Atlas V Launch from Cape Canaveral May Be Visible in Fort Myers, Naples and Across the Southeast

Atlas V launch from Cape Canaveral may be visible across Florida and beyond

United Launch Alliance will launch an Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. The launch window opens at 10:24 p.m. ET and runs for 44 minutes, closing at 11:08 p.m. ET. ULA’s published trajectory and visibility graphic indicate the rocket could be seen across much of Florida and, under clear skies, well beyond state lines.

What’s on board

The Atlas V is carrying ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 (F2), an ultra‑high‑capacity Ka‑band broadband satellite for Viasat that will expand the company’s global communications capacity. This mission will fly the Atlas V with five side‑mounted solid rocket boosters, producing a bright, fast ascent that many observers should be able to spot after liftoff.

When and where you might see it

Visibility depends on weather, cloud cover and viewing direction, but ULA’s flight‑path map gives estimated sighting windows by seconds after launch. These times are approximate:

• Launch + 60 seconds: Space Coast (including Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island), east Orlando (near UCF, Bithlo), northern Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
• Launch + 90 seconds (payload fairing jettison): Space Coast, Daytona Beach area, Port Orange, broader Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine and surrounding Central Florida communities.
• Launch + 150 seconds (solid booster jettison): Visibility could extend to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota and Manatee counties, Tampa Bay, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier and Lee counties, Clearwater, West Palm Beach and southern Georgia (including Savannah).
• Launch + 210 seconds (booster separation): Potential visibility as far as Tallahassee and parts of Florida’s Big Bend, and farther north along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts; portions of North Carolina’s coast may also see the ascent.
• Launch + 270–330 seconds: ULA’s estimates show visibility continuing along the Southeast coast—including Savannah and Brunswick (GA); Hilton Head, Charleston and Myrtle Beach (SC); Wilmington (NC)—and possibly reaching the Bahamas, Caribbean islands and Bermuda later in the flight.

These are approximate guidelines based on ULA’s trajectory graphic and assume clear skies and an unobstructed horizon.

How to watch

Live web coverage and a webcast typically begin about 90 minutes before liftoff. For this launch, FLORIDA TODAY’s live stream and social updates will start around that time at floridatoday.com/space. ULA’s official webcast and visibility map are the best sources for the most current viewing guidance on launch day.

Viewing tips

• Pick a location with a clear view of the eastern horizon and minimal light pollution.
• Check local weather and cloud cover right before launch—clouds can block visibility even if the rocket is bright.
• Bring binoculars or a camera with a long exposure for a more dramatic view and photos.
• Arrive early to secure a good spot if you plan to watch from popular viewing areas such as the Space Coast or Treasure Coast.

Past launches—including heavy-lift and multi‑booster flights—have been photographed from locations many miles away. If skies are clear, the Atlas V’s five‑booster climb could be visible as far as Fort Myers and Naples and into neighboring states and territories.

Mission summary

Rocket: Atlas V (with five solid rocket boosters)
Payload: ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 (F2) — Ka‑band broadband satellite for Viasat
Launch site: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch window: Nov. 5, 2025, 10:24 p.m. ET (44‑minute window to 11:08 p.m. ET)

For the latest updates, webcasts and detailed viewing maps, check floridatoday.com/space and the ULA mission page on launch day.