydrogen-balloon-lifted Spaceship Neptune capsule from the deck of its 294-foot ship MS Voyager.

The study also examined proposed oceanfront turning basins along the Atlantic coast at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and KSC, along with proposed basins in the Banana River. However, these options were eliminated from consideration because of environmental-permitting constraints, military operations, access issues and other challenges.

What's next with port study

Next, Space Florida said it will do a full environmental analysis of the study's near- and long-term options still on the table. Space Florida also plans to conduct a statewide study to determine how other Florida seaports can support the space industry.

Murray said it is crucial to have a solution for the space industry, and he pledged the port's cooperation toward that goal.

He said the port appreciates Space Florida taking on this study, and supports "the comprehensive effort to address the industry’s growing maritime needs. We look forward to continued collaboration with federal and state partners to realize solutions to ensure the industry’s continued success.”

This year, the Florida Legislature unanimously approved an amendment to the Canaveral Port Authority's charter specifying that the port will "take reasonable measures to support the commercial space launch industry at Port Canaveral."

Murray said the ultimate plan for accommodating launch recovery operations "could be quite complex." But he is hopeful that "there will be some positive way forward" that comes out of the Space Florida initiative.

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

SpaceX late-night rocket launch: Where to watch from Daytona, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill

In volusia county, north of kennedy space center & cape canaveral, best views to watch a nighttime rocket launch is along the beach..

Daytona Beach is known for a lot of things: The Daytona 500, beautiful beaches and not to mention Bike Week. But did you know Volusia County is privy to some amazing views of rocket launches from neighboring Brevard County, home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station?

You can check it out for yourself.

Day or night, watching a rocket launch on the beach is so Florida.

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes. We have suggestions on where and how to watch a rocket launch from Ormond Beach to Oak Hill below if you keep scrolling.

Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Rocket launch calendar for Florida

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

Is there a rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida? Thursday, May 2: SpaceX Starlink 6-55

A National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning indicates SpaceX is targeting Thursday night for its next Starlink mission:

• Mission:  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of 23 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Launch window:  9:17 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 2, to 1:48 a.m. EDT Friday, May 3
• Location:  Launch Complex 40
• Trajectory:  Southeast
• Local sonic boom:  No
• Booster landing:  Drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean
• Live coverage:  Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at  floridatoday.com/space .

Where can I watch SpaceX rocket launches online?

If you want to watch live rocket launch coverage,  FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team  will provide updates at  floridatoday.com/space , starting about 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

Can you see a rocket liftoff from Kennedy Space Center in New Smyrna Beach? Where can I see a rocket launch in Volusia County , Florida?

In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County — home to 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 watch a rocket launch from here is along the beach. Look due south. Readers have also mentioned seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:

•  South New Smyrna Beach  (Canaveral National Seashore), there may be parking costs. New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sandy beaches. An eclectic and quaint 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.

Dinner and a launch: Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch, best waterfront restaurants in Volusia County

•  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 National Seashore Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beachfront sidewalk,  according to Volusia County's site . The nearby riverside park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river by 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 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  back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill

•  Seminole Rest national historic site , 211 River Road, Oak Hill

•  Riverbreeze Park , 250 H.H. 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, outdoorrestrooms, 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 location has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the city of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launching facilities.

•  A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier , 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, the city of Oak Hill site states.

•  Bird Observation Pier  on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier.

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories,  click here .) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or  [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1

SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida

Launch recap: Scroll down to review live coverage of the Thursday, May 2, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

There's another SpaceX rocket launch on tap tonight!

Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of tonight’s SpaceX Starlink 6-55 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX is now targeting 10:37 p.m. EDT — nearly an hour later than originally scheduled — to send up a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40. The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of 23 Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket.

No Central Florida sonic booms are expected. Rather, after soaring skyward along a southeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship out at sea 8½ minutes after liftoff.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicts 85% odds of "go for launch" weather during the 4½-hour launch window, with cumulus and anvil clouds posing the primary concerns.

Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida

SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands

Update 10:45 p.m.:  The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 19th mission.

Update 10:37 p.m.:  SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX launch webcast begins

Update 10:32 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock.

Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch coming up

Update 10:26 p.m.:  Eleven minutes before SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch, the countdown appears to be proceeding as planned. Fueling remains well underway at Launch Complex 40.

Following is a list of key remaining countdown milestones. T-minus:

• 7 minutes:  Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch.
• 1 minute:  Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins.
• 45 seconds:  SpaceX launch director verifies “go for launch.”
• 3 seconds:  Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start.
• 0 seconds:  Falcon 9 liftoff.

