Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
    • Popular Phone Brands
      • iPhone
      • Samsung Galaxy
      • Google Pixel
      • Nothing
      • Motorola
      • OnePlus
      • Xiaomi
      • Honor
      • Oppo
      • Huawei
    • Operating Systems
      • Android
      • iOS
    • More from Phones
      • Network Carriers
      • Phone Accessories
      • Phone Reviews
      • Phone Buying Guides
      • Phone Deals
      • Phone News
  • Computing
    • Laptops
      • Chromebooks
      • MacBooks
      • Windows Laptops
      • Gaming Laptops
    • PCs
      • Desktop PCs
      • Macs
      • Gaming PCs
    • Software
      • Windows
      • macOS
    • Components
      • CPUs
      • GPUs
      • Storage
      • Nvidia
      • Intel
    • Internet
      • Websites & Apps
      • Wi-Fi & Broadband
      • Social Media
      • Wordle
    • Security
      • Antivirus
      • Cyber Security
    • Tablets
      • eReaders
      • iPad
    • VR & AR
    • Peripherals
      • Monitors
      • Keyboards
      • Webcams
      • Mice
    • Popular Computing Brands
      • Dell
      • HP
      • Lenovo
      • Acer
    • More from Computing
      • Computing Reviews
      • Computing Buying Guides
      • Computing Deals
      • Computing News
  • AI
    • AI Platforms & Assistants
    • OpenAI
    • ChatGPT
    • Gemini
    • Apple Intelligence
    • Claude
  • TVs
    • TV Insights
      • TV Reviews
      • TV Buying Guides
      • TV Deals
      • TV News
    • More for your TV
      • Home Theatre
      • Soundbars
      • Streaming Devices
      • Projectors
      • Blu-ray
  • Streaming
    • Entertainment
    • Netflix
    • Prime Video
    • Disney+
    • Apple TV+
    • HBO Max
    • Hulu
    • Paramount+
    • How to Watch
  • Fitness
    • Fitness
      • Smartwatches
      • Fitness Trackers
      • Exercise Equipment
      • Fitness Headphones
      • Fitness Apps
      • Smart Rings
    • Watch Brands
      • Apple Watch
      • Fitbit
      • Garmin
      • Google Pixel Watch
      • Samsung Galaxy Watch
    • Wellbeing
      • Sleep
      • Oral Health
    • More from Fitness
      • Fitness News
      • Fitness Reviews
      • Fitness Buying Guides
      • Fitness Deals
  • Audio
    • Headphones
      • Earbus & Airpods
      • Wireless Headphones
    • Speakers
      • Wireless Speakers
      • Sonos
    • Hi-Fi
      • Turntables
      • Portable Players
      • DACs
    • Audio Streaming
      • Spotify
      • Apple Music
    • More from Audio
      • Audio News
      • Audio Reviews
      • Audio Buying Guides
      • Audio Deals
  • VPN
    • VPN Services
    • VPN Security
    • ExpressVPN
    • NordVPN
  • Cameras
    • Camera Types
      • Mirrorless
      • DSLRs
      • Compact
      • Action
      • Video
      • Drones
      • 360 Cameras
      • Dash Cams
    • Camera Brands
      • Canon
      • DJI
      • Fujifilm
      • Nikon
      • GoPro
      • Insta360
    • More from Cameras
      • Camera Accessories
      • Camera Lenses
      • Camera Reviews
      • Camera Buying Guides
      • Camera Deals
      • Camera News
      • Photography
  • Home
    • Smart Home
      • Home Security
      • Smart Speakers
      • Smart Lights
      • Smart Scales
      • Smart Thermostats
      • Amazon Echo
    • Small Appliances
      • Air Fryers
      • Air Quality
      • Coffee Machines
      • Hair Care
      • Vacuums
      • Robot Vacuums
    • Home Brands
      • Dyson
      • Philips Hue
      • Ring
      • Shark
      • Ninja
    • More from Home
      • Home Reviews
      • Home Buying Guides
      • Home Deals
      • Home News
  • EVs
  • Browse
    • By Type
      • News
      • Best
      • Reviews
      • Deals
      • Versus
      • How To
      • Opinion
      • Coupons
    • Popular Brands
      • Samsung
      • Sony
      • Microsoft
      • Apple
  • More
Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming
  • Phones
    • View Phones
    • Popular Phone Brands
      • iPhone
      • Samsung Galaxy
      • Google Pixel
      • Nothing
      • Motorola
      • OnePlus
      • Xiaomi
      • Honor
      • Oppo
      • Huawei
    • Operating Systems
      • Android
      • iOS
    • More from Phones
      • Network Carriers
      • Phone Accessories
      • Phone Reviews
      • Phone Buying Guides
      • Phone Deals
      • Phone News
  • Computing
    • View Computing
    • Laptops
      • View Laptops
      • Chromebooks
      • MacBooks
      • Windows Laptops
      • Gaming Laptops
    • PCs
      • Desktop PCs
      • Macs
      • Gaming PCs
    • Software
      • View Software
      • Windows
      • macOS
    • Components
      • View Components
      • CPUs
      • GPUs
      • Storage
      • Nvidia
      • Intel
    • Internet
      • View Internet
      • Websites & Apps
