![]() Launches can be scrubbed (that is, cancelled for the day) hours- or even seconds - before liftoff, thanks to weather or technical concerns. Launches are complicated, cantankerous and sometimes dangerous. In May of 1961, after multiple delays and sitting in the Freedom 7 Mercury capsule for four hours, astronaut Alan Shepard declared, “Fix your little problem and light this candle.” (The problem was resolved, and he launched aboard the Mercury-Redstone 3, becoming the first American to fly into space.)īut just as it was in 1961, today’s rocket launches don’t always run on schedule-or sometimes, at all. Which brings us to the next thing you should know about launches.Įven astronauts can feel impatient waiting for a launch. Tickets will sell out far in advance of a launch. If you’re watching from the Visitor Complex and you want one of the prime spots, you should book early. You should also get to your vantage point early, wherever that may be. You may want to watch from a hotel, so you don’t have to go anywhere after the launch the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where you can enjoy its attractions or even on a kayak tour. That’s approximately the population of New Orleans or Tampa. ![]() SpaceX Landing Zone 1 & 2: SpaceX Landing Zone 1 & 2Ĭheck out this map that marks launch sites as well as places to watch.ĭepending on the mission, the day of the week, and if it’s a holiday, launches may draw crowds of as many 400,000 across the county. Launch Pad 39B: Artemis Program (Return to Moon) and other Moon to Mars launches Launch Complex 39A: SpaceX launches (both crewed and uncrewed)ĬCAFS Space Launch Complex 41: United Launch Alliance (ULA) launches The time of the launch also plays a part in the location you choose, as some venues close at dusk, and others offer better views of night launches. Make sure to find out the site of the launch you’re interested in watching, so you can choose the best location to watch from. The location of the rocket launch will play a part in what viewing areas are best, even within the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Here are things to consider before you choose a vantage point to watch a rocket launch. Along with commercial and international partners, NASA aims at establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.įor information on Artemis launch updates, mission operations and exploration progress, check out NASA’s blog. Companies that include SpaceX, Boeing, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin call the Space Coast home and are launching rockets on a monthly basis.Īrtemis 1 is the initial step in the coming era of human exploration. Launches are still a regular occurrence at KSC today, and they’re more exciting than ever. Apollo 11 launched from KSC, just like the rest of the flights in the Apollo program, and every last one of the 135 space shuttle missions. ![]() KSC was vital in the effort, which succeeded when Neil Armstrong and his two Apollo 11 crewmates splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. Kennedy, who in 1961 made the bold claim that the United States would put an astronaut on the moon and bring that person safely back to Earth before the end of the decade. Sited on Merritt Island, northwest of Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) encompasses 219 square miles. In Florida, you can be part of the wonder, celebrating the journeys that mark the next giant leap for mankind, your toes buried in the sand and your eyes glued to the sky. KSC serves as the primary launch center of human spaceflight, including legendary missions like Saturn V, Skylab, Shuttle Discovery and upcoming Artemis missions - landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon.Įvery time the candle is lit, the rocket takes our spirits with it as it shudders off the ground, burning impossibly strong and bright a vivid exclamation that the dream of deep space exploration is alive, soaring higher and further than ever before. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) marks the epicenter of the action, blazing its mark on history for more than 60 years. ![]() Missions that will enable a sustainable human presence on the Moon and trips to Mars? Growing fresh, edible veggies in space? Knocking an asteroid out of orbit to move it away from our planet? They all sound like something out of a movie.īut in Florida, fantasy comes to life, with rocket launches and missions that challenge the imagination. Here's your guide for watching rocket launches in Florida. ![]()
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