SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch, Loxahatchee Boat Ramp

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On May 23, 2019, I watched the 10:30pm SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch from the Loxahatchee Boat Ramp.

Notes:

  • The rocket will appear over the horizon approximately 47-50 seconds after launch.
  • Notice the tall lighted tower off in the distance, and the blinking white light near the horizon to the left of it. They’re going to be your two primary landmarks guiding you where to look.
    • Instinctively, you’ll probably expect to see the rocket appear near the lighted tower. In reality, it will appear quite a bit to the left of it. If you’ve never watched a launch before, it’ll appear to be a lot further to the left of where you’ll probably expect it to be.
    • To the left of the blinking tower, there’s another blinking light near the ground. The rocket will be left of that, too.

Verdict:

Fantastic place to watch launches. I’d say it’s about 60% as good as Hobe Sound Beach. The main difference is that from Hobe Sound, the rocket briefly appears to be flying towards you, and both the launching rocket and returning first stage appear to be approximately twice as large.

Plus:

  • Unobstructed view all the way to the horizon. Flames became visible right on schedule, approximately 46 seconds after lift-off.
  • Safe… as long as you stay in your car. And unlike most viewing sites, you actually can stay in your car and enjoy a perfect view. I personally stood in my truck bed.

Minus:

  • You’re at the edge of the Everglades, and the mosquitoes are fierce.
  • Alligators aren’t just an abstract, theoretical possibility. There are multiple alligators known to roam around the parking lot daily. Stay in your car, and they’ll leave you alone.
  • The ramp officially closes at 10pm. The rangers didn’t seem to mind the small crowd watching the launch at 10:30, but I’m not sure how tolerant they are of really late-night visitors. That said, they’re apparently planning to officially keep the boat ramp open 24/7 starting sometime later this year, so they might have already thrown in the towel and stopped rigidly enforcing the 10pm closing time.
  • Officially, it costs $5 to enter. Once they officially change the hours to 24/7, I’ll probably spend the $12 and buy an annual pass… as long as they don’t install new lights and ruin it as a launch-viewing site.
    • Plea to LNWR officials: if you feel like you really have to install more lights after opening it 24/7, leave the western parking lot (or at least its western half) dark for the benefit of launch-watchers and stargazers. This is one of the last places left in urban Broward County that has a dark sky, and the only one I’m aware of that ALSO has a clear view to the north from a high vantage point where cars can be parked (providing protection from snakes & gators). Please don’t ruin it. This is a unique amenity you can offer to people who’d otherwise have zero interest in visiting LNWR, and would otherwise be completely indifferent if it were bulldozed away and replaced by condos. All you have to do keep us happy and preserve it is leave the western half of the parking lot dark.

Photos:

Falcon 9 Starlink launch at t+47 seconds, rocket becoming visible over horizon. Notice how far the rocket is to the left of the blinking tower.  The bright street light near the boat ramp parking lot’s entrance is further to the right, out of camera view.

 

T+2 minutes

 

Approximately 2 seconds before MECO. Notice that MECO occurs when the rocket is almost directly above the small blinking light near the horizon to the left of the tower.

 

Start of entry burn. Notice it’s still to the left of the blinking tower.