SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center Thursday, sending a sonic boom across Brevard County that rattled windows and startled residents. The launch, visible from parts of Titusville and Cocoa, marked the first Falcon Heavy mission since 2023. "I felt the boom about 10 seconds after liftoff," said Karen Lopez, a Titusville resident who watched from the Banana River Marina. "It was louder than anything I've ever heard."
The 28-story-tall rocket lifted off at 1:45 p.m., with the boom heard as far as Melbourne and Cocoa Beach. The launch was visible from several vantage points along the Space Coast, including the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the Port Canaveral cruise terminal. Officials urged spectators to stay behind designated safety barriers, though some locals ignored warnings to get closer.
"We had hundreds of people on the beach near the visitor complex," said NASA spokesperson Jim Hart. "Most stayed safe, but a few tried to get too close to the launch pad." The rocket's first stage landed at Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 1, while the upper stage continued toward a classified orbit.
Local businesses reported a surge in customers seeking viewing spots. The Cocoa Village Inn sold out of rooms by midday, and the Titusville Fishing Pier saw a line of cars waiting to park. "People came from as far as Orlando," said restaurant owner Maria Gonzalez. "They wanted to see history in the making."
The mission carried a satellite for the U.S. Space Force, though details about its purpose remain undisclosed. SpaceX has not announced plans for another Falcon Heavy launch, but the successful liftoff has reignited interest in the rocket's capabilities among local aerospace enthusiasts.