Atlas V Launch from Cape Canaveral — Likely Visible Across Much of Florida (Nov. 5, 2025, 10:24 p.m. ET)

Atlas V to Launch Viasat’s ViaSat‑3 F2 — Visible Across Much of Florida

What: United Launch Alliance (ULA) will launch an Atlas V rocket carrying Viasat’s ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 (F2), a high‑capacity Ka‑band broadband satellite intended to expand Viasat’s fleet capability.

When: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. The launch window opens at 10:24 p.m. ET and extends for 44 minutes (until 11:08 p.m. ET).

Where: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Atlas V will be boosted by five side‑mounted solid rocket motors, producing a dramatic, fast ascent that should create a bright plume visible across a wide region if skies are clear. ULA has released a visibility graphic showing the expected trajectory and areas likely to see the vehicle during the early minutes of flight.

Visibility — where and when you might see the rocket

Weather and cloud cover will determine how far the ascent is visible. ULA’s timeline provides rough visibility milestones by seconds after liftoff:

• Launch + 60 seconds: Space Coast communities (Titusville, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne), parts of east Orlando and the northern Treasure Coast (Sebastian, Vero Beach), and portions of Volusia County.
• Launch + 90 seconds: Wider Central Florida: Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Orlando metro (including UCF area), Sanford, Kissimmee, Ocala, Lakeland and nearby communities. This is about the time the payload fairing may jettison.
• Launch + 150 seconds: Solid rocket booster jettison expected. Visibility may reach inland and Gulf Coast cities: Sebring, Winter Haven, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Tampa Bay area, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples. Atlantic coast viewers in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Palm Beach and Mar‑a‑Lago are also listed.
• Launch + 210–270 seconds: Potential visibility extends beyond Florida to southern Georgia (including Savannah and Brunswick), South Carolina’s coast (Hilton Head, Charleston, Myrtle Beach) and North Carolina’s coast (Wilmington).
• Launch + 330–390 seconds: ULA notes that observers as far away as Bermuda and parts of the Caribbean may catch a glimpse under ideal conditions.

Past long‑distance sightings

Long‑range views of rockets are not unprecedented: SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches have been photographed from Myrtle Beach, other missions have been spotted from New Jersey and Georgia, and in October 2025 a SpaceX Starship launch from Texas was reported visible in Palm Beach County more than 1,500 miles from the pad. These examples show that clear skies and the right lighting make distant sightings possible.

How to watch

• Check local weather and cloud cover before heading out — clear skies and low clouds give the best chance to see the ascent.
• Plan to watch from open, unobstructed locations facing east or northeast if you’re on the Atlantic side; westward coastal viewers can often see long‑range plumes depending on trajectory.
• ULA and many media outlets provide a live webcast and coverage beginning roughly 90 minutes before liftoff; search for ULA launch coverage or the media site you follow for the stream and real‑time updates.
• Bring binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens for a better view and photos; a tripod helps with long‑exposure shots at night.

Bottom line

If skies are clear on the evening of Nov. 5, the Atlas V’s bright, fast ascent should be visible to many Floridians — from the Space Coast through Central Florida and potentially as far south as West Palm Beach and Mar‑a‑Lago, and beyond to parts of the Southeast U.S. and nearby islands. Use ULA’s visibility graphic and local weather forecasts to plan your viewing.

Note: All visibility windows are estimates based on ULA’s published graphic; actual sightlines depend on real‑time weather, lighting and the rocket’s precise flight profile.