      • Wi-Fi & Broadband
      • Social Media
      • Wordle
    • Security
      • View Security
      • Antivirus
      • Cyber Security
    • Tablets
      • View Tablets
      • eReaders
      • iPad
    • VR & AR
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Monitors
      • Keyboards
      • Webcams
      • Mice
    • Popular Computing Brands
      • Dell
      • HP
      • Lenovo
      • Acer
    • More from Computing
      • Computing Reviews
      • Computing Buying Guides
      • Computing Deals
      • Computing News
  • AI
    • View AI
    • AI Platforms & Assistants
    • OpenAI
    • ChatGPT
    • Gemini
    • Apple Intelligence
    • Claude
  • TVs
    • View TVs
    • TV Insights
      • TV Reviews
      • TV Buying Guides
      • TV Deals
      • TV News
    • More for your TV
      • Home Theatre
      • Soundbars
      • Streaming Devices
      • Projectors
      • Blu-ray
  • Streaming
    • View Streaming
    • Entertainment
    • Netflix
    • Prime Video
    • Disney+
    • Apple TV+
    • HBO Max
    • Hulu
    • Paramount+
    • How to Watch
  • Fitness
    • View Fitness
    • Fitness
      • Smartwatches
      • Fitness Trackers
      • Exercise Equipment
      • Fitness Headphones
      • Fitness Apps
      • Smart Rings
    • Watch Brands
      • Apple Watch
      • Fitbit
      • Garmin
      • Google Pixel Watch
      • Samsung Galaxy Watch
    • Wellbeing
      • Sleep
      • Oral Health
    • More from Fitness
      • Fitness News
      • Fitness Reviews
      • Fitness Buying Guides
      • Fitness Deals
  • Audio
    • View Audio
    • Headphones
      • View Headphones
      • Earbus & Airpods
      • Wireless Headphones
    • Speakers
      • View Speakers
      • Wireless Speakers
      • Sonos
    • Hi-Fi
      • View Hi-Fi
      • Turntables
      • Portable Players
      • DACs
    • Audio Streaming
      • View Audio Streaming
      • Spotify
      • Apple Music
    • More from Audio
      • Audio News
      • Audio Reviews
      • Audio Buying Guides
      • Audio Deals
  • VPN
    • View VPN
    • VPN Services
    • VPN Security
    • ExpressVPN
    • NordVPN
  • Cameras
    • View Cameras
    • Camera Types
      • Mirrorless
      • DSLRs
      • Compact
      • Action
      • Video
      • Drones
      • 360 Cameras
      • Dash Cams
    • Camera Brands
      • Canon
      • DJI
      • Fujifilm
      • Nikon
      • GoPro
      • Insta360
    • More from Cameras
      • Camera Accessories
      • Camera Lenses
      • Camera Reviews
      • Camera Buying Guides
      • Camera Deals
      • Camera News
      • Photography
  • Home
    • View Home
    • Smart Home
      • View Smart Home
      • Home Security
      • Smart Speakers
      • Smart Lights
      • Smart Scales
      • Smart Thermostats
      • Amazon Echo
    • Small Appliances
      • View Small Appliances
      • Air Fryers
      • Air Quality
      • Coffee Machines
      • Hair Care
      • Vacuums
      • Robot Vacuums
    • Home Brands
      • Dyson
      • Philips Hue
      • Ring
      • Shark
      • Ninja
    • More from Home
      • Home Reviews
      • Home Buying Guides
      • Home Deals
      • Home News
  • EVs
  • Browse
    • View Browse
    • By Type
      • News
      • Best
      • Reviews
      • Deals
      • Versus
      • How To
      • Opinion
      • Coupons
    • Popular Brands
      • Samsung
      • Sony
      • Microsoft
      • Apple
Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Best VPN
  • Back to school
  • Best laptop
  • ChatGPT
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
A character in a gas mask rides in a shopping cart, flanked by a rocket ship and a flying robot
Gaming Fortnite OG rocket launch live event - our coverage of Blast Off as it happened
Two phones on a blue and green background showing the Photopills app planning page for the Perseids meteor shower
Photography How to watch and photograph tonight's Perseid meteor shower
Space Forge Satellite
Pro Could they be the next Arm? Space Forge innovative nursery-in-the-stars could spell new generations of super materials and yes, sky’s the limit
Northern Lights taken with the Nikon Z6 II
Photography Missed the northern lights? Don't worry, scientists predict 50 years of intense activity – here's how to plan your next photo trip
AI-Generated Fake Places
AI Platforms & Assistants AI is tricking people into traveling to places that don't exist, and we all need to learn to avoid these scams
An astronaut in the ISS looking at Earth
Netflix Netflix will start streaming NASA content soon – and the results look out of this world
A Tesla car, James Bonds and Samsung's foldable promo image
Tech ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Tesla finally launching robotaxis (kinda) to Samsung's foldables teaser
  1. Tech

