Today’s second attempt to launch the historic SpaceX Crew Dragon at Kennedy Space Center is likely to attract even more space enthusiasts than Wednesday’s first attempt which was aborted due to weather conditions around Cape Canaveral.
Weather is expected to 50 percent favorable for launch. If it gets scrubbed again like Wednesday, SpaceX and NASA will try again around 3 p.m. on Sunday.
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be the first American astronauts to leave from American soil on an American rocket since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. If they launch today, they’re scheduled to dock with the International Space Station just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning, and stay between three and 16 weeks.
Here are a few tips for drivers that will be traveling to the Space Coast to view the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, scheduled to go off at 3:22 this afternoon.
Leave early, and pack your patience. Like Wednesday, there will be heavy eastbound traffic just prior to the scheduled lift off time. To our Osceola County neighbors, Florida Highway Patrol reported U.S. 192 wasn’t as utilized as other road out of the coast on Wednesday. Take 192 to Melbourne and then go north on I-95 or U.S. 1 into Brevard County. Nova Road to State Road 520 East is also an option. State Road 528 saw the most westbound backups after Wednesday’s scrubbed launch.
Find an actual parking site, not the shoulder of a road. Drivers are not allowed to park on the shoulder of a limited access road like State Road 528 (the Beachline) except in designated parking areas just east of the causeways.
Driver can use 511 to get up to date information on traffic conditions. Call *347 to reach FHP if you need assistance from Road Rangers or have a traffic problem.
The best way to make traveling to and from the launch safer is for each driver to plan for heavy traffic, find an alternate route and pack their patience.
