Space Coast sees rocket launch drought as Tropical Storm Alberto forms. Will Falcon 9 liftoff?

Jennifer Sangalang, Brooke Edwards and Rick Neale, Florida Today
·6 min read

Third time’s the charm?

Twice this week SpaceX attempted to launch an Astra 1P satellite before the space agency called a scrub — both scheduled about rush-hour Tuesday, then Wednesday.

The next attempt is Thursday, June 20. Interestingly, this occurred last week for the SpaceX Starlink 10-2 rocket launch — three attempts over three consecutive days before the Falcon 9 rocket was rolled back from the launch pad.

The string of SpaceX scrubs means that the Space Coast is now deep into a rare launch drought. The last launch from Cape Canaveral was a Starlink launch on Friday, June 7.

Also, SpaceX scrubbed the June 19 launch not long after Tropical Storm Alberto formed to became the first named tropical storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Central Florida and parts of South Texas were expected to see rain, flash flooding, and storm surges, according to advisories from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Below is a calendar for upcoming rocket launches and suggestions on where to watch them from Brevard County. If there are changes to the launch(es), this story will be updated.

Florida rocket launch calendar: Is there a launch today? SpaceX, NASA, ULA missions from Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center

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 of June, which is updated frequently. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates because they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.)

FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage and livestream at floridatoday.com/space with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission. For questions or comments, email Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or tweet him @rickneale1 on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. You also can contact Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or tweet her @brookeofstars on X or Instagram.

Is there a rocket launch from Florida? Thursday, June 20: SpaceX Astra 1P/SES-24

This mission − Astra 1P/SES-24 − will attempt to launch at 5:25 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 20, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This payload is a communications satellite for an SES and Astra partnership, which are European communication organizations. The Ku-band geostationary satellite, which was developed by Thales Alenia Space, will provide satellite TV service for Germany, France and Spain. According to the SES website, Astra satellites have been providing TV and radio for Germany since 1988.

  • Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Astra 1P satellite, which will broadcast satellite TV channels across Germany, France and Spain, for Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES.

  • Launch: 5:25 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 20, which also has a two-hour 49-minute launch window; previously, it was Wednesday, June 19, and 5:35 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 18

  • Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

  • Live coverage: 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 FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

When's the next Florida rocket launch? TBA: SpaceX Starlink 10-2 from Cape Canaveral

  • Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will deploy a batch of Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket.

  • Launch: TBA − SpaceX attempted to launch this mission three times June 12, June 13 and June 14 before operations ceased seconds before the scheduled launch.

  • Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

  • Trajectory: Northeast

  • Live coverage: 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 FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today?

Where to watch a SpaceX rocket launch from Space Coast of Florida

Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches.

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.

If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.

Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots).

Some hotspots to check out:

  • Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there's a charge to park.

  • Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there's a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn't always granted depending on capacity and time of day.

  • Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge.

  • Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville

  • Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville

  • Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville

  • Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)

  • Cocoa Village, near the parks and shops or near the docks

  • Various parks on Merritt Island

  • Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island

  • Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island

  • Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port

  • Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.

  • Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies.

  • Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.

  • 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)

  • Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)

  • South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)

  • Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach

  • Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach

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.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida rocket launch from Cape Canaveral: How to watch it in Brevard