Where and when to see a rocket launch (and maybe a landing too)

News
By Jamie Carter published 2 December 2017

Witnessing a rocket launch is the ultimate tech experience

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Rockets all over the world

Rockets all over the world

With SpaceX now launching payloads every two weeks, and Nasa ramping up its operations, there are multiple ways to witness the ultimate in tech spectacles: a rocket launch. Florida, Virginia and California all host increasingly regular rocket launches, and it's also possible to reliably witness a launch from China, French Guiana and Kazakhstan. 

There's one undisputed hot ticket in rocket launches: witnessing a take-off of the reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the first stage of which then returns to Earth and lands, either on lands or on a drone ship. However, if you want to see the biggest and the best, there's only one place to go: Baikonur in Kazakhstan, to see a manned rocket launch to the International Space Station (ISS) – see the next slide.

You'll find a good overview of what's coming up and where at Nasa's website. Just bear in mind that launches are often postponed – but when they happen they're worth waiting for.

  • Empty list
Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Nasa and SpaceX can pretend all they want, but witnessing a manned launch to the International Space Station is surely the ultimate adrenalin rush for any space fan – and that only currently happens in one rather remote location. The Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is home to the world's most reliable rocket, the Russian Soyuz-FG, which launches about four times a year to transport two or three cosmonauts and astronauts to the ISS.

Witnessing a manned ISS launch from Baikonur is perfectly possible, but costs a lot – bank on at least €3,750 (around $4,500 / £3,300 / AU$5,800) per person for the four-day tour from Moscow, which includes flights from Moscow, a hotel for three nights, and tours of the Cosmodrome Museum. You can save a bit by choosing to see the launch of an unmanned Progress cargo spaceship bound for the ISS, which costs around half as much.  

