For many, what may make St. Augustine especially magical is its proximity to Cape Canaveral- and particularly, its space launches. Without being right in the middle of the crowds, St. Augustine offers an astonishing and reflective opportunity to see a launch on a cloud-free day.
Let’s take a look at nearby Cape Canaveral, including the famous Kennedy Space Center and the planned launches around the corner.
Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center is the definitive spaceship launch point in the United States- likely, the world. And fortunately, the center is open to the public.
What makes the center so enthralling is that it stands as a testament to our accomplishments in the past and what we can still seek in the future. Spaceship parts, recreated models, rocks from the moon, and more help shape our accomplishments to this point. All of these are in the space center.
But it also embraces the present and future with its NASA NOW + NEXT showcase. This covers current space station missions, journeys to Mars, and future planned technology. History is being written right now with Perseverance– one of the boldest and eye-opening Mars travels to date, unfolding right in 2021. You can see how Perseverance came to be through the hard work of leading scientists.
And all of this began On July 29, 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Public Law 85-568 establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration- more commonly known as NASA.
Upcoming Launches
You don’t have to visit the Kennedy Space Center if you want to see a space launch. You can do it right from outside one of our St. Augustine beachfront rentals.
Any space launch is a bonafide event for Florida’s east coast, and locals all along it watch in awe for most clear-day launches. And truthfully, that’s year-round! The weather in St. Augustine along the Space Coast is par for the course, whether in the heart of winter or middle of summer.
Thankfully, 2021 is expected to be a busy year following a slow 2019 and 2020. We cover some top launches coming up.
April 2nd: This unmanned launch is slated for April 2nd. It will encompass the ULA Atlas V rocket attached to a Boeing 100 Starliner. This launch by United Launch Alliance is a vital step for Boeing before launching humans from the center.
April 20th: April 20th will see the launch of four crew members aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket. It is scheduled to head for the International Space Station.
Summer 2021: You may have heard a lot about SpaceX recently. The organization has scheduled the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink-17 satellite batch for summer 2021.
September 2021: Three NASA astronauts are slated to launch in a Boeing CST-100 Starliner for the space station in what is expected to be the biggest launch of the back half of the year.
Watch a launch at Cape Canaveral with your friends and family. We recommend you keep in mind that dates are subject to change depending on weather, planning, and a host of other factors. Keep reviewing the Kennedy Space Center website for details.
Plan Your Next Stay
But you ultimately don’t have to go anywhere. The best place to watch a rocket launch in Cape Canaveral is right in St. Augustine. Check out our available Saint Augustine vacation rentals and book your next trip!
Where To Stay
There’s a really good chance you can see any launch from the St. Augustine condo rentals. This is especially so if you are on the beach. Review our list of available waterfront St. Augustine vacation rentals to coincide with the aforementioned launches.
We have two amazing properties ideal for any rocket-loving vacationers. The first is Daly’s Fort, with its private access to one of the gorgeous beaches in St. Augustine and large deck space. The second is Anastasia #713. The private balcony opens you right up to the Atlantic and the beach. Its uninterrupted views, with instant access along a short boardwalk right to the water, offer an unrivaled viewing experience. The busiest time for launches is in the late spring, but launches can occur year-round. You can also visit any time and take a day trip down to Cape Canaveral. It is about a 2-hour drive to Cape Canaveral from the ancient city.
