Doubleheader Night Launches from Florida: SpaceX Starlink and ULA Viasat Set for Nov. 5, 2025 — Visible Across the Space Coast

Two nighttime orbital launches could light up Florida’s Space Coast

On the night of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, two orbital launches are scheduled from Cape Canaveral, offering a rare doubleheader that may be visible across much of east-central Florida. First, a SpaceX Falcon 9 will loft 29 Starlink broadband satellites, followed hours later by a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V carrying a Viasat Ka‑band communications satellite.

SpaceX — Falcon 9 / Starlink

• Launch window: 6:08 p.m. to 10:08 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
• Mission: 29 Starlink broadband satellites to low‑Earth orbit
• Trajectory: Southeast
• Launch pad: Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Sonic booms expected: No
• Live coverage: Coverage begins about 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

ULA — Atlas V / Viasat

• Launch time: 10:24 p.m. ET, with a 44‑minute window extending to 11:08 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025
• Mission: Second of three planned Ka‑band communications satellites for Viasat
• Trajectory: To be announced (refer to ULA graphic for planned path)
• Launch pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Sonic booms expected: No
• Live coverage: ULA coverage begins about two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

Will you be able to see them?

Visibility depends on weather, cloud cover and each rocket’s precise trajectory. On a clear night, illuminated rocket plumes and contrails can be visible from far beyond Brevard County — in some cases as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach and as far south as Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. Night launches often produce dramatic photographic opportunities as the plume is lit against the dark sky.

Where to watch — Volusia County highlights

Volusia County, immediately north of Cape Canaveral, offers many shoreline and riverfront vantage points. For the best views, look due south from beach or riverfront locations. Recommended spots include:

• South New Smyrna Beach (Canaveral National Seashore)
• Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach
• Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore (access via I‑95 exit 249 east to SR A1A)
• Oak Hill riverfront and parks: Sunrise Park, Riverbreeze Park, Mary Dewees Park, Nancy Cummings Park, A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier and adjacent bird observation pier
• Goodrich's Seafood and Oyster House (back deck), 253 River Road, Oak Hill
• Rose Bay, Port Orange
• New Smyrna Beach Inlet (lifeguard station) and other New Smyrna beaches
• Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona Beach; Ormond‑by‑the‑Sea; George R. Kennedy Memorial Park, Edgewater

Tips for viewing and photography

• Arrive early to secure parking and a clear line of sight; shoreline spots fill quickly for nighttime launches.
• Bring a tripod and a wide‑angle lens for photos; long‑exposure settings (with a remote shutter) can capture the illuminated plume and contrail.
• Check local radar and weather forecasts before heading out—cloud cover can obscure the view.
• Follow posted rules at national seashores and parks; do not trespass on restricted launch or wildlife areas.

Stay informed

For real‑time updates, countdown clocks, delay or scrub notices and live video, follow official Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center schedules and local live coverage at floridatoday.com/space. For questions or comments, contact FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. Subscribe to the weekly space newsletter via the local space coverage page for ongoing updates.

Note: All times are Eastern Time. Launch windows and trajectories are subject to change — always verify with official launch providers before traveling.