Playalinda Beach and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will close to the public beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 9, due to the planned launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on its Return to Flight mission, STS-114. Given a successful launch on July 13, the beach will reopen the following day and the Refuge will reopen approximately one hour after launch.
The launch countdown begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 10. Safety and security concerns require that Playalinda Beach and the Wildlife Refuge be closed to the public throughout the Shuttle launch countdown.
Launch of Discovery is set for 3:51 p.m. EDT on July 13.
Beachgoers wishing additional information on Playalinda Beach or the Canaveral National Seashore may call the National Park Service at 321/867-0677. For information on the Wildlife Refuge, call 321/861-0677.
Other Canaveral National Seashore beaches, such as Apollo Beach, will not be affected by the closing of Playalinda Beach and will remain open during Discovery’s launch. Access to those beaches is through New Smyrna Beach.
