Tempus fugit, a lot of clocks say: “time is fleeting.” For a facility as established and enduring as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, it might seem like forever since the first rocket launched from here. Time has flown and so have thousands of rockets and missiles from America’s premier spaceport. Truth is, CCSFS has been open “only” 75 years, but it continues to have a bright future not only today but also for the long-term future.
Tempus fugit, a lot of clocks say: “time is fleeting.” For a facility as established and enduring as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, it might seem like forever since the first rocket launched from here. Time has flown and so have thousands of rockets and missiles from America’s premier spaceport. Truth is, CCSFS has been open “only” 75 years, but it continues to have a bright future not only today but also for the long-term future.
On July 24, 1950, a spit of land without much more than scrub grass, sand dunes, and millions of mosquitoes erupted with thunder as a two-stage rocket named Bumper 8 became the first vehicle ever launched from Cape Canaveral. At 9:28 a.m., an ignition flash and roar marked not just a technical achievement, but the start of the Space Age in America.
The Bumper 8 mission was managed by the U.S. Army, specifically the Army Ordnance Corps in cooperation with the newly formed Long Range Proving Ground (LRPG), which would later evolve into the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, ABMA. It would be ABMA and not NASA that launch the United State’s entrance into orbital launches when Explorer I flew not far from where Bumper 8 launched. Eventually, ABMA was largely folded into the United States’ fledgling space agency, NASA.
The Bumper 8 launch was the product of collaboration between military engineers, scientists—many of them veterans of World War II rocketry—and support from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which developed the WAC Corporal upper stage.
Technically, Bumper 8 was a Frankenstein’s monster of its era: a German V-2 missile (originally designed for wartime attacks on London and Antwerp), repurposed by American engineers, with a U.S.-built WAC Corporal sounding rocket bolted to the nose. The V-2 served as the first stage, firing for about 60 seconds and pushing the assembly to an altitude of roughly 10 miles and a speed of over 3,500 miles per hour before flaming out.
Once at altitude, the WAC Corporal ignited, its smaller engine firing for another 40 seconds, pushing the second stage even higher and faster. Engineers tracking the flight from hastily assembled bunkers confirmed that the rocket reached more than 10 miles in altitude—far less than some later Bumper flights, but still a triumph for a first attempt at a brand-new site.
“I remember standing behind the blast shield, feeling the ground tremble and wondering if all our calculations would hold up,” recalled one young Army engineer present for the launch. “We had no idea what would happen—whether it would explode on the pad, veer out to sea, or fly as intended. When those engines lit, it was like watching the future arrive in a ball of fire.”
For the military brass, Bumper 8 was about more than scientific curiosity. In 1950, America’s nerves were raw. The Soviet Union had exploded its first atomic bomb less than a year before, and Cold War tensions colored every decision. The Korean War had erupted only a month prior, raising the stakes for missile and rocket research. The Pentagon needed to demonstrate that the U.S. could not only match but surpass its adversaries in missile technology.
The location for the launch—then just an isolated strip of sand and scrub known more for fishing and mosquitoes was chosen for its safety and isolation, allowing spent rocket stages to fall harmlessly into the Atlantic. The Long Range Proving Ground was as makeshift as its name suggested: a single concrete pad (Launch Complex 3), sandbag bunkers for the launch team, and primitive communications equipment. The workforce was a mixture of Army soldiers, civilian engineers, and, in the background, several German scientists brought over after World War II under Operation Paperclip.
That day, the Bumper 8’s upper stage did not set an altitude record—it was later flights in the Bumper series that would push into the edge of space. But the launch proved that Cape Canaveral could support rocketry of increasing sophistication. The Cape quickly became a focal point for military missile programs—Redstone, Atlas, and Titan, all tested here, laying the groundwork for the coming space race. Redstone would carry Alan Shepard on the first US crewed mission, Atlas would carry John Glenn to orbit and an iteration of Titan would be the booster of choice for the Gemini Program.
See Also: Blockhouse Site For Bumper 8 Launch Rediscovered
It wasn’t just about hardware and geopolitics. There was an undeniable thrill for those on the ground. “I had never seen anything like it—the way that thing leapt off the pad,” said Mary Pinson, the wife of an ABMA engineer. “We were sweating in the Florida heat, covered in mosquito bites, and when the rocket launched, we knew we were watching history.”
