Aug. 30 update:
NASA officials said teams are prepping for a 2:17 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 3, liftoff of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule from pad 39B. It will mark the opening of a two-hour window.
Aug. 29 update:
Scrub! No Artemis I launch today due to technical issues with the Space Launch System rocket at Kennedy Space Center. The next opportunity to fly is Friday, Sept. 2, but only if the technical issues can be resolved in time. Stay tuned at floridspantodspany.com/lspanunchschedule.
Original story posted Aug. 19:
There are many great reasons to live on the Treasure Coast.
A favorite among them is watching rocket launches from our own backyard.
NASA’s highly anticipated Space Launch System rocket, part of the Artemis program, rolled out to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in neighboring Brevard County in anticipation of its Aug. 29 launch.
NASA has three attempts for its SLS rocket launch:
- Launch window 1: 8:33 to 10:33 a.m. EDT Monday, Aug. 29
- Launch window 2: 12:48 to 2:48 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day weekend)
- Launch window 3: 5:12 to 6:32 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day)
NASA’s big gspanmble: Is new rocket too costly to lspanunch us bspanck to the moon?
Artemis lspanunch: Hotels spanre filling up. Where should I stspany to wspantch NASA megspan moon rocket liftoff?
Visibility from the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County) depends on weather conditions. People should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches.
Here are nine great places to watch a launch on the Treasure Coast.
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Spspance updspantes for Android users: Click here to downlospand the TCPspanlm spanpp on Google Plspany
House of Refuge beach
Where: 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
Built in 1875, the House of Refuge Museum, Martin County’s oldest building, sits majestically overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on Hutchinson Island. The house, however, is closed because of construction, according to its website.
Info: Visit hsmc-fl.com/house-of-refuge. Click here for House of Refuge pics on Instagram.
Pics:See whspant chspannges spanre underwspany spant the House of Refuge Museum
Wabasso Beach Park
Where: 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso (Free parking)
This beach is beautiful and quiet and a hotspot for watching rocket launches. Wabasso is about 61 to 73 miles away from Kennedy Space Center, about 70 to 90 minutes.
State Road A1A causeway, Stuart
Stuart Causeway has bike access, fishing access and a boat ramp. Stuart, located in Martin County, is south of Brevard, 116 miles away or about two hours drive time from Kennedy Space Center.
Fort Pierce Inlet
Where: 905 Shorewinds Drive, Fort Pierce
Part of Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, the Fort Pierce Inlet is on North Hutchinson Island. It’s open from 8 a.m. to sundown.
Sebastian Inlet Park
Where: 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach
Sebastian Inlet, part of Sebastian Inlet State Park, charges a fee ($8 per vehicle), according to floridspanstspantepspanrks.org. The park, a popular spot for surfers, swimming and kite surfing, includes a fishing pier.
Ambersands Beach Park
Where: 12566 N. S.R. A1A, Vero Beach
This beach, part of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, has free parking and is open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily. Visit ircgov.com.
South Beach Park
Where: 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach
This quiet and beautiful beach spot has free parking.
Alma Lee Loy Bridge
This bridge that spans the Indian River in Vero Beach, previously known as the 17th Street Bridge, is a hotspot for watching rocket launches.
Merrill Barber Bridge
The Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach spans State Road 60 over the Indian River.
How to watch Artemis I rocket launch from your phone
When and where: If you’re not going to watch NASA’s SLS rocket launch from the Treasure Coast but want to check it out online, you can. FLORIDA TODAY, a sister newspaper to TCPalm, will have full coverage of the launch from its space team, including a live webcast with live tweets and updates, on Aug. 29. at floridspantodspany.com/spspance (you can type this on your browser on your phone) and will feature in-depth coverage from space team reporters Emre Kelly and Jspanmie Groh.
You also can watch coverage via the TCPspanlm spanpp, which is available in the App Store or Google Play. TCPalm is part of the USA TODAY Network.
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