Florida
SpaceX rocket launch this week: List of Florida beaches, parks & best views to watch
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch seen in Texas sky
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral on Monday night. The launch was meant to send 23 Starlink satellites into orbit.
Fox – 4 News
Anyone up for a rocket launch to start the week? A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially lift off this Monday, carrying Starlink internet satellites.
Weather permitting, the rocket launch will be visible in the night sky above the Space Coast and the Treasure Coast on Monday, April 22.
Below is a calendar for upcoming rocket launches and how to watch the SpaceX rocket launch this week.
Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Rocket launch calendar for Florida
Here’s what we know about the rocket launch missions, mentioned in FLORIDA TODAY’s rocket launch calendar for the month, which is updated frequently. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates because they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.)
FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage at floridatoday.com/space with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission.
For questions or comments, email Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or tweet him @rickneale1 on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter.
‘What is that?!’ A SpaceX rocket that launched from Florida was spotted — in Texas
Is SpaceX launching from Florida? Monday, April 22: SpaceX Starlink
Though SpaceX has not publicly confirmed this mission’s existence, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows a rocket launch window will open Monday night.
Here are some details about the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch:
- Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of Starlink internet satellites from the Space Coast.
- Launch window: 6:40 p.m. to 11:11 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 22.
- Trajectory: Southeast.
- Local sonic boom: No.
- Booster landing: Drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean.
- Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches.
If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river.
If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.
Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots).
Some hotspots to check out:
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there’s a charge to park.
- Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there’s a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn’t always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville
- Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.
- Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies.
- Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.
- Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.
- Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
- Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
- South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
- Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
The best views to watch a rocket launch from neighboring Brevard County, aka the Space Coast, is along the beach.
Visibility in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, all part of the Treasure Coast, will depend on weather conditions, and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. Look due north. Here are some recommended spots, from closest to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center to farthest:
Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you’ll get a view of the rocket launch. That includes Melbourne Beach, which borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon.
- Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)
- Wabasso Beach Park, 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso
- Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)
- South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)
- Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach
- Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach
- Fort Pierce Inlet, 905 Shorewinds Drive
- Blind Creek Beachside North and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce
- Blue Heron Beach, 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Dollman Park Beachside, 9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Herman’s Bay Beach, 7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- John Brooks Park Beachside, 3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Middle Cove Beach, 4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce
- Normandy Beach in Jensen Beach
- Pepper Park Beachside, 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce,
- Walton Rocks Beach, which has a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- Waveland Beach, 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach
- House of Refuge and beach, 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart
- State Road A1A causeway in Stuart
Watching a rocket launch or waiting for that launch window while at the beach is a pretty Florida thing to do.
In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County — home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.
The best views to watch a rocket launch from here is along the beach. Look due south. Readers have also mentioned seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:
- South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore), there may be parking costs. New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sandy beaches. An eclectic and quaint beach town, despite its reputation as the “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” New Smyrna Beach has always been a haven for surfers who come for the waves.
Dinner and a launch: Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch, best waterfront restaurants in Volusia County
- Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beachfront sidewalk, according to Volusia County’s site. The nearby riverside park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river by the park can be a great viewing spot for manatees, dolphins and pelicans.
- Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida’s East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.
- Oak Hill riverfront is the southernmost city in South Volusia County.
- Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill
- Goodrich’s Seafood and Oyster House back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill
- Seminole Rest national historic site, 211 River Road, Oak Hill
- Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill
- Mary Dewees Park, 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a rental building, playground, baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoor restrooms, pavilions, picnic areas and grills.
- Nancy Cummings Park, 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.
- Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park, 275 River Road, Oak Hill. This location has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the city of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launching facilities.
- A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier, 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a 520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, the city of Oak Hill site states.
- Bird Observation Pier on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
Florida
Coast Guard rescues eight boaters 35 miles off Florida coast in disabled boat
VENICE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Coast Guard boat crew rescued eight boaters on Saturday after their 26-foot boat broke down 35 miles off the Venice Inlet.
At 9:30 p.m., the US Coast Guard (USCG) says an Air Station Miami aircrew located the disabled vessel in two to three foot seas and sent a boat crew to the boat’s location.
The boat was reported overdue by an officer with the Venice Police Department hours earlier at 1:44 p.m., per USCG.
See also: Florida deputy rushes into blazing trailer to pull residents to safety
The Coast Guard says all eight boaters were brought back to the boat ramp uninjured.
“Before going out on the water, make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will be back,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Beasley, a Station Cortez boarding officer. “We recommend being as specific as possible so rescue crews have a reliable place to start searching in case of emergency. Boaters should always have Coast Guard-approved life jackets, VHF radio, signaling devices, and an emergency position locator beacon or personal locator beacon.”
USCG also highlighted the importance of mariners taking a safety course before going on the water.
