Image from America Space, photo credit Jason Rhian
This Thursday, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be kicking off its launch schedule here on the Space Coast with the flight of the Atlas V rocket. Liftoff is currently set for 7:40pm, but heavy cloud cover for most of this week may cause a delay. The mission will carry the 4th installment of the SBIRS satellite constellation into position. The SBIRS satellites are a part of the US military’s early missile detection system. Thursday’s weather forecast indicates heavy cloud cover and a strong breeze going into the evening hours.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
SpaceX is targeting Friday afternoon for Cape Canaveral’s last launch of 2017. Liftoff is scheduled for 1:20pm EST, and will attempt to land the first stage at the Cape Canaveral Landing Zone just a few minutes later. Friday’s launch will deliver supplies and scientific experiments to the International Space Station (ISS), and will be the first launch from Launch Complex 40 since a Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a test fire in September, 2016. The launch on Friday will depend on the readiness of the launchpad after repairs, as well as on the weather; the forecast indicates a chance for afternoon showers that may delay the launch.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
UPDATE 12/8: The launch has been pushed back to NET December 12 at approximately 11:45am EST.
UPDATE 12/12: The launch has been delayed til NET December 13 at 11:24am EST.
Thanksgiving weekend is always busy here on the Space Coast, and this year is no different! After a day of fun, food, and family, residents and visitors alike will have a variety of events and entertainment to choose from over the weekend.
Start off on the right foot with the Cocoa Beach Turkey Trot (or the Space Coast Turkey Trot in Melbourne) Thanksgiving morning. The race starts at 8:00am at the Bailiwick Mall in Downtown Cocoa Beach. Relax with live music and a variety of beautiful artwork at the Downtown Cocoa Beach is home to the annual Cocoa Beach Art Show & Music Fest. The art show opens on November 25th at 9:00am and offers a wide variety of artists, live music, and food vendors. The weather forecast indicates rain and storms through Friday, clearing up and cooling off by Saturday with highs in the low 70s.
If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
This Wednesday, November 15th, SpaceX is set to launch a secret US Government payload, “Zuma,” on Wednesday night. The launch is currently scheduled to liftoff at 8:00pm, and the Wednesday weather forecast indicates mostly clear skies for the launch. After liftoff, SpaceX will be landing the first stage at the Cape Canaveral AFB landing zone. This launch marks SpaceX’s 17th launch this year, and is one of the last two confirmed launches before the New Year. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will remain open late for launch viewing.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. For more information about the mission and launch, visit SpaceFlightNow.com. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
UPDATE 1/5/18: The launch of the Zuma payload, which was indefinitely postponed after a technical problem with the rocket in November, will be launching this Sunday, January 7 with a window opening at 8:00pm EST. The weather forecast for Sunday indicates mostly cloudy skies with a strong breeze, with some break in the cloud cover going into the evening hours. Since it is a classified launch, SpaceX will not be livestreaming the launch. Saturday’s launch will be the first launch of the year, and will kick off a very busy year in space for Florida’s Space Coast. Stay tuned for more information about this year’s launch plans!
Image belongs to Chris B of NASASpaceFlight.com @NASASpaceFlight on Twitter
SpaceX will be launching a Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, October 30th, just ahead of Halloween. The launch is scheduled for liftoff at 3:34pm with a forecast for clear, sunny skies and will carry the Koreasat 5a satellite to orbit. This mission will deliver TV broadcast services to Korea, Japan, and South Asia. After the first stage separates, SpaceX will attempt to land it at sea on the autonomous drone ship Of Course I Still Love You.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. For more information about the mission and launch, visit SpaceFlightNow.com. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
November may shape up to be an exciting month for space enthusiasts: a secretive Falcon 9 launch is on the books, there are three meteor showers happening, and SpaceX plans to launch its 1st Falcon Heavy flight.
Earlier this year, SpaceX’s founder, Elon Musk, announced that they would target November for the 1st flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket. If successful, the Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful rocket in service, and has often been compared to the Saturn V rockets that took us to the moon. The exact date and time for the demo flight have yet to be determined. In addition to the launch, SpaceX will also attempt to land all three first stages, two on land, and one on the autonomous drone ship Of Course I Still Love You at sea.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center (KSC) calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. For more information about the mission and launch, visit the official KSC launch page. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
Update 10/27/17: The demo launch has been set to no earlier than December 2017.
Tomorrow, SpaceX will launch its 15th mission of 2017, delivering the Echostar 105/SES-11 satellite to orbit. The Falcon 9’s first stage is a “flight proven”-or recycled-rocket that was first launched in February earlier this year. Liftoff is scheduled for 6:53pm on Wednesday, October 11; the first stage will attempt a landing on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Atlantic. The weather forecast indicates partly cloudy skies, cooler temperatures in the mid-80s or upper-70s, and a light breeze.
For a complete launch schedule, visit the official Kennedy Space Center calendar. Learn more about SpaceX and look out for the launch livestream at SpaceX.com. For more information about the mission and launch, visit SpaceFlightInsider.com. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com! Corporate and government rates are available for aerospace travelers!
After several delays, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be launching an Atlas V rocket on a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The launch window will open early Thursday morning, October 5th, between 3:30am-5:00am. Bad weather is expected to continue for the Space Coast well into next week and even beyond, with a high chance of storms and rain possible for this launch window. If the weather does clear, viewers might be treated to a rare night launch and full moon combo. October’s full moon is set to rise during the evening hours and set just after sunrise. Since this is a classified launch, streaming will not be available from the Atlas V rocket, but viewers can watch for local news coverage.
For the latest launch information, visit the official Kennedy Space Center launch calendar. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com!
UPDATE 10/5: This morning’s launch attempt was scrubbed due to weather. The next attempt is scheduled for early Friday morning, October 6th at 4:03am.
UPDATE 10/6: This morning’s launch attempt was scrubbed due to weather. The next attempt is scheduled for early Friday morning, October 7th at 3:59am.
UPDATE 10/9: After three unsuccessful attempts, a part on the rocket failed and required a rollback for replacement. No attempt has been rescheduled at this time.
Happy October! Here on the Space Coast, October is one of our favorite months. In October, our average high temperatures gradually drop from the mid-80s into the upper-70s, and our humidity drops bringing mostly clear, dry skies. October is the perfect month to visit the beaches: the weather is mild and sunny, and the beaches are less crowded than prime vacation season.
There are many great community events that happen during October as well, from pumpkin patches and craft shows to special fall-themed events. Boo at the Zoo is a popular family activity on weekends leading up to Halloween; Rockledge Gardens’ Fall Festival and ongoing farmer’s market is a great opportunity to pick up fresh fall produce; and Cocoa Village’s Fall Art and Craft Fair is a community favorite.
This year, October will also see several rocket launches. ULA and SpaceX will kick the month off with two launches during the first week, and a third scheduled for later this month. Be sure to check our blog for more information and launch times. Other celestial events in October include a full moon on October 5, the Draconid Meteor Shower from October 6-10, and the beginning of the Orionid Meteor Shower that lasts from October 2 through November 7.
For more community events and news, follow us on Facebook for the latest blog updates! If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at info@kingrentals.com!