Worth Knowing: How to Keep Up With Space Coast Launches

Living in Volusia County gives residents a front-row seat to Florida’s Space Coast, where rockets launched from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral are often visible from our own backyards.

Launch schedules, however, can change quickly because of weather, technical testing and safety requirements. With NASA’s Artemis program preparing for future crewed lunar landings and SpaceX developing Starship launch operations in Florida, keeping up with the schedule means more opportunities to watch history unfold, and fewer moments wondering what just shook the windows (and embarrassing yourself in Facebook groups).

Start Local: Space Coast Launches

For launches close to home, the Space Coast Launches app keeps Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station schedules in one place. Users can receive launch notifications, view live feeds, find viewing locations and use an AR compass that points toward the correct launch pad. Mission listings include upcoming launches from NASA, SpaceX, ULA and others, making it easy to check the latest details without searching multiple sources.

More Ways to Track Liftoff

Space Launch Now and Space Launch Schedule apps offer similar tracking for launches worldwide, with countdowns, mission details, notifications and live video options. For anyone who prefers a website, RocketLaunch.org maintains an updated launch schedule that can be checked without downloading an app. These tools are especially useful when schedules shift, but users should remember that launch times remain fluid and may change repeatedly as teams work toward a safe liftoff.

Be a Virtual Guest With NASA

To follow NASA missions more closely, register for the agency’s Virtual Guest Program at NASA.gov under the News & Events tab. Virtual guests receive mission resources, schedule updates and opportunities related to selected launches by email. After liftoff, participants receive a commemorative digital stamp for a downloadable virtual passport. Registration for the guest list also provides invitations to future NASA missions and milestone events, helping users follow preparations well before launch day.

Artemis III: What’s the Latest?

NASA’s Artemis plans changed in 2026. Artemis III, targeted for 2027, is now a crewed demonstration in low Earth orbit that will test Orion’s rendezvous and docking with commercial lunar landers. The next planned crewed lunar landing is Artemis IV, targeted for early 2028. That makes Artemis III an important step toward safely returning astronauts to the Moon, even though the mission itself is not currently planned to land there.