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Florida
Ole Miss football fans chant, ‘We want Lane’ as Rebels defeat Florida
College football Week 12 straight-up picks
Before The Snap’s Week 12 picks include Clemson-Louisville, Oklahoma-Alabama, Iowa-USC, Utah-Baylor and Texas-Georgia.
Ole Miss football took home a win in the “Lane Kiffin Bowl” in Week 12 with a 34-24 come-from-behind win vs. Florida.
Just as the Rebels closed off their 10th win of the season, moving one step closer to appearing in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, Ole Miss fans at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium made one thing clear to the Rebels brass and Kiffin: They want Lane.
As captured by the ESPN broadcast, “We want Lane” chants broke out in the Ole Miss student section after Kiffin has been linked to the Florida open head coach vacancy, on top of numerous other Power Four conference openings. It appeared not to faze him, as he remained locked in on the final 60 seconds of the game:
Given what he has done in seven seasons at Ole Miss, Kiffin has become a regular on coaching hot boards as positions become available across college football.
On top of his ties to the state of Florida, former Gators coach Steve Spurrier, who told USA TODAY Sports’ Blake Toppmeyer last month that he is a fan of Kiffin and thinks he is a “very good coach.”
“I wanted to be Steve Spurrier,” Kiffin said during a recent appearance on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. “When I watched him and his offenses in the visor and kind of the way he’d throw jabs at other coaches and team and stuff, I was like, Steve Spurrier is the man. That’s what I want to be.”
Kiffin himself has talked at length about his name being tossed around in the coaching carousel, including saying on an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” that he will never “make a decision based on money” and that he hasn’t made one based on money in his coaching career.
The win over Florida moved Ole Miss’ record to 54-19 overall under Kiffin.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Florida
Florida High QB Jayme Miller’s breakout season continues in playoff debut vs Baldwin
Florida High CELEBRATES first-round win of 2A playoffs vs Baldwin
Florida High defeated Baldwin 42-31 in the first round of the FHSAA Class 2A state tournament. Seminoles quarterback Jayme Miller scored four touchdowns.
He’s just a sophomore.
But that doesn’t matter.
Florida High quarterback Jayme Miller has balled out in the biggest moments of his football career thus far.
In his playoff debut, the 16-year-old diced up the Baldwin Indians’ defense with four touchdowns in the FHSAA Class 2A first round on Friday, Nov. 14.
“There were definitely nerves,” said Miller, who got his first start in August’s season opener versus Godby.
“I was a little nervous. Not as hype and energetic. Once we got things going and got momentum, I was more excited and energized.”
Behind Miller’s scores, the fourth-seed Seminoles (5-6) prevailed over the fifth-seed Baldwin (7-4) 42-31 at Mike Hickman Stadium in Tallahassee’s Southwood area. The Seminoles are a perfect 4-0 at home this season.
Miller tossed three touchdown passes, one apiece to Jaylan Lurry, Gabriel Miley, and Derrick Caldwell, and rushed 25 yards to the endzone.
Entering Friday, the young signal caller had completed 148 passes on 210 attempts for 2,122 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns against five interceptions in 10 games. He added 37 carries for 182 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
“Coming out in the first half, there were a bunch of mistakes ― mental mistakes. And I came out in the second half and responded and played pretty well,” Miller recapped his performance versus Baldwin.
Florida High ends four-game losing streak in first-round triumph vs Baldwin
The Seminoles’ playoff opening victory over Baldwin ended a four-game losing streak.
Florida High hadn’t won a game since Oct. 3, a 40-38 triumph over Chiles.
The four-game skid saw Florida High fall by two or more possessions in three of those games.
“We’ve had to play through adversity all year long ― whether it’s been injuries and things that we couldn’t control,” Florida High head coach Jarrod Hickman told the Tallahassee Democrat. “The schedule’s been so challenging.”
It looked like the Seminoles turned a corner on Friday as they outscored Baldwin 28-21 in the second half. Florida High running back Mike Jones had two explosive touchdown rushes to put the game on ice.
“I’m proud of this group,” Hickman said. “It’s been the second half of some football games that we’ve had chances to win. And I certainly thought we came out and won the second half tonight, and that really helped us.”
Florida High advances to second round of FHSAA football 2A state tournament
Next for the Seminoles is a trip to Jacksonville.
They will face the Bolles Bulldogs (10-1) for the second round of the FHSAA 2A state tournament next Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m., per MaxPreps.
“Just got to keep on,” Miller said. “I definitely think it’s winnable.”
Bolles hosted and walloped Walton on Friday, 63-13, for its eighth straight win of the season.
“Everybody knows Bolles across the state,” Hickman previewed the Sweet 16 matchup. “They’ve got an outstanding group of players, an outstanding coach, and you’ve got to go on the road. We’ve been in tough places this year. So, it’s really about us trying to come and play the best football we can play, get it to the second half, and see what we can do.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
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