Today, Saturday the 14th of November, is not Launch Day. Tomorrow… so far, so good.
As announced yesterday, the NASA/SpaceX Crew 1 launch of four astronauts to the International Space Station has moved to Sunday, November 15th at 7:27 p.m. local time (GMT-5), and so, as everyone scrambles to change their plans, here’s a few things to keep in mind:
UPDATE: Crew 1 has slipped one day due to weather at the recovery location – to Sunday, as noted below. If you have Gray Line tickets, check your email for important re-booking information! -WP
Despite Tropical Storm Eta bouncing around the Gulf like a pinball, plans are still proceeding apace for the Crew One mission to the International Space Station, launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 no earlier than Sunday, November 15th, at 7:27 p.m. local time (GMT-5), according to the Flight Readiness Review that concluded today.
Yeah, okay, that title’s a little ambiguous: SpaceX is NOT re-launching Hubble. What is happening is that Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is once again offering their Launch And A Movie package for the SpaceX GPS III SV04 launch, originally slated for September and October but now scheduled for November 5th at 6:24 p.m.
For an admission cost of $50 per vehicle, you’ll be able to watch the launch from the comfort of your car, followed by a showing of Hubble on the big screen. Snacks, souvenirs and restrooms will be available; RVs are welcome. More details (including information for those holding tickets for the previous attempts at this launch) are available at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex website.
While your view of the launch is obstructed at ground level by the treeline for this launch, you will still have a close view once it’s in the air, and the webcast & movie on the big screen, as well as the festive atmosphere, makes this an event worth checking out!
Brace yourselves – Crew-1 is coming! No, not on Halloween as originally announced – the launch is now set for Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 7:49 pm EST – but already, preparations are being made to cheer on the astronauts of Crew-1 as they head to the ISS.
THE BIG NEWS: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, working in cooperation with Gray Line Orlando, are offering transportation and launch viewing for the Crew-1 launch at the Apollo/Saturn V Center! Unavailable to visitors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apollo/Saturn V Center will be the closest available viewing location for this launch, so you won’t want to miss out on this one! This premium viewing package will be available at a cost of $229 per person; more details are available at the link below.
Purchase tickets at the Gray Line Orlando site (click here!)
(Tickets are STILL AVAILABLE, get ’em while they last!)
After a temperature check, guests will board Gray Line buses from one of four locations in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista or Merritt Island, and be taken to Kennedy Space Center, where they will go through security and have a little time to explore the main complex before reboarding Gray Line buses to go to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. At the conclusion of the day, the buses will return directly to their departure locations.
This viewing package is an excellent opportunity for those who can’t easily make the drive out to the Space Coast, as well as, y’know, anyone who wants to see the launch from the best possible spot. We’ll have more info as it becomes available!
In addition to the Gray Line excursion above, KSCVC is also offering viewing at the main visitor complex’s Atlantis South lot (the Feel The Fun package, from the Atlantis north lawn, is already sold out). This location is 7.5 miles from the launch pad, and viewing of the launch will be obstructed at ground level by the treeline – but the atmosphere provided by Kennedy Space Center provides a fitting backdrop to such a momentous occasion. Those tickets are available at the Kennedy Space Center website (click here).
Be sure, in either case, to review the launch scrub policy carefully prior to purchase, and pay attention to the COVID-19 precautions in effect: masks will be required at these viewing sites, and temperature checks will be performed prior to entry.
We’ll have more information on other viewing locations and opportunities as the Crew-1 launch approaches, so be sure to check back soon. You can follow us on Twitter @LaunchRats to receive updates every time we post!
(Revised: 15 Feb 2020 6:09 pm – another slip)
Due to a potential issue with a second-stage valve component, SpaceX will now be launching their Starlink 4 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from pad SLC-40 no earlier than Monday, 17 February 2020. No time has yet been given, but if the launch happens on Monday, it will probably be scheduled for closer to 10:00 am. The booster is expected to land on the drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) and this landing will not be visible from shore.
