SpaceX and United Launch Alliance plan two nighttime launches from Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. A Falcon 9 will loft 29 Starlink satellites between 6:08–10:08 p.m. ET, and an Atlas V carrying Viasat’s Ka‑band satellite is scheduled for 10:24–11:08 p.m. ET. Visibility depends on weather and trajectory, but observers as far north as Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine may see the flights. Live coverage begins on the USA TODAY Network’s space pages well before each liftoff.
Two Nighttime Florida Launches Could Be Visible From Jacksonville, St. Augustine — A Rare Doubleheader
SpaceX and United Launch Alliance plan two nighttime launches from Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. A Falcon 9 will loft 29 Starlink satellites between 6:08–10:08 p.m. ET, and an Atlas V carrying Viasat’s Ka‑band satellite is scheduled for 10:24–11:08 p.m. ET. Visibility depends on weather and trajectory, but observers as far north as Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine may see the flights. Live coverage begins on the USA TODAY Network’s space pages well before each liftoff.
15:26, 04.11.2025Science
Two night launches from Florida could light up the sky — visible as far north as Jacksonville and St. Augustine
The run toward 100 orbital launches from Florida continues: SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) are scheduled to attempt back-to-back nighttime launches on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. The two missions are separated by only a few hours, creating a rare doubleheader that could be visible across northeast and central Florida if weather and trajectories cooperate.
Mission details
SpaceX — Falcon 9 (Starlink)
Mission: Deploy 29 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Launch window: 6:08 p.m. to 10:08 p.m. ET (Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025).
Launch site: Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Planned trajectory: Southeast.
Sonic booms: Not expected.
United Launch Alliance — Atlas V (Viasat)
Mission: Deliver Viasat’s second Ka‑band communications satellite (second of a planned three‑satellite constellation).
Launch time: 10:24 p.m. ET with a 44‑minute window extending to 11:08 p.m. ET (Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025).
Launch site: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Planned trajectory: TBA. Sonic booms: Not expected.
What to expect and where to watch
Nighttime launches produce dramatic visuals: a bright exhaust plume and a glowing contrail that photograph well against a dark sky. Visibility depends on cloud cover, local weather and each rocket’s flight path. Observers in Brevard, Volusia and Indian River counties get the best views, but on clear nights launches from the Space Coast have been seen as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach, and as far south as Vero Beach and West Palm Beach.
Recommended viewing spots for the Jacksonville / St. Augustine area:
- Jacksonville Beach
- Neptune Beach
- Atlantic Beach / West Atlantic Beach
- Mayport
- Ponte Vedra Beach
- St. Augustine (about an hour’s drive from the Space Coast)
Choose open, unobstructed shoreline locations for the best views and photos. Check local radar for cloud cover before heading out.
Live coverage and local resources
USA TODAY Network’s Space Team will provide live coverage and mobile-friendly live blogs with countdown clocks at floridatoday.com/space. Coverage typically begins about 90 minutes before a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch and about two hours before a ULA Atlas V launch. You can also use the National Weather Service in Melbourne for up-to-the-minute radar and conditions for the Space Coast and surrounding counties.
For questions or launch updates, contact FLORIDA TODAY space reporters: Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com.
These two launches on the same evening create a rare opportunity for residents and visitors across northeast Florida to witness — and photograph — two orbital liftoffs in a single night, weather permitting.