Within a decade, the stakes shifted from military defense to exploration. The Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957 galvanized the United States, leading to the creation of NASA in 1958. ABMA was all but absorbed by NASA, which in turn put its technical development center in Huntsville, where most were already working: at Redstone Arsenal. The Army and Air Force test ranges merged into what became the Eastern Test Range, and Cape Canaveral was transformed almost overnight from a sleepy fishing village into the very center of the high-tech world.
In 1962, the area grew even larger when the Launch Operations Center (LOC) was established immediately to the north of Cape Canaveral as an independent NASA field center. In November 1963, President Lyndon Johnson designated the facilities of the Launch Operations Center and Station No. 1 of the Atlantic Missile Range as the John F. Kennedy Space Center to honor the fallen president.
The Space Coast was born.
The Launch Operations Center (later renamed as KSC) was founded out of necessity and ambition. In 1961, after President John F. Kennedy set the national goal to land a man on the Moon by the end of the decade, NASA realized it needed much more space for larger rockets, new facilities, and increased activity. The original launch site at Cape Canaveral—where Bumper 8 and dozens of military and civilian rockets had flown—was crowded, fragmented, and mostly run by the military. There was no room for the Vehicle Assembly Building, the giant crawlerways, or the miles of safety buffer required for the Saturn V.
NASA, with support from Congress, quickly began acquiring land west and north of the Cape. The chosen site was Merritt Island: a mix of wetlands, scrub, orange groves, small farms, fishing villages, and a handful of beach communities like Allenhurst, Shiloh, and the lively Titusville Beach. The acquisition was the largest forced relocation in NASA’s history. Over 80,000 acres (about 125 square miles) were taken—mostly through federal purchase but also through eminent domain when owners resisted. This area included the future footprint of KSC and a vast buffer zone for safety.
Compared to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), Kennedy Space Center is much larger. Today, KSC spans about 144,000 acres. CCSFS is roughly 15,800 acres. That means KSC covers nearly ten times the land of CCSFS, with much of it remaining undeveloped as a buffer.
The human cost for the construction of KSC was significant. More than 1,000 families were displaced in the 1960s. The thriving black community of Allenhurst, the farming hamlet of Orsino, and most of tiny Shiloh disappeared. In total, at least 5,000 people lost their homes.
Titusville Beach—a small but beloved oceanfront community where locals and visitors came to swim, picnic, and fish—was erased. All but one of its buildings were demolished, its dunes bulldozed, and public access to the beach was cut off as NASA established a controlled area. And the building that was preserved? You may have guessed it. The Astronaut Beach House, a two-story cottage, was built in 1962 as a part of the then Neptune Beach subdivision, between where pads 40 and 41 stand today. NASA preserved and maintained the house through the years, and now its provenance is almost forgotten. There were other homes too: the town itself stretched to the other side of LC-39A.
The town of Wilson’s Corner, another small community, also vanished with only a couple of road signs in the Wildlife Refuge commemorating its existence. Those towns joined settlements of the Paleo-American and later the Ais and Timucuan tribes, dating back 9,000 years: gone and barely remembered.
With so much of the land needed only as a safety buffer, NASA partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve public access to the area. In 1963, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was officially established, covering almost the entire non-operational area of Kennedy Space Center. It is a low-security zone except for launches deemed by KSC safety or security to require temporary exclusion from MINWR.
The result is an unusual coexistence: high-tech launch pads surrounded by protected wetlands, lagoons, and forests. The Refuge is now home to over 1,500 species of plants and animals, including endangered species like the Florida scrub-jay, manatees, and bald eagles. Today, MINWR hosts 2.3 million visitors annually.
The Shuttle era brought another transformation, with KSC serving as the base for over 130 shuttle flights from 1981 to 2011. The Cape weathered tragedy—like the AS-204 Apollo I fire, the loss of Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003—but the NASA and its engineers adapted each time, building safer systems and deeper expertise for future space endeavours.
Today, KSC is largely the domain of SpaceX, and the company launches not only crewed missions, but also Falcon Heavy and soon, Starship Heavy from LC-39A. The company has built a large work center at Kennedy, with plans to expand greatly. NASA is staying busy too, as the VAB is still in use, this time to build the SLS rockets that are part of Project Artemis, which aims to return humans to the moon and perhaps even beyond. Instead of LC-39A, Artemis uses LC-39B, the lesser used of the two megapads.
