KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – The Artemis II mission is expected to launch on Wednesday evening at Kennedy Space Center.
The two-hour launch window runs from 6:24 - 8:24 p.m.
There are plenty of places to see, hear and feel the launch of the Space Launch System rocket on the Space Coast.
But first, for those who want to know:
Can I see the Artemis II rocket launch from my backyard?
For much of Florida, the answer is yes.
NASA put out a map that shows how to see the launch depending on where you are in Florida. Most of Florida and southern Georgia are within range to see the rocket lift off.
For instance, should the rocket launch at 6:24 p.m., folks in Orlando should look to the east at around 6:24 p.m. plus 20 seconds to see the launch.
Jacksonville would be at 6:24 p.m. plus 40 seconds.
Tampa would also see the rocket about 40 seconds after launch.
According to News 6’s Erik Von Ancken, depending on where you are in Orlando, you may even be able to HEAR it.
He interviewed Dr. Mark Archambault, associate professor of aerospace engineering and dean of academics for the College of Engineering and Science at Florida Institute of Technology.
Archambault calculated that one should be able to hear the launch from about 45 miles away, give or take.
Forty-five miles equals about Downtown Orlando, as the crow flies.
Of course, you could also always watch the launch right here on ClickOrlando.com. We will stream it live when it happens.
What to know before going to see the Artemis II launch on the Space Coast
If you plan on heading to the coast to see the launch on Wednesday, know that you are not alone. Some 400,000 people are expected to see the launch.
So it’s important to leave early, give yourself plenty of time, and plan to spend quite a bit of time in traffic heading home.
Parks and beaches are the most popular locations, and those parking lots will fill up quickly.
The KSC Visitor Complex is only letting in people who bought launch viewing packages to see the launch there, and those packages are sold out.
Port Canaveral also says it has sold out day passes for Jetty Park.
For safety reasons, another popular place, Playalinda Beach, will be closed during the launch.
What are the closest Artemis II launch viewing sites?
If you’re trying to get as close to Kennedy Space Center as possible, these are the most popular and probably the closest launch sites:
A. Max Brewer Memorial Bridge — Titusville
Traffic stops along the Max Brewer Bridge for rocket launches when they happen. The bridge spans the Indian River along the east end of State Road 406.
There are also several parks around the bridge that are great viewing sites, including Sand Point Park, Parrish Park and the Titusville Veterans Memorial Fishing Pier.
Police shut down the bridge for an hour after the launch to allow pedestrians to move safely as needed.
Space View Park — Titusville
Space View Park’s position gives it a good view of the Kennedy Space Center’s launch pads. It also offers a live audio feed from NASA’s control room, so visitors can listen to the launch process.
The park also has the U.S. Spacewalk of Fame, which honors astronauts and other pioneers of the Space Program.
The park is located off State Road 406 and U.S. 1.
William Manzo Memorial Park — Titusville
William Manzo Memorial Park is located south of the Max Brewer Bridge on U.S. 1, along the Indian River. It’s a little further than the other viewing sites, but it still provides a good view of the Indian River and an unencumbered view of the rocket launch.
Rotary Riverfront Park — Titusville
Rotary Riverfront Park is located at 4141 S. Washington Ave. (U.S. 1) along the Indian River Lagoon. The park is open for launches and is located between the Max Brewer Bridge and the NASA Causeway Bridge, and just north of State Road 50.
If you are planning to go to Titusville for the launch, there’s some traffic information you need to know.
The Max Brewer Bridge will be shut down for an hour after the launch to allow for pedestrian travel.
Titusville police will also be moving traffic along this pattern after the launch.
- North of Harrison Street:
- Travel north to Garden Street, then west to I-95
- Sand Point Park / A. Max Brewer Bridge Area:
- Travel to SR-46, then west to I-95
- South of Harrison Street:
- Travel to Cheney Highway (SR-50) or SR-405, then west
Check out the map the city of Titusville posted to Facebook to get a better look at these travel routes.
Where to watch the Artemis II launch on the beach
If you don’t mind being further from the launch site, you might try parking yourself at the beach.
Canaveral National Seashore (north of Kennedy Space Center)
The closest beach location, Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, will be closed for the launch.
Other parts of the seashore may be open, but closures are possible depending on security needs.
Apollo Beach District is expected to be open until 8 p.m., though parking may be limited because of construction work on two parking lots.
Parking information is available on the Canaveral National Seashore website.
Alan Shepard Park — Cocoa Beach
While the facilities at the park named after the first American in space will be closed, the beach will be open for rocket launch viewing. Alan Shepard Park is located near Ron Jon Surf Shop at 299 East Cocoa Beach Causeway, off A1A.
Other Cocoa Beach areas may also be good, like Cocoa Beach Pier and Lori Wilson Park.
New Smyrna Beach area
North of Kennedy Space Center, there are several in the New Smyrna Beach area to try:
- Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park
- Coronado Beach and 27th Avenue Beachfront Park
- Smyrna Dunes Park
- Ponce Inlet Beach
The New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau has a map for many of these locations.