SpaceX mission Polaris Dawn prepares the ground for the first commercial spacewalk
When SpaceX launches the Polaris Dawn mission this month, it will reach greater altitudes than any manned mission since Apollo — but that’s not all.
Safe travels, Polaris Dawn: This is not your typical astronaut mission, and these are not your typical astronauts.
Three years ago, entrepreneur and Shift4 founder Jared Isaacman led Inspiration4 – the first purely civilian mission to Earth orbit, which flew aboard a SpaceX Dragon. The space-experienced businessman will now fly again aboard a SpaceX Dragon – and is once again facing a first.
This time, Isaacman hopes to conduct the first commercial spacewalk (EVA, or extravehicular activity) – a risky maneuver previously reserved only for astronauts from national space agencies. Spacewalks are conducted outside the safety of the pressurized spacecraft in the vacuum of space.
Polaris Dawn is scheduled to launch at 3:38 a.m. Tuesday, August 27. On board are Isaacman and three other crew members: pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew with the Thunderbirds; mission specialist Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX senior aerospace engineer who trained the Inspiration4 astronauts; and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon, a SpaceX senior aerospace engineer who has served in mission control on several manned missions.
They are designed to reach a higher orbit than any other spacecraft since NASA’s Apollo missions.
Isaacman told FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network newspaper, that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has big ambitions for SpaceX’s goal of making human life multiplanetary, and that this mission was born out of that goal. The spacewalk is a big part of it.
What makes nighttime rocket launches in Florida so special?
Weather permitting and cloud cover right, the SpaceX rocket launch should be visible from almost anywhere along the Space Coast. And a rumble can usually be heard minutes after liftoff. If there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early in the morning, it’s an opportunity for some unique photos – the rocket will light up the dark sky and the contrail afterward will make for a great photo.
Below are suggestions for where to watch the rocket launch from that area, a real-time weather radar to look for rain and other things to know. If the launch schedule changes, this article will be updated. If you have questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY space reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Is there a rocket launch today? Upcoming SpaceX and NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry Shift4 founder and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s four-person civilian crew on a SpaceX Dragon orbital mission. This mission will feature the debut of the SpaceX EVA spacesuit as well as the first spacewalk by a private company.
- Start: 3:38 a.m. EDT Tuesday, August 27
- Location: Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A
- Live broadcast: You can follow rocket launch coverage live from the USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which includes FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and photojournalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide live updates in a mobile-optimized live blog with countdown clock at floridatoday.com/space starting two hours before launch. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, available from the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.
Space Coast Weather Radar: Will it rain today in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida?
Shown is the National Weather Service Melbourne radar, which shows real-time conditions for the Space Coast and other parts of Florida. The current date and time is shown in the bottom right of this embedded radar. Otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.
You can watch the rocket launch from pretty much anywhere in Brevard – certain areas offer fantastic views of the SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the launch pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is from the beach. However, visibility depends on weather conditions and people should be careful not to block traffic or the right of way on bridges and to follow posted rules on the beaches.
If you watch the launch on the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, you will be looking directly east across the river.
If you are further south on the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach, or Canaveral National Seashore, is the closest place to watch the launch, as it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. From the beach, look south along the shoreline (from some spots you can even see the ramp).
Some hotspots to check out:
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Please note that parking is subject to a fee.
- Playa Linda Beach1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Please note that parking is subject to a fee and access to Canaveral National Seashore is not always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note: Parking is available on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park8 Broad St., Titusville
- Sand Point Park10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotary Park on the river bank4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)
- Cocoa Villagenear the parks and shops or near the docks
- Various parks on Merritt Island
- Rotary Park1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
- Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island
- Port Canaveralwith ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean in port
- Alan Shepard Park299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking fees may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Pier401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies.
- Lori Wilson Park1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. There is also a dog park in Lori Wilson Park.
- Sidney Fisher Park2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking fees may apply.
- Downtown Cocoa Beachalong the Minutemen Causeway
- Tables Beach197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach
- The tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach
- Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach
- Pineda Dam
- Eau Gallie Dam
- Front Street Park near Melbourne (US 192) Causeway and US 1 in Melbourne
- Indialantic Promenade at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A
- Paradise Beach Parkalso known as Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beach park)
- Sebastian Inlet Park9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (admission fee applies)
- Ambersands Beach Park12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
- South Beach Park1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
- Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
Sangalang is a senior digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Þjórsárden or on Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider a subscription to a Florida newspaper.
