Aug. 29, 2026, 9:34 p.m. ET
- For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
- Watching rocket launches in Florida is a popular thing to do. And it’s perfect for Instagram or TikTok.
- Pending weather and clouds, SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch may be seen far beyond the launch pad near Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will help launch NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
When is the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch in Florida, and how do I submit photos?
If you live in the Sunshine State, you likely know watching a rocket launch is such a Florida thing to do.
That typically inspires people watching from the ground to whip out their phones and cameras to document liftoff, the rocket launch contrail and sometimes “space jellyfish.”
Watch some NASA+ content on Amazon Prime Video
FLORIDA TODAY’s Space Team, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, has covered every single rocket launch from the Cape Canaveral area.
But we’re not the only ones who documented this tremendous space coverage.
Often, FLORIDA TODAY gets photo and video submissions from readers, too, ranging from rocket launch views along the Space Coast to Orlando and West Palm Beach. Sometimes, readers far beyond the launch pad in Cape Canaveral − like in another state − have sent in photos and clips for possible publication.
Here’s how to do that:
➤ Fill out the form here to submit photos or video of a Florida rocket launch for possible publication in FLORIDA TODAY and other USA TODAY Network sites. The content will be reviewed by an editor. Be sure to include your first and last name for credit purposes, the city and state where the event is happening and a brief description. Here is the direct link, https://gannett-nxuao.formstack.com/forms/brevardugc.
For questions or comments about rocket launch coverage from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, email USA TODAY Network Space Reporters Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com, Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com or Eric Lagatta at elagatta@usatoday.com.
For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026: SpaceX Falcon Heavy for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Depending on the weather, cloud cover and trajectory, rocket launches from Florida’s Space Coast are sometimes visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and as far south as West Palm Beach. In some cases, rockets launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral were spotted on the West Coast of Florida and in other states along the East Coast.
Here’s info about the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch from Florida and how to watch some NASA content with Amazon Prime Video.
- Mission: Generating 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Launch window: 7:26 a.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, with a backup opportunity on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026
- Launch trajectory: TBA
- Launch location: Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island, Florida
- Sonic booms for the Space Coast (Melbourne, Cocoa Beach area) of Florida: Yes
- Live coverage starts two hours 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 two hours 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.
Watch some rocket launches with NASA+ on Prime Video
Watch NASA+ content with Amazon Prime Video
NASA content, including some rocket launches, is available to watch on NASA+ on desktop, both from its official site and YouTube. The platform is also available to download as a mobile app on smartphones.
All NASA+ content is also available to those who have Prime Video downloaded on any of their devices – whether it be a smartphone or smart TV.
The content, which does not require a Prime subscription to view, is one of Prime Video’s FAST channels (free ad-supported television). Viewers can find it under Prime’s Live TV section at the top of the screen when they open the app.
Photos of SpaceX, NASA, ULA and Blue Origin rocket launches in Florida
The following photo galleries consist of USA TODAY Network photos, reader submissions or “user-generated content.” In many cases, a NASA, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance or Blue Origin rocket launch can be seen far beyond the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida − depending on the rocket, weather conditions, cloud cover and time of day.
Fill out the form here to submit photos or video of a Florida rocket launch for possible publication in FLORIDA TODAY and other USA TODAY Network sites.
Contributing: Eric Lagatta and Brooke Edwards, USA TODAY Network
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
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