SpaceX launched another batch of fifty-three Starlink internet satellites at 5:42 a.m. EDT (0942Z) May 6, 2022 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was its path to orbit as seen from Space View Park in Titusville.
I set up my GoPro on the beach to record the scene on Playalinda Beach when SpaceX launched Starlink 4-16.
I set up for a wide angle view to capture the entire first stage portion of the flight — it made everything look further away than it actually was, but all in all, yeah, this is what its like to see a launch from here.
Playalinda is far better for launches from Pad LC-39A, as it is much closer than SLC-40 or SLC-41, but overall, it’s still a really good place to come. After all, you’re on one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, and it’s really not crowded, even when the parking lots are full.
As seen from Playalinda Beach late in the afternoon. The same booster carried four astronauts towards the International Space Station about three weeks earlier this month.
Some Days You’re The Bug, Some Days You’re The Windshield
From the Port St. John Boat Ramp, located just off of US-1 in between Cocoa and Titusville: I’ve taken some really good night-time streak shots here, and wanted to check it out for a daytime launch, mainly because it’s just off of US-1 and really convenient.
Launch day was iffy from a weather standpoint: a cold front was slowing passing through the Space Coast region, and the ground winds were on the upper ends of SpaceX’s safety limits. After a delay in the morning to the afternoon to let the winds die down, the range was green. Skies were mostly cloudy, with thin, broken clouds showing gaps of blue.
Launch
The rocket lifted off perfectly and on-time at 1:51pm local time, and was another mission well executed. If only the photographer (me) had done his job that well!
The photo above is…okay…but it is not really anything write home about. I’m still chasing down a noise issue somewhere in the camera, and my fear is that it is just a characteristic of the sensor and firmware that I am going to have to live with. The only cure? A better camera. That will happen eventually.
The real issue, however, came from the site itself. As you can see below, there is a power pole that is perfectly situated on the line from the piers to SLC-40 out on CCSFS. After liftoff, that made itself glaringly apparent:
No worries, lesson learned and now I know what this doesn’t make anyone else’s list for launch viewing sites. It’s different for United Launch Alliance shots, because SLC-41 is at a slightly different angle. For SpaceX SLC-40 viewing, especially for photography, I would recommend other places.
As I mentioned earlier, there were a lot of clouds in the sky, and the best photos were made when Falcon9 was briefly visible in the gaps in between them.
At the end of the day, however, I got to see another rocket launching to orbit, and that’s nothing but a Good Thing™.
The lights were on as SpaceX began work on preparing Launch Complex 39-A ready for its next crewed mission. Axiom-1 is a private mission to ISS-NL and is set to launch NET April 6, 2022.
On the left, a crane rises over the construction site SpaceX has opened to build a launch pad for Starship, its super-heavy booster currently under development.
Seen April 1, 2022.
One of the best (if not the best) places to see a launch on the Space Coast is from Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore. From the first beachside parking lot to the launch pad is only four miles, and generally, one can walk at least another quarter-mile closer on the shoreline for an even better view.
It’s one mile down the beach to the property line between CCNS and Kennedy Space Center, but lately, there have been Park volunteers about 0.25 to 0.5 miles down the beach stopping anyone from walking all the way to the fence. That’s understandable, given security and safety concerns, and the place that they’ve drawn the line in the sand (nearly literally) is plenty close to get great views and awesome sounds of the rocket at it leaves the pad.
Uncrewed Launches Only
One important thing to note is that Playalinda is closed for crewed launches, for obvious reasons. In the event of an emergency requiring activation of the Launch Escape System, the crew could land anywhere nearby, and Playalinda is definitely nearby. That’s a a safety issue on many levels, and it’s simply easier to close the beach than take the risks.
This link will give you the current status of Playalinda. And if you’re not sure, call to doublecheck.
Uncrewed or not, it’s also safe to assume that any launch from LC-39B (the Artemis launch pad) will also result in a beach closure. At 2.5 miles from the first parking area, it is well within the safety zone for people on or off KSC and Artemis launches will result in a closure. Please note that is not an official statement, but I say that based on experiences from previous launches from LC-39B.
Fees Charged
Another thing to remember is that as part of the National Park System, an entrance fee is collected unless you have an annual US Parks Pass. Today, in 2022, that fee is $20 per car. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the gate.
Walk South Down The Beach
Area 1 is the place to go, if there is parking. If not, park at the lowest numbered Area you can find a spot and then walk down the beach towards Area 1. You will see a lot of people, both on the beach and on the boardwalks that go over the dunes. Generally, there are volunteers that stop people from going all the way down to the fence marking the start of Kennedy Space Center property, for safety reasons.
Note: Area 13 is clothing optional, and if you are going with kids, you may want to skip that place. Remember that what is seen cannot be unseen.
Professional Media Will Be There
The boardwalks are especially popular with launch photographers, and a lot of them are professionals or freelancers who are there to photograph the launch for various news outlets. They are a friendly bunch, but keep in mind that they are working so when it’s close to launch time they’re best left alone.
Afterwards, they’ll again be happy to talk to most anyone, and maybe even give you a peek at what they’ve shot.
The Launch View and Sounds
Look down the beach line and slightly inland and you should be able to see the rocket and the launch tower. Cell phone service at Playalinda is very spotty, so keep an eye on your watch or phone for the expected launch time to come. That will happen without much warning, but when it happens it will be unmistakable.
It takes a 15-20 seconds for the sound to travel from the launch pad to viewers — about five seconds a mile — so you will see the rocket before you hear it. When you do hear it, it will be loud, like close thunder. A Falcon 9 is a powerful rocket, but it is not an earth-shaker like a Saturn V was…those could shake the ground and were deafening. A Falcon 9 is more like a storm, but it is definitely a loud sound.
Here’s a video I made with a GoPro of a Playalinda launch. The rocket is louder than you hear and seems to be a little closer than the video shows. Still, it shows what the sights and sounds are pretty accurately:
On a clear day, you will be able to see all the way up to staging, when the first stage is done and separates from the rocket. On a really clear day you’ll be able to watch the second stage for some time. Keep in mind it is only about an eight minute trip to orbit, and that the rocket is travelling away from you and quickly going thousands of miles an hour. (Orbital speed is 17,500 miles per hour.) It is still an incredible sight and one that you likely won’t forget for a very long time.
See also: Spots To View A Crewed SpaceX Launch on the Space Coast
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 3, 2022 from LC-39A. The Starlink 4-9 mission lofted 47 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit.
Storms cleared just in time for SpaceX to launch more Starlink satellites tonight from Cape Canaveral. Perfect launch but a photo fail here, I think. The launch itself was totally blown out — too bright — but I learned something and had a little fun. That’s really all that matters. FWIW, this is unfiltered straight out of the camera.
— at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.
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