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UPDATED: 5 Best Places in the Levittown Area to See Monday’s Rocket Launch

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By

Tom Sofield
The rocket on its launch pad Sunday morning. Credit: NASA
The rocket on its launch pad Sunday morning.
Credit: NASA

UPDATED: Monday, 11:05 p.m.:

NASA officials said a boat in the mariner avoidance area near the rocket launch site caused them to scrub Monday’s expected blast off.

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“While we are disappointed, as you are, public safety is paramount to us when conducting a rocket launch,” a statement said.

The launch has been rescheduled for Tuesday at 6:22 p.m.

Original Story:

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The launch of a rocket in Virginia is expected to be visible over Levittown Monday evening.

NASA is expected to launch a Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket at 6:45 p.m. Monday.

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With its payload of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts and crew provisions, the rocket will take off from the Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Va. 

Depending on the weather, the launch will be visible throughout the East Coast. The spacecraft will be visible in the southeast portion of the area starting at about 180 seconds after launch.

Click here to see the mission page

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The National Weather Service is calling for “partly cloudy” skies during the launch window.

Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA

At least two rocket launches were visible from Levittown last year and drew crowds to local viewing locations.

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If you’re looking for some great area outlooks to see the launch, we’ve got them for you below.

(Disclaimer: Some of the locations are “closed” to visitors at night. Our list is of places to where it would be enjoyable watch the launch. We can’t guarantee you’ll be able to gain access to all the sites, and we would certainly never condone trespassing.)

1. Woodbourne Square Shopping Center in Middletown

The parking lot of the Woodbourne Square Shopping Center at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Woodbourne Road provides a overlook toward the southeast. Credit: Google Street View
The parking lot of the Woodbourne Square Shopping Center at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Woodbourne Road provides a overlook toward the southeast.
Credit: Google Street View

2. Bristol Wharf in Bristol

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The river-front views at the Bristol Wharf should provide excellent viewing for Friday night's launch. Credit: Jeff Bohen/LevittownNow.com
The river-front views at the Bristol Wharf should provide excellent viewing for the launch.
Credit: Jeff Bohen/LevittownNow.com

3. Quaker Penn Park in Falls

The boat docks at Quaker Penn Park along the Delaware River in Falls Township should make a great spot to catch the rocket launch. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

4. Maple Point Middle School in Middletown

File photo Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The school sits on a hill that should provide a great view of the southeast portion of the night sky. The ideal location would be the parking lot above the sports fields.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

5. Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem and Croydon

The banks of the Delaware River in Croydon and Bensalem should also provide excellent spots to watch the rocket launch, which will appear to the left of the skyline. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The banks of the Delaware River in Croydon and Bensalem should also provide excellent spots to watch the rocket launch, which will appear to the left of the skyline.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

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Tom Sofield

Tom Sofield

Tom Sofield has covered news in Bucks County for 16 years for both newspaper and online publications. Tom’s reporting has appeared locally, nationally, and internationally across several mediums. He is proud to report on news in the county where he lives and to have created a reliable publication that the community deserves.