Orlando Attractions Update – Here’s your chance to witness the compelling sights and sounds of the ULA Atlas V rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center on February 3, 2016, as it sends the GPS IIF-12 satellite into orbit around Earth for the United States Air Force. Scheduled launch time is 8.47am so be sure to get there in plenty of time.Public interest in rocket launches has been peaked in recent months private companies have upped the ante in a new race for space – and back again. In November, an American company called Blue Origin sent a rocket to the edge of space before landing it back on the pad from which it had lifted off. That was an impressive trick. But it has just been trumped by another such firm, SpaceX, which has done the same thing with part of a rocket destined for orbit—a much harder task.SpaceX’s vehicle, one of its Falcon 9 rockets, was sent on its way from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0129 GMT on December 22nd. This, in itself, was no big deal. Falcons have been travelling into orbit since 2008. What is new is that when the rocket’s first and second stages separated, and the second stage carried on ascending with its payload of 11 satellites, the first stage flipped itself over, re-lit its engines to reverse its course, and headed back to the ground. Ten minutes after launch, with the flames from those engines illuminating the Floridian evening, the first stage descended from the sky and landed itself upright on a pad a few kilometres from where it had started.Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers the closest public viewing of rocket launches. Launch viewing areas include the Apollo/Saturn V Center located within the secured areas of Kennedy Space Center. Visitor complex parking opens at 5:30 am and bus boarding for the Apollo/Saturn V Center begins at the main visitor complex at 6 am for launch viewing ticket holders only February 3, 2016. Launch Transportation Tickets to the Apollo/Saturn V Center are available for $20 plus tax, in addition to admission. In addition to launch viewing/transportation tickets, visitors are also welcome to access a viewing area located at the main visitor complex. This viewing area with launch commentary is included with general admission. The visitor complex opens one hour early at 8 am to accommodate launch viewing.
Future Launch Schedule for 2016 and beyondClick here for the current NASA launch schedule from Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. January 3, 2016The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the tenth Dragon spacecraft. The purpose of the mission is to take the eighth resupply cargo load to the International Space Station. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. Delayed from August 13 and September 2. Early 2016The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Eutelsat 117 West B & ABS 2A communications satellites for the French Eutelsat company. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. February 3, 2016The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the twelfth block 2F Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Launch is from launch pad SLC–41. Delayed from January 26, 2016. Early 2016The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch JCSAT 14 communications satellite for the Tokyo-based SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. Quarter 1The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Amos 6 communications satellite for Spacecom of Israel. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. March 10, 2016The Atlas 5 rocket will launch the sixth Orbital Sciences Cygnus cargo mission. The purpose of the mission is to take the fifth resupply cargo load to the International Space Station. Launch is from launch pad SLC–41. March 21, 2016The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the eleventh Dragon spacecraft. The purpose of the mission is to take the ninth resupply cargo load to the International Space Station. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. Delays from December 9, 2015. April 2016The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch on its first demonstration flight. It consists of three Falcon 9 cores joined together with a total of 27 Merlin 1D engines. Launch is from launch pad LC–39A. Delayed from Quarter 3, 2015. May 5, 2016The Atlas 5 rocket launched the fifth Mobile User Objective Satellite (MUOS) for the U.S. Navy. Launch is from launch pad SLC–41. May 12, 2016The Delta 4 Heavy rocket will launch a classified payroll for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Launch will be from launch pad SLC–37B. Delayed from April 27. June 10, 2016The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the twelfth Dragon spacecraft. The purpose of the mission is to take the tenth resupply cargo load to the International Space Station. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. Delayed from February 21. June 14, 2016The Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified payroll for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Launch will be from launch pad SLC–41. Delayed from April 21. July 21, 2016A Delta 4 rocket will launch the AFSPC 6 mission for the U.S. Air Force. Launch is from launch pad SLC–37B. July 27, 2016The Atlas 5 rocket will launch the third U.S. military Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite (SBIRS GEO 3). Launch will be from launch pad SLC–41. August 15, 2016The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the thirteenth Dragon spacecraft. The purpose of the mission is to take the eleventh resupply cargo load to the International Space Station. Launch is from launch pad SLC–40. Delayed from June 2. September 3, 2016The Atlas 5 rocket will launch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. Launch is from launch pad SLC–41. September 22, 2016The Delta 4 rocket launcedh the eighth Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft (Wideband Gapfiller Satellite) for the U.S. military. Launch is from launch pad SLC–37B. September, 2016The Atlas 5 rocket will launch the first new geostationary weather satellite for NASA and NOAA. Launch will be from launch pad SLC–41.
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