A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday, July 21, with a window running from 5:15 p.m. to 9:04 p.m. ET. The mission will carry Northrop Grumman's Mission Robotic Vehicle and Mission Extension Pod jetpacks into orbit on a due-east trajectory.
Sky-watchers across a wide stretch of Florida's East Coast could catch the show, weather and cloud cover permitting. Visibility is expected to reach as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach, with the best views concentrated along the Space Coast, Treasure Coast, and Volusia County.
Volusia County residents have plenty of solid vantage points to choose from. Along the coast, South New Smyrna Beach and Apollo Beach within Canaveral National Seashore offer open southern sightlines. Inland, the Oak Hill riverfront — the southernmost community in South Volusia — features a string of parks and piers along River Road. Other recommended spots include Halifax Harbor Marina in Daytona Beach, George R. Kennedy Memorial Park in Edgewater, and the beaches and inlet at New Smyrna Beach.
For all viewing locations, the advice is simple: face due south and give yourself a clear horizon. No sonic booms are anticipated for this particular flight. Live coverage begins 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space, and NASA+ content — including select launches — is available free through Prime Video's Live TV section without a Prime subscription.
This story was originally reported by the USA TODAY Network – Florida.