Seventy-five years after Bumper 8’s fiery ascent, Cape Canaveral stands as a testament to American resolve and the relentless drive to explore. From makeshift pads and scavenged missiles, to the front lines of interplanetary exploration and the only place on Earth that was the starting point for vehicles now in interstellar space, the legacy of Cape Canaveral is written in thunder—one launch at a time.
July 11, 2025: it’s been over a year since the public scoping period for the FAA’s Environmental Impact Statement, and no Draft EIS or even a date for one has been announced for SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy project at Launch Complex 39A at KSC.
Casual onlookers may wonder if something is awry, but that’s probably not the case. The wheels of government turn slowly and often do so silently, and an announcement could come any day.
Many people who don’t live at the Space Coast don’t realize that Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are two adjoining but separately managed facilities. NASA operates KSC, of course, and SpaceX leases LC-39A from the government at KSC. Cape Canaveral SFS, located southeast of Kennedy, is a US Space Force Military facility and is operated by the Department of the Air Force. SpaceX leases SLC-40 at CCSFS and seeks to lease LC-37 there.
There are even gates between the two facilities, though they don’t seem to ever close. There is great cooperation between the Space Force and NASA, and they often work together when needed.
That’s important, because there are two authorities conducting two Environmental Impact Statements for two different launch pads: LC-37 and LC-39A. The former is the retired site of United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy rocket, which flew its last flight last year.
The latter, LC-39A, is of course the historic launch facility that served Apollo and STS (Shuttle) missions in its long and storied career. SpaceX has made their own history at LC-39A: the return of crew to orbit after a long gap following the end of the Shuttle program, the launch site of Falcon Heavy and other commercial spaceflight firsts.
The EIS process for LC-39A continues to be underway. No statements otherwise have been released by any of the parties involved, so it is safe to say that work is continuing.
SpaceX is preparing the EIS under FAA supervision, analyzing the environmental impacts of proposed Starship-Super Heavy operations, including up to 44 launches per year, infrastructure construction; a Super Heavy booster catch tower, propellant systems, and stormwater/deluge ponds), and landings at LC-39A or on a droneship.
The process is evaluating changes from the 2019 Environmental Assessment (EA), which found no significant impact but did not account for the current scope of operations. The next step is the release of the draft EIS for public review and comment, followed by a final EIS and a Record of Decision.
There is no specific release date publicly announced for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy project at LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated the EIS process with a Notice of Intent published on May 9, 2024, and held public scoping meetings in June 2024.
Based on typical EIS timelines (often 12-18 months) and the FAA’s ongoing work, the draft EIS is likely to be released in mid-to-late 2025. For comparison, the draft EIS for Starship launches at Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was released on June 6, 2025, after a scoping period starting in February 2024, fifteen months earlier. The LC-39A EIS Draft should come in the next 5-6 months, or roughly the same time as a final decision on LC-37 is due, according to DAF project timelines.
The FAA has issued a notice rescinding its existing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures outlined in FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, and replacing them with streamlined procedures in FAA Order 1050.1G. This change is driven by Executive Order 14154 of the President, entitled “Unleashing American Energy.”
The new order accelerates environmental reviews projects by imposing strict timelines and page limits on EISs (e.g., 2-year completion cap), expanding CATEX (Categorical Exclusion) usage, allowing combined exclusions, and promoting early collaboration to minimize delays. This aligns with the Trump Administration’s policy to expedite permitting. That could potentially benefit commercial space operators like SpaceX by shortening review periods for future licenses or modifications, thus supporting faster integration of technologies like Starship.
However, for the specific ongoing EIS for SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy operations at LC-39A, the new rules should not apply directly. Order 1050.1G applies only to FAA actions requiring environmental review that “commence on or after” July 3, 2025, and since the LC-39A EIS was started in 2024, the new order is moot.
There is a mix of federal agencies responsible for completing aspects of the LC-39A EIS.
Lead Agency: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for overseeing the EIS process and issuing a commercial launch Vehicle Operator License to SpaceX if the final decision of the EIS is to allow work on 39A to proceed.
Preparing Entity: SpaceX, tasked with preparing the EIS under FAA supervision.
Multiple Cooperating Agencies:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Manages KSC and leases LC-39A to SpaceX, providing oversight for space-related activities.permits.performance.gov
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): Manages the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which includes KSC property, and provides expertise on wildlife impacts.permits.performance.gov
National Park Service (NPS): Oversees Canaveral National Seashore, partially within KSC boundaries, and contributes expertise on affected lands.permits.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG): Involved due to maritime safety and airspace closures for launches.
