A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a GPS satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to space.

SpaceX rocket launch may be visible from various locations across Florida’s Space Coast, weather permitting.

A rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is on the horizon — and when this “so Florida” thing occurs, it’s very Instagram-worthy.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially launch a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force on Friday, May 30.

Though rockets here blast off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, people beyond the Space Coast can sometimes see this phenomenon.

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida’s Space Coast could be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach (see videos and photo gallery with this story). 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.

Below is more information on rocket launches in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them.

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.

When is the next SpaceX rocket launch in Florida? Friday, May 30: SpaceX GPS III-7

Mission: SpaceX will launch a Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command atop a Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX will launch a Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite for the Space Force’s Space Systems Command atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Launch window: 1:23 p.m. to 2:08 p.m. ET Friday, May 30, 2025

1:23 p.m. to 2:08 p.m. ET Friday, May 30, 2025 Launch location: Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Sonics booms: TBA

TBA Trajectory : TBA

: TBA Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: 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, 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.

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Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or 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: