A rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is on the horizon.
Rockets here launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and people beyond Brevard County can sometimes see this #SoFlorida phenomenon.
When is the next SpaceX rocket launch in Florida?
Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today?
Where to watch SpaceX rocket launch from Space Coast of Florida Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch − in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads.
There will be a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, soon. And it’s great for Instagram when this “so Florida” thing happens.
An operations plan advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration reveals that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch Starlink internet-beaming satellites into low-Earth orbit close to NASA. SpaceX’s launch time and day may be around midnight (see below).
Sometimes, people outside of Brevard County can witness this SoFlorida phenomenon as rockets here are launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
A rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast might be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach, weather permitting and contingent on cloud cover (see videos and photo gallery with this story). There is a chance for unusual pictures during a launch window in the middle of the night or very early in the morning because the rocket illuminates the pitch-black sky and the contrail afterwards makes for a fantastic shot.
Additional details about rocket launches in Florida and recommendations for Space Coast viewing locations are provided below.
The following is a list of all the rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida in 2025 (psst, there are a lot).
Contact FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com with any queries or feedback. Visit floridatoday . com/space for additional space news from the USA TODAY Network.
When will the next SpaceX rocket launch take place in Florida? SpaceX Starlink 12-15 on Monday, May 19, 2025.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an operations plan advisory stating that SpaceX will send a payload of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Day and time of launch window: 11:40 p.m. m. EDT until 12:46 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025. M. On May 20, 2025, a Tuesday.
The rocket will be launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Booms of sound: No.
Direction: Southeast.
Live coverage begins 90 minutes prior to liftoff at floridatoday . com/space. The USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which includes visual journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark, and Tim Shortt as well as FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards, will be providing live rocket launch coverage. Ninety minutes prior to liftoff, our Space Team will broadcast live, mobile-friendly updates at floridatoday . com/space, complete with a countdown clock. You can either type floridatoday . com/space into your browser or download the FLORIDA TODAY app for free from the App Store or Google Play.
Live weather radar: If it rains today, will a rocket launch be canceled in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, or Cape Canaveral, Florida?
This is the Melbourne radar of the National Weather Service, which provides real-time weather information for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando, and other Florida locations. This radar embed displays the current time and date in the lower right corner; if not, you might need to clear your cache.
The location of the SpaceX rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast.
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch − in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. From the Space Coast, the beach offers the best vantage point for rocket launches. Visibility will be influenced by the weather, though, so people should be careful not to obstruct traffic or rights of way on bridges and to abide by posted beach regulations.
If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river.
Look northeast if you’re further south along the Indian River.
The closest location to witness liftoff is Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore, which is nearly parallel to Launch Pad 39A. Look south along the shoreline from the beach; from certain locations, you can even make out the pad.
Here are a few places to visit.
400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral, is home to Jetty Park Beach and Pier. Be aware that parking is not free.
Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road. Please be aware that parking is fee-based and that access to Canaveral National Seashore is subject to capacity and time of day.
1 A. Parrish Park and Max Brewer Bridge. Parkway Max Brewer Memorial, Titusville. Note that there is parking on the Max Brewer Bridge on both sides.
(8 Broad St.) Space View Park. , Titusville.
10 E. Sand Point Park. Causeway Max Brewer, Titusville.
At 4141 S. Washington Ave., Rotary Riverfront Park. Titusville. .
Cocoa Village’s Riverfront Park is located at 401 Riveredge Blvd. Cocoa (right before the Causeway on State Road 520).
Cocoa Village, close to the docks or the parks and stores.
a number of Merritt Island parks.
Merritt Island’s Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway.
Kiwanis Island Park Road leads to Kiwanis Park on Merritt Island.
Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean cruise ships are docked at Port Canaveral.
Park Alan Shepard, 299 E. The Causeway at Cocoa Beach. Keep in mind that parking may incur fees.
401 Meade Avenue, Cocoa Beach Pier. Parking costs vary.
Lori Wilson Park, located at 1400 N. Ave. Atlantic.
Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave. , Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.
Downtown Cocoa Beach, along Minutemen Causeway.
Tables Beach, 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach.
The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach.
Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach.
Pineda Causeway.
Eau Gallie Causeway.
Front Street Park near Melbourne (U. S. 192) Causeway and U. S. 1 in Melbourne.
Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A.
Paradise Beach Park, aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachside park).
Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter).
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. , Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.
