How to watch a Falcon Heavy rocket launch at Florida's Space Coast

Anyone thinking the Kennedy Space Center has been largely mothballed since the end of the Space Shuttle programme in 2011 will be in for a major surprise tomorrow.

Weather permitting, the first Falcon Heavy rocket will launch from the same pad that sent Neil Armstrong and Co to the moon in 1969. It will be the first in a new generation of rockets set to blast off from the KSC, and the most powerful since the Apollo series shut down in 1972.

More importantly, it marks a new frontier in space tourism, with the Falcon Heavy project being bankrolled by billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX company but working alongside NASA to create a bold partnership.

For visitors to Florida’s ‘Space Coast,’ it also represents a magnificent opportunity to witness the Space Center at full throttle once again. The KSC’s Visitor Center has spent the best part of $150million in recent years on revamping its offerings – including the interactive Atlantis exhibit and new Heroes & Legends centre – in anticipation of the re-birth of the rocket programme.

Visitor numbers are expected to jump from 1.1million a year in 2012 to a record 2million by the end of the decade, and this will go hand-in-hand with new ways to watch a launch in 2018.

For each of the three Falcon Heavy lift-offs this year (February, April and June) there are four packages. The Close Ticket puts visitors 12.5 miles (20km) away, overlooking the river between the mainland and the KSC. The Closer Package provides viewing from the Visitor Complex (which is closed for the day otherwise) 7.5 miles (12km) away, with the rocket visible shortly after lift-off.

The Closest ticket provides an unobstructed view from the Visitor Complex, while a Feel The Heat package takes guests within 3.9 miles (6.2km) of the launch pad and provides a meal and drinks.

Prices range from $35 to $195 and include launch commentary, while all but the Close Ticket add commemorative souvenirs and Visitor Complex entry for two days.

Bear in mind the exact launch dates are announced only one to two weeks in advance and are subject to weather and technical delays. Winter launches have a better chance of going off on time, while it is not unknown for there to be several delays in the thunderstorm-hit summer months.

Tickets are issued on a per-launch basis and will cover any number of postponements, but there is no refund if you can’t attend a rescheduled launch.

If you can’t get a ticket – or don’t want to risk the expense – there are public viewing areas at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral (14 miles/22.5km away) and the north end of Cocoa Beach (a further 3 miles south), although you should expect major crowds for the Falcon Heavy launches.

Finally, if you download the Vacationauts app from the We Are Go website (wearegofl.com), you can track every launch in advance.

Where to get tickets

UK ticket broker Attraction Tickets Direct (0800 524 4650, attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk) offer packages in advance. In Orlando, see Gray Line (1800 472 9546, grayline.com/things-to-do/united-states/orlando/) or contact the KSC directly (kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar/falcon-heavy-launches).