Launch Viewing Advice: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has offered premium viewing tickets for the LC-39 Gantry for sale; however, those tickets have already sold out. (PROTIP: never rely on this site, or any similar site, for up-to-the-minute information on such premium opportunities! Follow @ExploreSpaceKSC on Twitter for the most timely updates on launch viewing opportunities.) Viewing will also be possible from KSCVC’s Apollo/Saturn V Center (also known as the Banana Creek viewing area) and is included with the price of admission, but as the delay means that the launch will be taking place earlier in the day, viewing from the Apollo/Saturn V Center is now less recommended as the bus ride to that area and the line to get on the bus will take some time, and you may still be on the bus when the rocket launches. (KSCVC also offers viewing from the main visitor complex, but this is not recommended as there is significant obstruction at ground level barring a clear view of lift-off.) Due to the northerly trajectory of Starlink launches, Playalinda Beach should also offer an excellent view of the launch – however, other perspectives such as Jetty Park or the parks along U.S. 1 in Titusville will still offer a good view.
Launch Day Road Closures: Kennedy Space Center has issued a road closure advisory for launch day. Please note that:
What this means: YES, you may go to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex or Playalinda Beach to view the launch, but you will need to get there early. For KSCVC, this means aiming to arrive at or before opening time at 9:00 am – there will be long lines of cars and delays at the checkpoint, so allow extra time. For Playalinda, I would estimate that you should plan your trip to arrive at the beach no later than 8:00 am, although the gates to the beach area may not open until later than that.
Remember, this is a Saturday morning launch, which means that more people are free of work and school obligations and thus are able to attend – so wherever you’re headed, get there at least one hour earlier than you otherwise would, to secure a parking spot and a good vantage point.
Enjoy!
Just a quick outline of what to expect in the coming weeks and months in terms of Space Coast launches… (spoiler: there’s a LOT happening!)
The next one up will be SpaceX Starlink 4, currently set to launch on a Falcon 9 from SLC-40 on February 15th at 10:46 am EST. I’ll have more specific viewing information and advice shortly, but as this launch will include a drone ship landing rather than returning to LZ-1, and due to the northerly trajectories of Starlink launches, my general advice at this time is to strongly consider Playalinda Beach for viewing.
After that, we have SpaceX CRS-20 on the schedule for March 2nd, at 1:45 am EST. CRS launches are commercial resupply missions to the ISS, and thus are usually RTLS (return to landing site) with the boosters landing at LZ-1. For this reason, and because the time of night will limit availability of other options, I recommend favoring a more southern viewing option, like the Route 401 Viewing Stands (note: parking is limited, and they fill up fast!) or Jetty Park or Exploration Tower, if those sites make viewing opportunities available.
The next confirmed launch date after that will be for United Launch Alliance’s AEHF-6 launch of their Atlas V rocket from SLC-41, currently set for March 13th at 3:45 pm EDT. As this is within normal hours of operation for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, viewing may be available from their Banana Creek/Apollo Saturn V Center; in addition, Playalinda Beach should be open and available, and both of these will be good options for viewing.
Other launches noted as TBD (to be determined) for sometime in March are SpaceX’s Starlink 5 and SAOCOM 1B launches, and SpaceX’s GPS 3 SV03 launch in April; there is also a ULA Atlas V launch of AFSPC 7/OTV-6 listed as TBD for May. More news on those as it becomes available.
The big news, however, is that we now have a working date for SpaceX’s Demo-2 launch, which will carry astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil for the first time since the end of the shuttle program. Currently, that working date is May 7th, but the launch date is very much not certain at this point; there is a strong probability that it might be delayed, or might even happen sooner. Still, it is not too soon to begin making preliminary tentative travel plans. Keep an eye on social media, and this site, for further updates as the situation progresses.
These are exciting times for the Space Coast launch community! Head on down for a launch, or several!
Updated: 27-Jan-2020, 6:41 pm – slippity-doo-dah.
SpaceX is now planning to launch their fourth batch of Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from SLC-40 on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 9:06 am. The launch has slipped from Tuesday due to poor weather in the recovery area.