SpaceX announces Starlink service in Uruguay

Update 10:20 p.m.: Earlier today, SpaceX officials announced Starlink high-speed internet service is available in Uruguay.

Tonight's mission will add another 23 broadband satellites to the ever-expanding Starlink constellation in low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX booster to land on drone ship

Update 10:14 p.m.:  Tonight's mission marks the 19th flight for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reported.

The much-traveled booster previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, SES 03b mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2 and nine Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 24 seconds after liftoff.

SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling finally underway

Update 10:04 p.m.: SpaceX just announced Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40.

That means tonight’s Starlink countdown is now locked in to lift off at 10:37 p.m. without any delays, or else the launch must be postponed.

SpaceX now targeting 10:37 p.m. for liftoff

Update 9:50 p.m.: Add a third delay. SpaceX is now targeting 10:37 p.m. for liftoff.

This National Weather Service radar loop from the station at Melbourne Orlando International Airport shows no significant cloud cover over the Space Coast.

SpaceX launch delayed 10 more minutes

Update 9:41 p.m.: Another 10-minute delay: SpaceX just announced tonight's liftoff will occur at 10:23 p.m.

SpaceX, competitors prompt port expansion proposal

Update 9:30 p.m.: This morning, Space Florida released a report outlining a long-term vision for a $2.1 billion northward expansion near Port Canaveral , featuring a new large-scale wharf stretching parallel with the Banana River shoreline along Cape Canaveral Space Force Station property.

Why expand? Led today by SpaceX, the Cape's future launch providers will use drone ships, marine vessels and smaller boats to transport and retrieve rocket boosters, fairings and capsules. For example, one Falcon 9 launch can generate ocean recovery operations for all three of these components.

SpaceX delays liftoff to 10:13 p.m.

Update 9:19 p.m.: SpaceX officials have announced the Falcon 9 liftoff target time has been pushed back to 10:13 p.m.

Backup launch opportunities remain available until 1:17 a.m. 

SpaceX aims for 2nd launch of the day

Update 9 p.m.: Less than seven hours ago, SpaceX crews launched a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the Maxar 1 mission.

The rocket lifted Maxar Intelligence's first two WorldView Legion geospatial satellites into low-Earth orbit, marking SpaceX's 44th mission of 2024 nationwide.

"Our first two WorldView Legion spacecraft deployed their solar arrays and started receiving and sending signals! Now we’ll begin commissioning them for collecting imagery. Thanks @SpaceX for the ride to orbit!" company officials announced in a 5:46 p.m. tweet.

Space Force: 85% odds of favorable weather

Update 8:45 p.m.: Additional details from tonight's Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron launch forecast:

"Surface winds will be onshore, and the East and West Coast Sea Breezes are expected to develop and collide in the evening. Upper-level winds remain weak out of the northwest, reaching only about 35-40 (knots)," the forecast said.

"Anvil development from these thunderstorms may extend far enough eastward to impact the Space Coast but that is not likely," the forecast said.

SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard

Update 8:30 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX’s upcoming Falcon 9 launch.

SpaceX launch countdown timeline

Update 8:15 p.m.:  Here's a quick rundown of SpaceX’s upcoming behind-the-scenes Falcon 9 countdown timeline. T-minus:

• 38 minutes:  SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for propellant load.
• 35 minutes:  Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
• 16 minutes:  Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins.
• 45 seconds:  SpaceX launch director verifies “go” for launch.
• 0 seconds:  Liftoff.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit  floridatoday.com/space .

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories,  click here .) Contact Neale at [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

• Park Overview Explore Missions Zones
• Heroes and Legends Space Pioneers
• Behind the Gates Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
• Race to the Moon Apollo Moon Landing
• Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other NASA's Space Shuttle Program
• NASA Now + Next Preparing for Journey to Mars
• All Attractions
• Plan Your Visit
• Hours Of Operation
• Hotel Packages
• Travel Information
• Events Overview
• Event Calendar
• See A Launch
• Groups Overview Plan Events and Tours
• Youth Groups Programs and Field Trips
• Scouts Adventures for Scout Troops
• Private Events Events and Custom Tours
• International Programs and Custom Tours
• Camp KSC Day Camp for Students
• Educators Resources for Teachers
• Programs Educational Programs at KSC
• Accessibility Information

The first stop of the tour is at the Sands Space History Center. There, join a docent guide and learn about the history of all of the launch complexes of Cape Canaveral and the Eastern Test Range. See launch vehicle components and control systems, some dating back to the 1950s!

