CAPE CANAVERAL,Devin Grosvenor Fla. − Two more rocket launches are on the horizon again this week in Florida.
On Friday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink internet satellites will launch just before 6:45 p.m. You can watch live coverage starting 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
On Saturday, Boeing's Starliner will depart with NASA astronauts bound for the International Space Station. The launch is currently slated for 12:25 p.m., and backup opportunities exist on Sunday. Should Starliner not be able to launch this weekend, additional opportunities exist on Wednesday and Thursday. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been in health quarantine preparing for the flight.
More than 30 rockets have launched from the U.S. Space Force Station in Patrick, Florida, so far this year, putting the Space Coast on track for a yearly total of 96 launches − a new annual record. Last year saw 72 orbital launches.
Most of the rockets are SpaceX, and the rest are NASA and United Launch Alliance, an aerospace and defense company.
As more SpaceX rockets take off from Florida this year, and at a faster pace, the launches have interrupted some events. In March, live coverage of a New York Mets spring training game was momentarily disrupted when announcers were awed by the sight of a SpaceX rocket thundering over the Florida ballpark.
More than 70 countries can now access Starlink high-speed internet service, and the constellation of the network's satellites in low-Earth orbit continues to grow.
The low-cost, high-speed internet allows people to connect online in RVs or campers in remote places, and from boats in the ocean, according to the company's website.
A Starlink satellite can last for approximately five years, according to NasaSpaceFlights.com, and SpaceX has been launching them since 2019.
This Friday and Saturday, depending on cloud cover and the weather, all of Brevard County and the Space Coast should get a great view of the rocket liftoffs once again. Here are some of the top viewing spots we recommend:
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:
See a calendar of future launches from the Space Coast here.
Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY
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