Residents of Vero Beach and the wider Treasure Coast are in for a spectacular sky show this weekend. A late-night rocket launch is scheduled to close out the last weekend of June, offering an incredible viewing opportunity right from our local beaches and bridges. SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SiriusXM SXM-11 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Mission Briefing: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SiriusXM SXM-11 satellite from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The launch window opens at 10:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 28, 2026, and extends until 2:25 a.m. ET on Monday, June 29, 2026.
While the rocket will lift off from Florida’s Space Coast, these nighttime launches are highly visible from Indian River County and the surrounding areas. When a launch window occurs in the middle of the night or during the very early hours of the morning, it presents a fantastic opportunity for unique photography. The rocket’s engines brilliantly illuminate the dark sky, and the resulting contrails often make for unforgettable coastal viewing. Depending on cloud cover and the final trajectory, visibility for this event can stretch as far south as West Palm Beach.
For those in the immediate Vero Beach and Sebastian areas looking for the best vantage points to witness the launch, there are several prime locations. Bridges and eastern-facing public beaches offer unobstructed views of the northern horizon toward Cape Canaveral.
Top Viewing Locations in Indian River County:
- Sebastian Inlet State Park: Located at 9700 S. State Road A1A in Melbourne Beach (note that an entrance fee applies).
- Wabasso Beach Park: Found at 1808 Wabasso Beach Road in Wabasso.
- Ambersands Beach Park: Located at 12566 N. SR A1A in Vero Beach, featuring free parking.
- South Beach Park: Situated at 1700 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach, also offering free parking.
- Local Bridges: Both the Merrill Barber Bridge and the Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach provide excellent elevation for clear, over-water viewing.
If you are positioned further south along the Treasure Coast, St. Lucie and Martin counties also boast wonderful viewing spots.
Top Viewing Locations from Fort Pierce to Stuart:
- Fort Pierce Inlet State Park & Pepper Park Beachside: Excellent open beach access in Fort Pierce.
- Blind Creek Beachside & Blue Heron Beach: Additional oceanfront viewing options located along S. Ocean Drive and Blue Heron Blvd in Fort Pierce.
- Walton Rocks Beach: A great option located at 6700 S. Ocean Drive in Jensen Beach if you want to bring your dog, as it serves as a public dog park.
- House of Refuge and Beach: Located on S.E. MacArthur Blvd in Stuart, providing a historic backdrop for the nighttime spectacle.
- State Road A1A Causeway: Offers elevated, open-water views in Stuart.
If you prefer to stay indoors, or if local weather brings unexpected cloud cover, live coverage is easily accessible. Space enthusiasts can tune into digital broadcasts starting 90 minutes before liftoff, or stream the event via NASA+ content. The NASA stream is available on desktop, mobile applications, and as a free ad-supported television channel on Amazon Prime Video, allowing locals to watch the mission unfold in high definition from the comfort of home.
