Rocket Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral

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.