Atlas V Launch from Cape Canaveral May Be Visible Across Florida — When and Where to Watch

When: United Launch Alliance (ULA) is targeting liftoff at 10:04 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, with a 44-minute window that extends until 10:48 p.m. ET. Previous attempts on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 were scrubbed.

Mission overview

The Atlas V will launch ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2), a Ka-band, ultra-high-capacity broadband satellite for Viasat. The rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This configuration includes five strap-on solid rocket boosters, producing a bright, fast initial ascent that makes the vehicle easier to spot from many miles away under clear skies.

Where and when you might see it

ULA published a visibility graphic that projects which regions could see the ascent at different times after liftoff. Actual visibility depends on weather, clouds, local lighting and the exact flight profile on launch night.

• Launch + 60 seconds: Best views along the Space Coast (Brevard County) and nearby communities — Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island and Melbourne — plus parts of east Orlando, the northern Treasure Coast, Sebastian and Vero Beach.
• Launch + 90 seconds: The payload fairing is typically jettisoned around this time. Visibility may include Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Volusia County, Martin and St. Lucie counties, Orlando and central Florida towns such as Sanford, Kissimmee, Ocala and Lakeland.
• Launch + 150 seconds: After solid rocket booster jettison, the ascent may be visible across a much larger area: Sebring, Winter Haven, Gainesville, Jacksonville, the Tampa Bay region (Tampa, St. Petersburg), and southwest Florida — including Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples — as well as coastal communities from Clearwater to Palm Beach.
• Launch + 210–270 seconds: Later stages of the flight could be visible from northern Florida (Tallahassee and parts of the Big Bend) and extend into coastal Georgia (Savannah, Brunswick) and South Carolina (Hilton Head, Charleston, Myrtle Beach). Wilmington, N.C., is also listed as a possible viewing area.
• Launch + 330–390 seconds: Under very favorable conditions, plume or stage visibility could reach Bermuda and portions of the Caribbean.

Tips for watching

• Pick a wide, unobstructed view of the northern-to-eastern sky. Coastal locations facing northeast often offer the best sightlines.
• Check local weather and cloud cover — clear skies greatly increase the chance of seeing the ascent.
• Bring binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens for a better look; the bright initial climb is usually visible to the naked eye.
• Be aware that scheduled launch times can change due to technical issues or range holds; visibility estimates assume the published trajectory.

Live coverage

Prelaunch coverage and a live webcast begin about 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. FLORIDA TODAY's space team will provide updates and answer viewer questions. The ULA webcast will also carry launch commentary and a live feed of the countdown and ascent.

All viewing guidance is based on ULA’s published visibility graphic and represents estimates. Weather, cloud cover and any range or technical holds will determine whether the rocket is visible from the locations listed.

Credit: United Launch Alliance and Viasat. This story was updated for clarity and readability from reporting by FLORIDA TODAY / Fort Myers News-Press.