The next manned mission to the ISS is due to take place on December 27, with approximate dates for 2018 currently listed as March 10, April 25, September 8 and November 7.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Cape Canaveral, Florida

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Flat, flooded and crawling with crocodiles, Cape Canaveral – aka the Space Coast, and where all Apollo missions to the Moon launched from – is the easiest place in the world to reliably witness a rocket launch.

There are two major locations on Florida's 'Space Coast'; Nasa's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and, just next door, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). Although SpaceX sometimes lands its reusable Falcon 9 rocket on a drone-ship in the Atlantic Ocean, it often launches them from KSC and lands them at CCAFS. 

For SpaceX launches going from KSC's Launch Complex 39A, and for Nasa's missions upon United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V and Delta 4 rocket lifting-off from nearby 39B, there are viewing locations in public areas.

Sometimes, in addition to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's $50/$40 (adults/children) daily admission fee you can get tickets to watch a launch from the LC-39 Observation Gantry ($49), Banana Creek at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, right across the water from the launch pads ($20), or from Nasa Causeway ($40). 

However, go anywhere on Cocoa Beach south of Cape Canaveral and you'll be able to witness any rocket launch – from a distance – for free. Ditto Playalinda Beach to the north, or near Titusville to the west. If you watch a SpaceX launch, expect sonic booms. 

You'll find launch schedules at the Kennedy Space Center website and Space Coast Launches.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan, China

Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan, China

Thinks China's space programme is secretive? It used to be, but not any more. Constructed in the southeast of the holiday island of Hainan, Wenchang has drawn big crowds for its first three launches in 2016 and 2017, a Long March 5 and two Long March 7s.

Watching a launch from the area isn't technically difficult– it's about an hour's drive from the main city of Haikou on the coast. It's early days, and finding out the latest information about launches is tricky, but China's space program is burgeoning, and is intended to be a publicly accessible prestige project. Cape Canaveral definitely has a new rival.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Virginia's Eastern Shore is from where Orbital ATK sends its Antares rocket, carrying its Cygnus spacecraft packed with cargo, to the ISS. About four miles from the launch pads, the Nasa Visitor Center has a viewing area of benches in an open field (parking is first-come, first-served – it opens at 6am on the day of a launch).

Nasa's Wallops website advises arriving at least 30-60 minutes prior to a rocket launch window, and three or more hours prior to a large-scale mission launch window. Chincoteague Island is another place worth checking out, while the local tourism service has more information on where to watch. 

You can also watch launches from Wallops at Nasa's Wallops UStream channel – here's the launch schedule. 

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Although Cape Canaveral gets all the attention, Vandenberg AFB in California is a hotbed of one of the space industry's most exciting sights – the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 re-usable rocket.

There are several such launches planned in 2018 – including a quite a number for Iridium's NEXT satellite constellation – but Vandenberg also hosts launches of Atlas and Delta rockets.

There's a dedicated website with information on where to watch launches, and another listing launch schedules.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana

Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana

The French Overseas Territory of French Guiana in the northeast of South America may be the least visited destination on the continent, but where you launch a rocket from matters. A lot.

Kourou is near the equator at latitude 5° N, which makes it ideal for launching satellites into geostationary orbit. Since it's near the equator, which has a greater rotational speed, rockets get a boost – the slingshot effect. Basically, it can put a payload anywhere it wants, which is why, in spring 2019, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Centre Spatial Guyanais spaceport will host one of the most prestigious launches of all – the James Webb Space Telescope.

