SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral: What time is liftoff for Starlink satellites?

• If you’re looking for amazing Florida rocket launch photos, try the Instagram hashtags #capecanaveral or #spacecoast or follow @Florida_Today
• Depending on weather, cloud cover, rockets launched from NASA or Cape Canaveral can be seen from Daytona Beach to West Palm Beach, Florida.

A “so Florida” thing to do is coming up: a potential SpaceX rocket launch.

SpaceX plans to send a Falcon 9 rocket with several Starlink satellites into orbit. And depending on weather and visibility, there could be a show in the sky.

Liftoff is tentatively set late Saturday, April 5, if things go according to plan for the space agency.

Rockets launch from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, Florida, in Brevard County, which is an hour east of the Orlando theme parks. Depending on cloud cover, weather and visibility, people from Daytona Beach to Melbourne Beach to Vero Beach might see a nice streak in the sky — given the proximity to NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Below are suggestions on where to watch the rocket launch from this area 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 or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Where can I see a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch in Florida?

In Florida, we can best see a rocket launch in person if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County) or certain spots in the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County). Pro tip: If you do watch it in person, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic.

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, this SpaceX rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast could be visible from Daytona Beach to Melbourne to Vero Beach. In some cases, a Falcon 9 rocket launch has been spotted as far south as West Palm Beach. 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.

Can a rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral, Florida, be seen outside of Florida? Once again depending on weather and on cloud cover, yes. For example, readers have submitted photos or posted on social platforms pictures of Falcon Heavy, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach.

A rocket launch can be a treat for the ears, too: On the Space Coast, a “rumble” can be heard or window-shaking can be expected in some parts of Brevard County after liftoff. And some rocket launches have an added bonus: The SpaceX boosters return to a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean or, occasionally, to the company's landing zone at Cape Canaveral. If a booster returns to the landing zone, there's a sonic boom.

When is the next rocket launch from Florida? Saturday, April 5, 2025: SpaceX Starlink 6-72

• Mission: SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the latest batch of Starlink internet satellites.
• Launch time and day: 11:07 p.m. EDT Saturday, April 5
• Location: SpaceX will attempt liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Trajectory: Southeast
• Live coverage at floridatoday.com: 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 and SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch livestream 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.

Live weather radar: Will it rain in Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch?

Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando 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.

Where to watch SpaceX rocket launch from Space Coast of Florida

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)

(This story was updated with new information.)

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.