Get ready for a (potential) evening launch from the Space Coast.
SpaceX plans to launch the next two Galileo satellites into orbit for the European Space Agency (ESA). The space company is targeting Tuesday, Sept. 17, to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.
These Galileo satellites are the latest in the navigational satellite constellation, which according to ESA is "the world’s most precise satellite navigation system." First launched commercially in 2017, the constellation serves over four billion smartphone customers around the world. Most of the smartphones currently sold in Europe run the navigational service. Galileo is compatible with GPS and Glonass, which is the Russian navigational system.
The last time SpaceX was contracted to launch these satellites was in late April. Those two satellites, known as 29 and 30, have been tested and are currently providing service. This next launch will deliver satellites 31 and 32.
Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, the SpaceX rocket launch should be visible from almost anywhere on the Space Coast. And minutes after liftoff, there’s typically a rumble. When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo.
Below are suggestions on where to watch the rocket launch from this area, a real-time weather radar to check for rainy conditions and other things to know. If there are changes to the launch schedule, this story will be updated. For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space .
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Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch two European Space Agency Galileo satellites into orbit.
Launch window: 6:44-7:31 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 17, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.
Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Live coverage : You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team , which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space , starting 90 minutes before liftoff. 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.
Space Coast weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today?
Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.
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. 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: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral to deliver Galileo satellites: What time is liftoff?
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