The $10 billion successor to the Hubble Space Telescope is due to launch on an Ariane-5 rocket from CSG, with the launch date having slipped from October 2018. Tickets for launches at CSG are free, and you can book viewing tickets for upcoming launches at its website.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Jamie Carter
Jamie Carter
Social Links Navigation

Jamie is a freelance tech, travel and space journalist based in the UK. He’s been writing regularly for Techradar since it was launched in 2008 and also writes regularly for Forbes, The Telegraph, the South China Morning Post, Sky & Telescope and the Sky At Night magazine as well as other Future titles T3, Digital Camera World, All About Space and Space.com. He also edits two of his own websites, TravGear.com and WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com that reflect his obsession with travel gear and solar eclipse travel. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners (Springer, 2015),

  • 10 events that will shape the new space race
You may like
  • A character in a gas mask rides in a shopping cart, flanked by a rocket ship and a flying robot Fortnite OG rocket launch live event - our coverage of Blast Off as it happened
  • Two phones on a blue and green background showing the Photopills app planning page for the Perseids meteor shower How to watch and photograph tonight's Perseid meteor shower
  • Space Forge Satellite Could they be the next Arm? Space Forge innovative nursery-in-the-stars could spell new generations of super materials and yes, sky’s the limit
Read more
A character in a gas mask rides in a shopping cart, flanked by a rocket ship and a flying robot
Fortnite OG rocket launch live event - our coverage of Blast Off as it happened
Two phones on a blue and green background showing the Photopills app planning page for the Perseids meteor shower
How to watch and photograph tonight's Perseid meteor shower
Space Forge Satellite
Could they be the next Arm? Space Forge innovative nursery-in-the-stars could spell new generations of super materials and yes, sky’s the limit
Northern Lights taken with the Nikon Z6 II
Missed the northern lights? Don't worry, scientists predict 50 years of intense activity – here's how to plan your next photo trip
AI-Generated Fake Places
AI is tricking people into traveling to places that don't exist, and we all need to learn to avoid these scams
An astronaut in the ISS looking at Earth
Netflix will start streaming NASA content soon – and the results look out of this world
Latest in Tech
An Apple Watch, Insta360 Antigravity, and the Vive Eagle next to each other.
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from the demise of dial-up to the return of a missing Apple Watch feature
The Future
This vision of the future is everything and nothing like I predicted
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 gaming laptop on a blue background with text saying Price Cut.
Heading to college? Don't miss this record-low price on the stunning Asus Zephyus G16 gaming laptop
Spider-Man looking at a Sonos speaker and GPT-5 logo
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from GPT-5's rocky debut to Sonos' upcoming price hike
Screenshot of Tom's Hardware Premium Beta on a laptop, on a red background
Sign up to the Tom’s Hardware Premium Beta now for exclusive content
A drone under a cloth, the new DJI Osmo 360, and an AirTag being put in a shoe
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from DJI and Insta360 trading blows to OpenAI getting scared by its own AI
Latest in News
Made by Google teaser
Google releases more teasers for the Pixel 10 event, and photo AI features heavily
Samsung Galaxy S25
Two key specs leak for the Galaxy S26 – and we may get a battery upgrade at last
Apple Watch Series 10 being held in a hand
The Apple Watch may get a major redesign – but not in time for the Apple Watch 11
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
New iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max leaks show off internals, a camera upgrade – and a SIM slot
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, August 18 (game #1302)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, August 18 (game #533)
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    I was thankful for this Ugreen power bank's retractable cable, but its 20,000mAh capacity wasn't enough to charge my laptop fully
  2. 2
    A Mac Studio Windows workstation clone just went on preorder with AMD's AI 395 - Beelink GTR9 Pro costs $1985, has two 10 GbE ports, and 128GB RAM
  3. 3
    I can't believe no one has stuck an RGB keyboard to a touchscreen monitor before - it's just a shame it doesn't have a battery
  4. 4
    A popular fake Telegram Premium site has been flooding the web with malware - here's how to stay safe
  5. 5
    I tested the Chuwi GameBook 9955HX and I'm impressed with the results for gaming and content creation

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...