Department of the Air Force (DAF): Coordinates due to proximity to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and shared range.
For the most current LC-39A information, check the FAA’s website (www.faa.gov) or the project-specific page at :
https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholder_engagement/spacex_starship_ksc
For the most current LC-37 information the Department of the Air Force maintains an informational site at:
https://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has expanded its popular bus tour to include The Gantry at Launch Complex 39—a multi-level attraction nestled inside KSC that was updated and upgraded over the past several months.
Perched just 1.5 miles from LC-39A and 2.25 miles from LC-39B—the primary pads for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions—The Gantry offers a front-row seat to the agency’s current and future launch operations. Guests will find four stories of interactive exhibits, an Earth Information Center that explores how space science benefits life on our planet, and carefully preserved artifacts from NASA’s storied past.
No word has been given about launch viewing at the site. LC-39A and LC-39B are too close, of course, as there is at least a 3.5 mile exclusion area surrounding each pad and The Gantry will be too close for viewers. In the past, The Gantry has hosted spectators for launches from ULA’s pad at LC-41 and SpaceX’s pad at SLC-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and given them a point blank (relatively speaking) view of the launch equal to what the working press sees.
For years, The Gantry had a real flight-worthy Aerojet-Rocketdyne RS-25 engine on display — one where users could get a close view of the engines that powered the launches of space shuttle orbiters and SLS rockets. When the Artemis program got started in earnest, that display was removed, leaving a huge hole in each level of The Gantry. That has been replaced by a new Static Fire simulator.
The new simulator, unique to The Gantry, recreates the moment a rocket engine fires for a ground test. Under the guidance of a NASA engineer and an on-site AI assistant named Sōl, visitors will witness an amplified demonstration: a 30-minute countdown culminates in a dramatic eruption of noise, light and cooling fog.
The Gantry’s designers also emphasize education. From its vantage point, guests can gaze across the wildlife refuge’s swamps and scrublands to active launch pads at both Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Interactive displays illustrate how each mission contributes to our understanding of Earth’s climate, ecosystems and natural resources.
For more information, contact the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center.
Florida has a unique climate: about 80% of the rain the Space Coast receives comes in summer, and this year is no different: the area has been in a slight drought for months, but now that it’s summer, the rains are back. Those rains might just put a kink in SpaceX’s plans tonight as it plans to launch the MTG-S1 satellite from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
According to SpaceX, “The 150-minute window opens at 5:04 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Wednesday, July 2 at the same time.” Today’s window ends at 7:32PM local time.
The 45th Weather Squadron, part of Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force tells the tale pretty quickly: a weather system south of us has been pumping storms along its boundary. As a result, there is only a 20% chance for weather conditions to be acceptable during the launch window today, and it gets a bit worse tomorrow, July 2: only a 10% chance.
On the other hand, SpaceX can and does find gaps in the weather to get launches off of the pad, as they have proven time and time again that unfavorable weather forecasts can change minute by minute and that it only takes a gap where there are no thunderstorms nearby the launch pad for them to get the mission in safely.
Stay tuned.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Mission | Falcon 9 Block 5 | MTG-S1 |
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 |
| Pad | Launch Complex 39A |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Tuesday, 07/01/2025 5:04:00 PM |
| Window Closes | Tuesday, 07/01/2025 7:34:00 PM |
| Destination | Geostationary Transfer Orbit |
| Mission Description | Second of EUMETSAT’s third generation of weather satellite. |
East, but slightly south towards the Equator. This is a typical path for weather satellites like MTG-S1.
According to ESA, “The Meteosat Third Generation Sounder satellite (MTG-S) will generate a completely new type of data product, especially suited to nowcasting severe weather events.”
They continue, “From an orbit 36 000 km from Earth, the MTG-S1 satellite is set to revolutionise the way we forecast severe weather. Unlike the imaging satellites, which complete the constellation of the MTG mission, MTG-S1 uses its Infrared Sounder to capture data on temperature, humidity and trace gases. Its data is used to generate three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere.
“This data will help to detect and predict rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous weather systems. It will support applications to provide more accurate weather warnings, helping communities prepare for storms, alert pilots to areas of invisible turbulence and support plans to mitigate climate risks – ultimately saving lives and reducing damage to property and infrastructure.
