When people think of central Florida, they probably think of theme parks and a vacation from the cold winters. But there is another great activity that you can participate in if you time your trip properly. Imagine after days of magic and adventure in theme parks you get to watch a rocket launch right before your eyes! The best part is, to catch a rocket launch close up, it will only take about an hour to drive to the coast where there are many options for viewing!
When Will There Be A Launch?
One of the most important things to research while planning to watch a rocket launch, is when and where there will be a launch. In general, most launches are scheduled weeks, if not months, ahead of time so you should be able to check the schedule. I typically refer to the Kennedy Space Center calendar to find upcoming launches. They tend to have an updated list of the missions and which pad they are launching from.
Where to Watch a Rocket Launch
On the topic of where to watch a launch, there are plenty of options. For people who want to be guaranteed seating and facilities during a launch, you can buy tickets to view a launch at the Kennedy Space Center on their website. Seating is limited and if there is a big launch tickets may not be available for long. If you are like me and want to save money, there are plenty of free locations to watch from. I have two favorite spots to watch whenever I go out for a launch. Depending on what you plan to do after the launch, would dictate which location I recommend visiting. My two favorite spots to watch from are in Titusville and Port Canaveral.
Watch From Titusville
Titusville is part of the space coast. Before Cape Canaveral became a major space launch site, Titusville was a small community. It grew in size during the Shuttle Program that was based out of Cape Canaveral and is still a favorite spot to watch modern launches. I would recommend Titusville if you want to grab a snack and watch the launch as well as learn some history at Space View Park. If you do decide to watch a launch from Titusville be sure to stop off at Cruisers Frozen Yogurt to cool off from that Florida heat!
While watching from Titusville I recommend heading over to the A. Max Brewer Bridge and watch the launch from the sidewalk there. The bridge may even close down if there is a big launch for viewing. I was able to get some great photos of the SpaceX Demo 2 Crew Dragon launch which was the first launch of US astronauts from US soil in almost a decade. It was incredible to witness a part of history. Check out the photos from that launch below or at RyanThompsonPhotography.com
There are tons of activities that can be done while visiting Port Canaveral so we will cover those in Watch a Rocket Launch Part 2! Be sure to check back for when the second post is live! As always be sure to get out and Explore Every Day and keep Seeking Discovery! Talk to you real soon!
Love watching Sun !