# 321 LAUNCH — Live rocket coverage in AR

> Augmented reality live rocket launch coverage and interactive simulations. (iPhone/iPad app by USA TODAY.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/321-launch/id1356608002 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [USA TODAY](https://appshunter.io/developer/364257179)
- Category: News, Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 951 App Store ratings · 50 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 152 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2018-03-29
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/321-launch/id1356608002/reviews.md

## What is 321 LAUNCH?

USA TODAY delivers a best-in-class AR hologram rocket launch experience on our 321 LAUNCH app. 

Our space experts from Florida Today are your guides through this one-of-a-kind experience. During a live launch, watch an AR rocket liftoff from any flat surface, as an animated hologram shows you what the actual rocket is doing in real-time. Telemetry data generates a predictive flight-path allowing you to follow the speed, acceleration, and altitude of an active launch live in AR, simply by pointing your phone towards the sky. Tap to live video coverage of the launch and follow live commentary as you watch from anywhere in the world. 

Also check out our launch simulation as space experts guide you through an interactive rocket assembly, readying the launch-pad, and blasting off towards the exosphere, before separation and re-entry. You control a launch mission in this interactive AR experience, and learn what it takes to launch a rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

## Key features

- Live AR rocket liftoffs
- Real-time telemetry data in AR
- Interactive launch simulations
- Expert space guides
- Live video and commentary integration
- AR rocket assembly and launch control

## What do users think of 321 LAUNCH?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Immersive AR experience
- 🔍 Informative and educational
- 🤩 Inspiring and engaging
- 👍 Seamless and smooth launch simulation
- 🌟 Awesome use of technology

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🕰️ Delayed live launch coverage
- 📱 Compatibility issues on older devices
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive interface

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Camera access not requested, causing blank screen
- Compass calibration issues on some devices
- Connectivity problems during launches

**Most requested features**

- Ability to view past launches in AR
- Option to follow booster descent or payload journey
- Integration with launch schedules and RSS feeds
- Support for other launch vehicles (e.g., Saturn V)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 50)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/321-launch/id1356608002/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Almost like being there

*2022-12-26, version 2.2*

We really enjoyed this experience!

### 3/5 — Why abandon this app?

*2022-04-08, version 2.2*

Hello, developers so I loved this app for alerts on rocket launches but I few years ago the app stopped working and not giving me any more alerts it just kept saying “launches coming soon” and still to this day it’s like that and this app haven’t been updated 1y ago why did you guys abandon this very good app? I hope the developers will come back for more updates and fixes but for now I can’t really use this app 😢

### 5/5 — Nicely done

*2021-06-07, version 2.2*

Well done and great use of AR on the Falcon 9 demonstration. One suggestion: finish a segment and queue the others if one touches multiple points. As there is no was to go backwards.

### 5/5 — That was awesome

*2020-11-25, version 2.2*

Just watched my first live launch in AR...and I am impressed. Yes the timing is a little off (~2-5 secs) and the graphics could be improved but this is one of the best examples of the potential of AR. I just watched a rocket launch into space in my living room on a handheld computer...could you have ever guessed you would be able to do that 10 years ago. Magic.

### 5/5 — Really cool!

*2020-05-16, version 2.1*

As a child of the 60’s & early 70’s, I grew up with Mercury and Apollo. If this app and related technologies had existed and were widely distributed in schools, there is no way to know how far along we would be in our exploration of space. I believe we would be much farther than we are now.

### 5/5 — This is amazing

*2020-04-10, version 2.1*

This app is the reason I am going to school to become an aerospace engineer. Thank you to the team who put this together. It’s inspired me to shoot for the stars and do great things.

### 5/5 — Awesome!

*2020-03-06, version 2.1*

I love this kind of stuff, I’ve been interested in the space program for a year now and I have learned a lot more from this app than I already knew. I love this app so much that I just keep doing the AR launch over and over again. So developers, if you are even reading this, please make an app like this for the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo program, it would be really cool!

### 5/5 — Fun app but I had the wrong surface

*2020-01-20, version 2.0.2*

Very cool but I had a hard time figuring out how high to hold the camera from the horizontal surface. I suggest if you are short using something shorter than a kitchen table. Make sure you have about a 2’ square surface. 
Looking forward to seeing more.

### 5/5 — Inspiring SCIENCE on your desk or living room table!

*2020-01-11, version 2.0.2*

Wow!!!.. I eagerly await a version that runs on Apple optical input tech (Glasses, visor, contacts...)  or something similar! Who knows what I would be doing now if I had this available in school? Mind blown in the best way! One step closer to a multi-plantery species ! It’s like a livid dream. 🚀

### 5/5 — Solid learning tool

*2019-12-11, version 2.0.2*

I am impressed with the quality of the AR experience. I look forward to sharing it with thousands of students!!!

## Frequently asked questions about 321 LAUNCH

### What does the 321 LAUNCH app do?

This app provides an augmented reality experience for live rocket launches. It allows users to watch AR rocket liftoffs from any flat surface, displaying animated holograms and real-time telemetry data like speed, acceleration, and altitude. It also features interactive simulations of rocket assembly and launch missions.

### How does the AR rocket launch feature work?

During a live launch, the app uses AR to show an animated hologram of the rocket liftoff. By pointing your phone towards the sky, you can follow the rocket's speed, acceleration, and altitude in real-time through telemetry data. You can also tap to access live video coverage and commentary.

### Is there a cost to use the 321 LAUNCH app?

Based on the provided information, the app is free to use. There are no mentions of subscription fees, in-app purchases, or advertisements.

### What kind of simulations are available?

The app offers an interactive launch simulation where space experts guide you through assembling a rocket, preparing the launchpad, and blasting off. You can control a launch mission, learning about the process from Kennedy Space Center.

### Who provides the expert guidance in the app?

The app features space experts from Florida Today who act as guides throughout the AR experience and simulations. They provide commentary and insights into rocket launches and space missions.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 2.2 — 2020-11-18

• Updated the commenting platform to 24Live
• Added a new Saturn V interactive story
• Fixed notifications
• Updated Falcon 9 model to block 5 to include the Dragon crew capsule

## Apps similar to 321 LAUNCH

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Florida Today eEdition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/florida-today-eedition/id556963238) | 4.5 (201) | Free | News |
| [Space Launch Schedule](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-launch-schedule/id1024681892) | 3.9 (143) | Free | News |
| [Florida Today](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/florida-today/id493011169) | 4.5 (2,293) | Free | News |
| [Next Spaceflight](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-spaceflight/id1448055760) | 4.9 (19,650) | Free | News |
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## More apps by USA TODAY

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All apps by USA TODAY: https://appshunter.io/developer/364257179

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*