SpaceX Falcon 9 to send astronauts to space station: Best places to see NASA Crew-8 liftoff

Jennifer Sangalang and Rick Neale, Florida Today
Updated ·4 min read

Editor’s note: As of 7:56 p.m. Saturday, March 2, officials have called off the March 2 Crew-8 launch attempt. "Standing down from tonight's launch of Crew-8 due to elevated winds in Dragon's ascent corridor. Now targeting Sunday, March 3 for liftoff," SpaceX officials announced in a tweet. Sunday, March 3, backup launch target is 10:53 p.m. EST. Check back at floridatoday.com/space for live coverage. For the March 2024 Florida rocket launch schedule that’s updated regularly, click here.

Original story:

It's been a busy year already for launches on the Space Coast, and there's a very special one coming up: This week, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station.

The SpaceX-NASA Crew-8 mission launch time was changed. As of Saturday, March 2, the launch time was changed to 10:56 p.m. EST Sunday, March 3.

Below is more info about NASA's Crew-8 and suggestions on where to watch the rocket launch. Dates and times are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons. FLORIDA TODAY provides interactive launch coverage at floridatoday.com/space with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission. For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or tweet him @rickneale1 on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.

Who are NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 astronauts? Here's why they're excited for early-morning launch from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX-NASA Crew-8 launch is scheduled Saturday, March 2

  • Mission: NASA’s eighth rotational mission of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon Endeavour spacecraft will carry four astronauts to the International Space Station for a science expedition. They are NASA astronauts pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps. They'll be joined by Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, a mission specialist. The four astronauts will fly aboard SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour capsule, which previously flew Demo Mission-2, Crew-2, Crew-6, and Axiom Mission 1. That April 2022 Ax-1 mission was the first commercial astronaut mission to visit the orbiting outpost.

  • Launch: As of Saturday, March 2, the launch time was 10:53 p.m. EST Sunday, March 3. Previously, it was 11:16 p.m. EST Saturday, March 2.

  • Location: Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center

  • Local sonic boom: Yes

  • Booster landing: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

  • Live coverage: Starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

How can I watch March 2 rocket launch from Florida?

If you want to watch live rocket launch coverage, FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team will provide updates for the NASA-SpaceX Crew-8 mission at floridatoday.com/space, starting about two hours before launch time. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

What is Blue Origin? Its towering rocket in Cape Canaveral, connection to Jeff Bezos

Where can I see a Florida rocket launch in Brevard County?

Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch. The best views 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 further 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

• 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.

• 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)

• Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach

• Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How to watch SpaceX, NASA Crew-8 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center