“This mission will change forecasting, using innovative space technology to bring us three-dimensional data on the atmosphere and enabling faster responses to extreme weather,” said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, adding, “Throughout the development of this mission, I’ve been impressed by the dedication and expertise shown by the teams across ESA and our European partners, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their spirit of cooperation. Their hard work means that this mission will contribute to better forecasting to benefit citizens.”
SpaceCoastLaunchCalendar.com will have a livestream of the launch if you’re not able to watch the launch in person: Livestream
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: SpaceX MTG-S1. This stream will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.
The best free options are available for spectators: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.
The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
If you are planning to go and watch, be sure to be lightning aware and you might just need an umbrella.
Watching a rocket tear skyward from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center is a visceral thrill—one that most people will remember for the rest of their lives. If you are a photographer, the memories are amplified when you freeze the moment in sharp, vibrant photographs. Even though a still photograph won’t come with the incredible sounds of the engines of a Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy as it breaks free of the bonds of gravity, a good photo will last a lifetime and keep the memories of your time here in Florida.
Kennedy Space Center offers several iconic viewing spots, each with its own character and challenges. Let’s take a look:
A lot of the professional rocket photos you see in news articles or sites like this are taken from “privileged” positions — the Press Site, for example, or by cameras placed near the launch pad in advance that are triggered by devices like a MIOPS+, which activated the camera’s shutter when it “hears” the roar of the sounds from liftoff. Unless you are working press, you won’t be able to access those spots.
There are only a few places that are accessible to the general public that offer similar proximity, but indeed, there are three:
One of the most convenient locations is the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which lies just over a mile south of LC-39A. From the raised terraces and the old observation gantry, you enjoy clean sightlines to the pad without a cluttered foreground. You will usually need to purchase a ticket to the ASC in addition to parking and entrance to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, and that can add up.
Note: Prices can vary slightly depending on date and promotions
According to official Kennedy Space Center parking info:
Those are 2025 prices, and may change at any time, but this will give you an idea of how much it costs to gain entry. That’s just half of it: you usually need to purchase a Launch Viewing Ticket, and they can range from free (often with a Starlink launch), or as high as $250, which was the cost for Artemis I, Crew 7 and other high-profile flights.
Read the fine print of the ticket carefully too. A launch viewing ducat is good for that launch attempt, and if the mission scrubs, your ticket may be considered “used.” During Artemis I’s lengthy launch campaign with a number of scrubs, a lot of people found this out the hard way. Know before you go and decide if that’s for you, or not.
Check out: Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center: See A Launch
You will be about 3.5 miles from LC-39A and you will be as close as anyone. It’s a great experience and one I highly recommend, but it can be pricey for a family to undertake. I advise folks to get a 2-Day ticket and to fully explore KSCVC, it has a lot of displays that are well worth your time.
A point-blank view.
Here’s a photo taken from the Banana Creek Viewing Site:
The EXIF information for the photograph above is shown to the left. I actually use different settings now, but this will get you started. Read on for a fuller explanation of camera settings.
Playalinda is located adjacent to the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center, and it is an extremely popular place to go watch a launch. You’ll need to go there hours in advance to ensure you can gain entry — the National Park Service will stop people from entering if the parking lots are full or if it is 45 minutes or less until scheduled liftoff. Get there at least two hours early, and frankly, 3-4 hours is even better.
The closest you’re going to get outside of Banana Creek Viewing Site. The foreground of the beach and the crowd make for an excellent photograph, especially if you employ telephoto compression to your advantage. Consider the photo below. It looks like the crowd is almost next to the launch pad but in reality they are some 3.5 miles away. A Falcon 9 is some 22 stories tall, so it’s bigger than you might think.
Settings are similar to Banana Creek: shoot for an EV13 shot and bracket, or meter using -1 or -2 stops. Use a fast shutter speed, as mentioned below.
Biolab Road is a dirt road that runs along the very aptly named Mosquito Lagoon in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. For day launches, this can be a great place for your photographs, especially when Playalinda is full. You won’t be all that much further away from the launch pad than you will be at Playalinda, and the water in the lagoon can make a great foreground for your photos.
Here is the view of LC-39A from Biolab Road, taken with a wide angle lens. You can go further down the road for closer views.