Fun fact: This museum was named after Major General Harry James Sands, Jr., who was instrumental in preserving the history of what is now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Air Force Space & Missile Museum and Blockhouse 26

A visit to Launch Complex 26 is taking a step back in time. This is part of The Air Force Space & Missile Museum and is an original building of the early spaceflight missions. This location saw America’s entry into the Space Race with the launch of Explorer 1 in 1958, the United States’ first satellite. You can also see original launch equipment, a V-2 rocket engine and the only twice-flown Gemini capsule.

Fun fact: Indoor smoking was so common during this era, that ashtrays were built into the launch consoles. Be sure to look for them when you tour the blockhouse.

Built in 1953, Hangar C is the oldest structure of its type on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It was built as the Cape’s first exclusive missile assembly building. Inside, walk among restored launch systems with everything from early winged missiles to ballistic missiles to boilerplate capsules. See the evolution of America’s early rocket and space programs.

Fun fact: Some of the rockets inside Hangar C are the same as ones found in the visitor complex Rocket Garden. Seeing a rocket horizontal gives you a different perspective on its size!

Cape Canaveral Lighthouse

Explore another location on the Cape that is not intended for rocketry sciences. The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is a long-standing icon of the area. Once there, you will learn about the history of the lighthouse and the steps taken to get it to where it is located today. Still a working lighthouse, the light is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard and the lighthouse itself by the 45th Space Wing, making it the only lighthouse owned by the U.S. Space Force.

Due to the size of the tour group and time constraints, guests can explore the first three floors of the lighthouse: the living quarters. Climbing to the top is not available.

Fun fact: The first Cape Canaveral lighthouse was made of brick and built in 1848, but mariners couldn’t see the light at only 65 feet tall. A new, iron lighthouse was constructed next to the old lighthouse in 1868 and stood 151 feet tall. Both of these lighthouses preceded the one you see today.

After embarking on this tour throughout Cape Canaveral, it is clear that it is perfect for space enthusiasts, lovers of history, lighthouse sightseers and anyone who wants to gain special access to places generally not open to the public. The stops featured here are just a few of what you will see, so be sure to learn more at the link below.

What you need to know about the tour before reserving your spot:

• This tour can last up to 4.5 hours. Due to the remote location of the tour stops, a meal is not offered. However, snacks and water will be provided. Eat a big breakfast or lunch prior to the tour.
• Ages 14 and older are permitted on the tour.
• This Special Interest Tour is available in addition to daily admission. Due to the length of the tour, we recommend you purchase a 2-Day admission ticket or an annual pass so that you have enough time to visit all of the visitor complex shows and attractions.
• This tour is only offered 3 days a week, and must be booked 72 hours ahead of your tour date. However, United States citizens may be able to book the tour up to the day of on site at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
• Close-toed, flat shoes are required.
• Please remember that Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center are working facilities. The tour may be altered due to operational requirements with or without notice.
• Learn more about the security requirements and reservation details below.

Special thanks to the Sands Space History Center, Air Force Space & Missile Museum, Hangar C and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse for provided descriptions.

More Attraction Spotlight Blogs:

• Attraction Spotlight: Heroes and Legends, Featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
• Attraction Spotlight: Apollo/Saturn V Center
• Attraction Spotlight: The Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
• All Attraction Spotlight Blogs

Recent Posts

SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

You could soon have another chance to spot a rocket climbing up the Central Florida horizon.

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SpaceX has planned a Thursday night launch from our Space Coast.

The company is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket with Starlink satellites in tow.

READ: Starliner crew ready for launch

The 23 satellites will be deployed into low-Earth orbit to help expand broadband internet service.

Liftoff is targeted for 10:37 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

READ: Magic look to regroup and even the series at home after tough game 5 loss on the road

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WATCH IT AGAIN: SpaceX launches yet another Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral

Launch targeting 10:37 p.m. on thursday.

Anthony Talcott , Digital Journalist

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX successfully launched another Starlink mission from Florida’s Space Coast on Thursday night.

According to the company, the launch sent a batch of 23 Starlink satellites into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Liftoff for the launch happened at 10:37 p.m. — delayed from 9:49 p.m.

This is the 19th flight for the first-stage booster used in this mission, which has previously been used to launch the CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G, SES 03b mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Merah Putih 2, and nine other Starlink missions.

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About the Author

Anthony talcott.

Anthony, a graduate of the University of Florida, joined ClickOrlando.com in April 2022.

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Spacex launches falcon 9 rocket from florida coast, spacex successfully launches another falcon 9 from space coast, spacex launches 23 starlink satellites from florida’s space coast.

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