SpaceX Polaris Dawn: Late-night rocket launch may be visible. Best places to see the launch

Godspeed, Polaris Dawn: This is not your typical astronaut mission, nor are these typical astronauts.

Three years ago, entrepreneur and Shift4 founder Jared Isaacman commanded Inspiration4 ? the first all-civilian mission to orbit the Earth, flying on a SpaceX Dragon. The spacefaring businessman is now set to fly again on a SpaceX Dragon ? and once again, he's poised to seize another first.

This time, Isaacman hopes to carry out the first commercial spacewalk (EVA or extravehicular activity) — a risky maneuver that has been the purview of only astronauts working for national space agencies. Spacewalks are conducted outside the safety of the pressurized spacecraft in the vacuum of space.

Polaris Dawn is targeting a launch at 3:38 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, carrying Isaacman and three fellow crewmates: pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew with the Thunderbirds; mission specialist Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX lead space operations engineer who trained the Inspiration4 astronauts; and mission specialist/medical officer Anna Menon, a SpaceX lead space operations engineer who served in mission control during multiple crewed missions.

They are slated to orbit higher than any spacecraft since NASA's Apollo missions.

Isaacman told FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network newspaper, that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has high ambitions for SpaceX's goal of making human life multiplanetary, and this mission grew out of that aim. The spacewalk is a big part of that.

Why are night rocket launches in Florida so special?

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, the SpaceX rocket launch should be visible from almost anywhere on the Space Coast. And minutes after liftoff, there’s typically a rumble. When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo.

Below are suggestions on where to watch the rocket launch from this area, a real-time weather radar to check for rainy conditions and other things to know. If there are changes to the launch schedule, this story will be updated. For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at [email protected]. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Is there a rocket launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule from Florida

Is there a rocket launch from Florida? The next is Tuesday, September 10: SpaceX Polaris Dawn

• Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will lift Shift4 founder and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman's four-civilian crew on a SpaceX Dragon orbital mission. This mission will bring the debut of the SpaceX EVA spacesuit, as well as the first spacewalk by a private company.

• Launch: 3:38 a.m.EDT Tuesday, Sept. 10

• Location: Kennedy Space Center launch pad 39A

• Live coverage: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting two hours before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

Space Coast weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today?

Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.

Where to watch a SpaceX rocket launch from Space Coast of Florida

Pretty much anywhere in Brevard, you'll get a view of the rocket launch ? in certain areas, you can get an amazing view of SpaceX rocket boosters returning to the pads. The best view to watch a rocket launch from the Space Coast is along the beach. However, visibility will depend on weather conditions and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches.

If you are viewing the launch along the Indian River in Titusville from Space View Park or Parrish Park, look east directly across the river.

If you are farther south along the Indian River, look northeast.

Playalinda Beach or Canaveral National Seashore is the closest spot to view liftoff because it is almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A. On the beach, look south along the coastline, (you can even see the pad from some spots).

Some hotspots to check out:

• Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Note, there's a charge to park.

• Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Note, there's a charge to park, and access to Canaveral National Seashore isn't always granted depending on capacity and time of day.

• Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Note, parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge.

• Space View Park, 8 Broad St., Titusville

• Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville

• Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville

• Riverfront Park at Cocoa Village, 401 Riveredge Blvd., Cocoa (just before State Road 520 Causeway)

• Cocoa Village, near the parks and shops or near the docks

• Various parks on Merritt Island

• Rotary Park, 1899 S. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island

• Kiwanis Park on Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island

• Port Canaveral, with ships from Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean at port

• Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.

• Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. Parking fee varies.

• Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park, by the way.

• Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Note, there could be parking costs.

• Downtown Cocoa Beach, along Minutemen Causeway

• Tables Beach, 197 SR A1A, Satellite Beach

• The Tides on SR A1A in Satellite Beach

• Various parks, including the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, in Satellite Beach

• Pineda Causeway

• Eau Gallie Causeway

• Front Street Park near Melbourne (U.S. 192) Causeway and U.S. 1 in Melbourne

• Indialantic boardwalk at Melbourne Causeway and SR A1A

• Paradise Beach Park, aka Howard Futch Park, 2301 SR A1A, Melbourne (this is a beachside park)

• Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter)

• Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking)

• South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking)

• Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach

• Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launch: How to watch Polaris Dawn from Florida beaches, parks