One thing to note is that Biolab Road is open from dawn to dusk, and KSC Police and/or the National Park Service will request that you leave if you’re present after hours. Those agencies can and will give you a pretty expensive ticket if you fail to comply, so the best idea is don’t do it. It’s also a bad idea for a visitor to the area to be on Biolab at night, because there are all kinds of critters there that will take a bite out of you: mosquitoes, no-see-ums, alligators and so forth, with the latter being a clear and present danger there.
Daylight hours are generally safe, but when the sun gets low and the temperatures are warm, gators will be hunting for their next meal. Don’t be that meal, so be wildlife aware.
There is also an entry fee for Biolab Road, but it there is no gate. As soon as you turn onto it, you may notice a payment box. If you have a National Parks Pass, you’re good to go. If not, pay the fee. I think it’s $15.
Bring insect repellent, drinks and everything you need. This is part of the “wildlife” areas in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, so don’t expect a cantina with cool beers while you wait for liftoff.
Photographing a launch is part science, part art. By picking the right vantage points—from the Apollo/Saturn V Center’s terraces to Playalinda Beach or Biolab Road — you set the stage for your composition. Then, by mastering exposure through underexposure and thoughtful bracketing, you ensure every photograph captures not only the power of the engines but the intricate beauty of the flame plume itself. Plan diligently, practice your workflow, and you’ll be ready to chase that plume into the heavens.
Your camera choice should be a DSLR or mirrorless body with a fast autofocus system. A telephoto zoom in the 70–200 mm or 100–400 mm range lets you isolate the rocket, while a wider 24–70 mm lens captures more of the landscape and sky. If you have a super-telephoto (500+ mm) consider using that. Wind and crowds make a firm tripod—or at least a monopod—essential for slower shutter speeds and a remote shutter release will guard against any camera shake. Make sure your memory cards can handle burst shooting, and bring an extra battery, since Florida’s heat and breeze can sap power faster than you expect.
Perhaps the single most critical exposure tactic is to underexpose by one or two stops. A rocket’s flame plume can exceed 2,000 °C, and that means it’s going to be BRIGHT. If you meter for midtones—like the launch pad structure or the sky—the highlights in the flame will blow out into featureless white. By dialing in –1 EV or even –2 EV of exposure compensation, you preserve texture in the brightest areas, revealing the billows and shock diamonds that make these plumes so visually striking. Always glance at your histogram: you want the right shoulder to approach, but not touch, the edge. For underexposed areas, you can fix that in post-processing, save for night launches. They are an entirely different animal.
Because plume brightness and lighting conditions vary by rocket type—whether it’s a Falcon 9, an Atlas V, New Glenn or the massive Space Launch System—you’ll also want to bracket your shots. Many cameras offer Auto Exposure Bracketing, which can capture three frames at different exposure offsets (for example, –2 EV, 0 EV, +2 EV). Later, in Lightroom or your preferred editor, you can quickly choose the frame that best balances the rocket, the plume, and the background.
This launch will only happen once, and if you’ve traveled far to get here, it may be your only chance. So, increase your odds of success by bracketing. Consult your camera’s manual if you aren’t sure how to do that. (You can also ask ChatGPT, it will give you a step-by-step list.)
In the field, arrive early to claim your spot and let your gear settle. Switch your camera to manual mode: set a mid-range aperture around f/8 or f/11, a shutter speed no slower than 1/500 s to freeze motion, and an ISO in the 100–400 range. Pre-focus on the pad, then flip to manual focus to lock it in. I use gaffer’s tape (NOT duct tape) to “lock” my focus ring down in case I accidentally bump it.
Compose with the pad offset—following the rule of thirds—leaving space above for the rocket’s ascent. Include nearby structures, railings, or even beachgoers at dawn to give scale and context. At ignition, let the rocket rise slightly, then snap as fast as your camera’s image buffer will allow. You will have 3-5 seconds before the rocket clears the pad, and another 3 seconds or so while the pad itself is visible in the photo. Those latter shots are great because of the billowing steam from the sound suppression systems, and they can really add to a shot.
I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I now prefer a higher shutter speed when I photograph a launch. Here’s why: most of my “bad” shots I took years ago were due to camera shake or movement during the launch. I used tripods to compensate for a while, but then I had an epiphany: just use a shutter speed of at least twice my focal length and that problem will disappear. It’s not important that I may need to raise my ISO from 100 to, say, 800, because noise reduction will automagically cure that problem.
You’re going to shoot at Infinity or very close to it, no matter what lens you are using. That end of the focusing scale can be very sensitive, even with a higher aperture, and it is very easy to bump the focus ring while you are shooting and thus have less than optimal photos.