Viewing Locations: As this is a midday launch, all of the usual places should be available for viewing. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will (as far as we know) be open, with the Apollo/Saturn V Center (Banana Creek) being accessible with the price of daily admission, but due to the time of this launch it will not be possible to get there prior to launch, and so KSCVC is not a recommended viewing location at this time. Due to the northeasterly vector of this launch, Playalinda Beach is recommended for viewing this launch, with the parks along U.S. 1 being a good backup option – Jetty Park and other points south will be less optimal for launch viewing, although still good places to be.
If you’re still in town from the IFA launch and have time to kill before Starlink, fear not; there’s still plenty to do! Double down on the space immersion with a visit to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Sands Space History Center, and/or the American Space Museum & Walk of Fame – tell ’em the Wayward Plane sent you!
Last Revision: 18-Jan-2020 5:05 am – scrub-a-dub-dub.
The SpaceX In-Flight Abort test for their Crew Dragon capsule is currently scheduled for No Earlier Than (NET) Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 8:00 am EST SCRUBBED; new time is Sunday, January 19, 2020, at 8:00 am EST, with a six-hour launch window. For this test flight, SpaceX will launch an uncrewed Crew Dragon capsule atop a reflown Falcon 9 rocket from pad LC-39A, then simulate an unplanned flight termination via rapid scheduled disassembly of the first-stage booster, at which point the capsule’s abort engines are expected to allow it to escape from the explosion to parachute unharmed into the ocean. This is a crucial test for SpaceX’s entry in the Commercial Crew program, and will pave the way for SpaceX to launch crew to the International Space Station.
The weather forecast released today by the 45th Space Wing for the new date shows a 60% go-for-launch probability, deteriorating to 40% at the end of the launch window – so stay tuned to all the usual places for more news as this situation develops.
Viewing locations: Recommendations and availability may change up until the time of launch. Note that as this is a test launch, the actual time of launch could be delayed by some hours, and so comfort should be factored into your viewing plans. As of now, we have no news of changes to any of this information; if needed (or possible), contact your preferred viewing spot directly for any news of changes in availability.
Information below this line has not been updated for the launch scrub.
Recommended:
Also Available:
Not Recommended/Not Available:
Road Closure Information:
As of 15 January, Kennedy Space Center has released road closure information related to the launch, as follows:
Canaveral National Seashore has confirmed that Route 406 will be closed to ALL entry beginning at 3:30 a.m. on January 18th. The southern portion of Mosquito Lagooon via BioLab Road or Max Hoek Road and the Gator Creek Roads will also be inaccessible. Please do not plan to view the launch from any part of this area.
Whichever viewing area you’re headed for, make sure your route is unaffected by these closures, and plan for delays.
Stay tuned for more information as this launch approaches!
(Updated: 31 Dec 2019, with new NEW launch time.)
The SpaceX Starlink 2 launch, previously scheduled for December 30th and January 3rd, will now launch on January 6, 2020, no earlier than 9:20 PM EST.
SpaceX will be launching a Falcon 9 from SLC-40 in Cape Canaveral bearing the third batch of satellites for their Starlink broadband network. It is expected that this will be a first-stage landing at sea on one of SpaceX’s drone ships, and thus not viewable from land. Viewing Locations: Jetty Park will probably be open; parking for non-Brevard County residents is usually $15 per car. Free locations include Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach beaches, and any of the parks along U.S. 1 in Titusville, like Space View Park. Exploration Tower is selling VIP viewing tickets, $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Kennedy Space Center is NOT offering premium viewing at this time, and Playalinda Beach will not be open due to the time of day.
Assuming all goes as planned, the drone ship will return to Port Canaveral bearing the landed booster within a few days; at that time, the drone ship and booster should be briefly viewable from Port Canaveral’s “restaurant row” (for example, Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill) as the booster is being unloaded. Booster returns are a sight not to be missed! Do try to catch this one if you can.
If you need further guidance on any of these, please feel free to reach out via the Contact links – we’re happy to help people on their launch viewing journeys.
Stay tuned for further updates!