Where to See a Rocket Launch

Photo courtesy of NASA

One of the coolest things about living in the southeast was that we could see the launches of the Space Shuttle. Not all of them were visible where I was all the way up in South Carolina, but some were. I will never forget watching the launch outside of the Mellow Mushroom in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on February 8, 2010.

It was the last of the night launches for the Space Shuttle program and as Shuttle Endeavor went through the night sky, the sight was stunning. The sight was so stunning in fact that I am going to do it again in December for the Orion Test Launch.

For those who don't speak Space Geek, Orion is the new manned program that NASA is working on. If you do have an interest in seeing more of the upcoming space programs across the country, there has never been an easier and more accessible time. Here's how:

Kennedy Space Center / Cape Canaveral

There can be no article written about space flight that did not include the Space Coast area. Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral are side by side and the names are often interchanged. The truth is that Cape Canaveral is actually an Air Force Station which currently has three active launch pads. The Kennedy Space Center has only two pads, 39A and 39B, which are remembered most for the shuttle launches.

39B is inactive but still set for a shuttle launch but 39A is being rebuilt right now to handle SpaceX's new rockets. This area is probably still your best shot for seeing a launch in person. The Space Coast even keeps a website up with a countdown to their next launch.

Vandenberg Air Force Base

Vandenberg AFB is a "Department of Defense space and missile testing base, with a mission of placing satellites into polar orbit from the West Coast, using expendable boosters." This means that they normally won't tell you what the payload is that they are launching up out there, but they are normally doing it about once a month.

Space X contracts to use the facility as well. Originally, this was going to be the west coast launch for the shuttle missions and was even outfitted for the program, which never came to fruition after the Challenger Disaster. Consult this schedule for approximate launch dates.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

Bet you didn't know that there was a launch site in the Mid-Atlantic States, did you? There is, and it is located in Chincoteague, Virginia. In 2003, Maryland and Virginia got together and developed a plan for the implementation of a spaceport.

They have taken over what was originally was known as the Virginia Space Flight Center and opened it up to commercial space travel. They are located on NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and their website is the best place to check for launch dates.

Spaceport America

In 2011, just a bit outside of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Spaceport America was opened with Virgin Galactic being their primary tenant. SpaceX, UP Aerospace and Armadillo Aerospace have now also moved in.

There are 3.5-hour bus tours given on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays that originate from Truth or Consequences. The chance of you seeing a rocket launch here may be slim, but you can cruise down the runway where they will one day welcome back astronauts on a daily basis.

Mojave Air and Space Port

First opened in 1935, the Mojave Airport was as a small airfield serving the gold and silver mines. Nowadays, they are known as the Mojave Air and Spaceport and have over 60 companies located onsite. They are dubbed the Silicon Valley of the personal spaceflight industry and offer all the conveniences and facilities of a space age start up.

This is where the birth of new spacefaring companies will start, test and build. You may not see a true rocket launch here, but you can definitely witness some of the test vehicles flying around. No tours are given, but the third Saturday of each month you can get in on their "Plane Crazy" Saturdays where admission to the port is free.

There are also other opportunities if you should be traveling overseas. The best place to look for a worldwide listing of dates and locations of Rocket Launches, check out the list at Spaceflight Now.

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