To prevent that, I’ll focus on the rocket, take an inch or two of gaffer’s tape — the non-residue kind — and lock down the focus. Easy enough.
I don’t use autofocus because the dynamic range can “confuse” an autofocus system, especially when the rocket is high in the sky and thus is smaller in the viewfinder. That’s not when I want the camera to be hunting for focus, so I’ll use manual focus instead.
Watching a rocket tear skyward from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center is a visceral thrill—one that most people will remember for the rest of their lives. If you are a photographer, the memories are amplified when you freeze the moment in sharp, vibrant photographs. Even though a still photograph won’t come with the incredible sounds of the engines of a Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy as it breaks free of the bonds of gravity, a good photo will last a lifetime and keep the memories of your time here in Florida.
After several delays, Axiom 4 is on its way to the International Space Station. The corporate mission, commanded by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, lifted off at 2:31 AM Eastern Time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.
In addition to Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, this mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will visit the ISS, representing each nation’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years.
After several delays, Axiom 4 is on its way to the International Space Station. The corporate mission, commanded by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, lifted off at 2:31 AM Eastern Time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.
In addition to Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, this mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will visit the ISS, representing each nation’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years.
After a nominal ascent, Booster B1094 returned to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s LZ-1 about secen minutes and thirty nine seconds from liftoff. A few seconds later, Falcon 9’s second stage and Crew Dragon were reaching their initial orbit, which will be modified later as Axiom 4 begins chasing down ISS in earnest.
Docking is expected Thursday morning, around 7:00 AM ET.
After docking with Station, Axiom 4’s crew will begin a two-week stay aboard ISS, where they will conduct a number of experiments on behalf of their respective space agencies.
Ax-4 will be a busy mission, as it is slated to conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments and activities involving participants from 31 nations, such as the United States, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, and various European countries. This marks the highest number of research initiatives undertaken on an Axiom Space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) thus far, highlighting the mission’s global importance and collaborative spirit in advancing microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The mission places a particular emphasis on scientific endeavors led by the countries represented in the Ax-4 crew, including the United States, India, Poland (in collaboration with the European Space Agency), and Hungary. The research conducted will enhance global understanding in areas such as human health, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, reflecting the space research capabilities of the crew’s home countries.
Axiom Space is also collaborating with research organizations and academic institutions to further investigate the effects of spaceflight on the human body and to explore how space-based research can lead to improvements in health and medical treatments on Earth. The mission underscores the significance of commercial and academic partnerships, as Axiom Space spearheads the development of a global research community and a sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. The mission also sets the stage for Axiom Station, the first commercial space station, which will provide a permanent platform for research, manufacturing, and human spaceflight.
The delayed launch of Axiom 4 to the International Space Station will have to wait a little bit longer. The company announced today that the “space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module.”
The delay is labeled as “indefinite” and no new launch target date has been announced.
The crew remains in quarantine, and the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon planned for the flight remain in healthy condition and ready for the flight.”
The root cause of the delay is a series of micro-leaks in the Zvezda module, first detected months ago but considered under control after previous repair efforts. However, on June 14, cosmonauts aboard the ISS noted a fresh pressure signature in the aft segment of Zvezda, indicating that some seals may have degraded or reopened under flight conditions. Although the module has held pressure more consistently since the latest inspections, NASA and its Russian partners determined that more data were needed to rule out any risk to incoming crew.
On a blog update published last week, NASA detailed the troubleshooting steps taken by cosmonauts: interior surfaces were inspected, suspect seals were re-torqued, and additional leak-rate measurements were conducted. “Following the most recent repair, pressure in the transfer tunnel has been stable,” NASA wrote, “but additional time is required for Roscosmos and NASA to evaluate whether further action is necessary.” This review window now overlaps with the Monday launch opportunity, effectively ruling it out until the investigation concludes.
There are also ISS logistics to consider: Ax-4’s launch window is tightly constrained by orbital mechanics and ISS traffic. The current opportunity closes on June 30 to accommodate other scheduled resupply and crewed flights. Pushing through before fully resolving the leak could risk mission safety and station integrity, particularly given the interconnected life-support systems aboard the ISS. Axiom Space President Michael Suffredini emphasized that while commercial missions must adhere to tight timelines, safety remains the non-negotiable priority.
Stay tuned.
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