In 1962, the Kennedy Space Center was established on Florida’s east coast as NASA’s Launch Operations Center. Since then, every manned mission launched into space by the United States has departed from the Kennedy Space Center. Launches can be seen from various points across Florida, but certain viewing areas offer particularly good views of this iconic spectacle.
There are three main places to watch a launch from within the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center. According to the Launch Photography website, a strip of land known as the NASA Causeway is the closest spot the general public can access for a shuttle launch, and it is also the best. Tickets, however, are very hard to come by and sell out quickly. You can also watch from the Astronaut Hall of Fame or the Space Shuttle Plaza, but the views are not as good as those offered by the Causeway.
Viewing points along the Indian River in Titusville, Florida are generally considered to be the best areas to watch a launch from outside the Kennedy Space Center. Space View Park is one of the most popular viewing locations in Titusville. Situated on Broad Street and Indian River Avenue, the park offers unobstructed views across the river to the launch pads. Other popular viewing spots along the river include Sand Point Park, Marina Park and Kennedy Point Park.
The small city of Cocoa Beach provides some of the most scenic shuttle viewing options. The beach itself is a popular strip from which to relax and enjoy a launch, as well as the adjoining pier. However, Cocoa Beach is about 15 miles from the launch area. You will be able to see the shuttle after takeoff, but the launch pads themselves cannot be seen and the distance greatly reduces any noise created by the launch.
Jetty Park, located south of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, is home to the 1,200-foot Malcolm E. McLouth Fishing Pier. The pier is a popular place for watching shuttle launches, but Titusville remains a better option for watching manned shuttles leaving from Pad 39. According to the Florida Review website, Jetty Park is the best location for watching Atlas or Delta rockets launching from the more southerly launch pads, 17A and 17B. Both of these launch pads are only 2.9 miles from Jetty Park, while Pad 39 is about 13.8 miles away.
Florida State Road 528, commonly known as the Beachline Expressway, offers a distant but largely unobstructed view of the launch pads from certain points. It is not uncommon for motorists to pull over to watch a launch. According to the NASA website, one of the most popular viewing points along the route is from the Westbound SR 528 Causeway over the Banana River Park, well off the right-of-way near the water.
