After the SpaceX rocket launch, here's how to see the booster land at Cape Canaveral SFS
Common in missions traveling to the International Space Station, just more than eight minutes after launch, the Falcon 9's booster will come barreling back to Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 1, triggering a sonic boom.
With the remaining booster fuel enough to allow a land return, it eliminates the need for SpaceX to land the booster on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. It's a win for all, as it brings the booster back to SpaceX right away, and gives viewers a glimpse of an event that was science fiction just a decade ago.
What to know about the Ax-4 mission: Doubleheader launch: Ax-4 astronauts to launch on SpaceX rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center
So how can you watch the SpaceX booster return? Afterall, it's easy to hear the resulting sonic boom but where do you look to see the rocket descend toward Cape Canaveral.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 booster (first stage) will return to Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 1, which is located just southeast of NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A. For reference, the landing zones are in the area just north of the Cape Canaveral lighthouse.
No matter your location, keep your eyes more to the east after liftoff.
Local beaches: A great place to see the booster return is from either Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach, where there is a clear view of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the northern horizon.
Jetty Park: Jetty Park is also a great place to watch the booster return, as well as the launch. From the jetty, a clear view to the north is provided. This is also the closet the public can get to the booster return site. Take note that Jetty Park requires either a pass or daily fee to enter.
The return of the booster will be not instantaneous after the launch, so do not leave or look away. Keep in mind that weather conditions play a part in exactly what will be visible.
In total, it takes just over eight minutes to see the booster return.
Stage separation, which is where the rocket's upper stage and booster separate, is visible a bit after liftoff. However, while the upper stage may remain viable, the booster can vanish for a bit as it begins descending to Earth.
While the booster descends, a short burn working to slow the booster may be visible to spectators. After this, the booster will vanish again for a bit.
As the booster comes in for a landing, the glowing and consistent landing burn will be visible to those watching. This landing burn does not last long, but is unmistakable. At this point, there will be a view of the booster as it slowly descends vertically toward Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral
The booster will descend out of view as it lands, but the show is not over. Shortly afterward, a loud sonic boom will sound throughout the area.
This thunderous sound is created due to the booster's return speed being faster than sound. As light travels faster than sound, those on the ground see the booster come back first before the sound travels to their location. This phenomena is the same reason we see lightning before hearing the thunder.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here's how to watch the SpaceX rocket booster land at Cape Canaveral
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Buck Moon, ‘Swift Planet' and more: How to enjoy July's night sky events
(NEXSTAR) – The first full month of summer arrives bearing several celestial treats for skywatchers. July will offer a meteor shower, a glimpse of the Buck Moon and a view of the Scorpius constellation, among other sights. On July 4, there will be an uncommonly good opportunity to get a glimpse of Mercury, the smallest, speediest planet in our solar system. Named after the Roman god known for his winged feet and swift travel, Mercury is the planet located nearest to the sun, which it flies around every 88 days, according to NASA. At 12 a.m. CDT on July 4, Mercury will reach its greatest elongation, or the farthest distance from the sun, making it the best time to see it. To get a glimpse of the 'Swift Planet,' EarthSky suggests waiting for the sun to set before looking west for the planet during twilight time. Nearly a week after Fourth of July fireworks illuminate the sky, the so-called Buck Moon will rise on July 10. The name dates back to the Maine Farmers' Almanac, which assigned 'Indian' names to full moons, starting in the 1930s, according to NASA. The names stuck and are still used today. The Almanac reportedly claimed that members of the northeastern U.S. Algonquin tribes called the July full moon the Buck Moon for the male deer whose antlers start to emerge, encased in velvety fur. The tribes also called it the Thunder Moon because of the regular early summer storms in the region. For the astrology geeks out there, one of the twelve zodiacal constellations is a familiar sight in the summer night sky – Scorpius, located in the galactic center of the Milky Way. Depending on the amount of light pollution you're dealing with, Scorpius has a number of highlights to check off, such as Antares, or the 'heart of the scorpion.' The supergiant star has a reddish hue and can be observed with the naked eye. Starting July 18, the Southern Delta Aquariid meteors will become active and will potentially be visible until late August. The Southern Delta Aquariids will reach their peak between July 29 and July 30, according to NASA. The meteors are faint, so they won't be visible if the moon is out. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere will have the best odds of a good show. Here's what you can do to increase your odds of seeing them, according to NASA: If the weather doesn't cooperate where you live, there will be plenty to enjoy in August when we get a glimpse of Venus and Jupiter side-by-side, the Sturgeon Moon and the Perseid meteor shower.
Indianapolis Star
3 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
July's full moon rises in Indiana soon. Here the best time to watch it in Indianapolis
Less than a week after fireworks light up Indiana's night sky, a different celestial object will brighten your evening: the full moon. The Milky Way is also visible from now through August so long as you can find a dark enough spot to view it. Here's what skywatchers should know. Thursday, July 10, 2025, is when the full Buck Moon charges its way into the night sky, according to NASA. The moon's phases in July are: Story continues after photo gallery. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 9:39 p.m. Thursday, July 10, crossing the meridian at 1:19 a.m. before setting at 5:46 a.m. Friday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Skies around Central Indiana could be cloudy Thursday night, July 10, with temperatures around 68 in the evening, according to an advanced forecast from AccuWeather. Midwest weather tends to be fickle, however, so keep your fingers crossed for clearer skies. And in case you miss it Thursday, look up again Friday or Saturday night, when the moon will still be 99% and 97% full, respectively. A male deer, or buck's antlers were in full growth mode around this time in July, writes the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other names for July's full moon from Native American tribes include the Salmon Moon, Thunder Moon, and Halfway Summer Moon. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. If possible, head to Beverly Shores, near Gary, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing. You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International. According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south." The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. When is the next full moon?: When every full moon shines in 2025. Dates, times and the history behind each name.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Northern Lights Are Coming to 14 States This Week—Are You in One of Them?
The northern lights are expected to be visible again overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday due to solar activity. A coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the sun on June 28 is traveling toward Earth and will likely cause G1 geomagnetic storm conditions. Residents in northern U.S. states, including Washington, Montana, Michigan, and New York, may have a chance to view the summer has been an incredible time to view the northern lights across the U.S. The celestial phenomenon is expected to make another appearance overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a recent forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. A coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on June 28 and is traveling toward Earth is expected to cause minor geomagnetic storm conditions. Per NASA, a CME is an eruption of plasma threaded by magnetic field lines ejected from the sun over the course of several hours. Geomagnetic storms range from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). NOAA's three-day forecast predicts the CME, which is slated to reach Earth early on Wednesday, July 2, will cause a G1 storm. The administration also expects the Kp index to reach 5, measured at a value of 0 to 9. Higher Kp values increase the chances of seeing auroras at lower latitudes. Those living in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine may have an opportunity to spot the auroras. Residents in the northernmost parts of these states will have the highest chance, according to NOAA's aurora viewline forecast. If you want to catch a glimpse of the northern lights over the next two days, NOAA says the aurora borealis can often be observed just after sunset or just before sunrise. The northern lights aren't visible during daylight hours. Read the original article on Martha Stewart
