Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral Visible in Jacksonville After Liftoff

Will People in Jacksonville See a Rocket in the Sky?

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is preparing to send a batch of Amazon satellites into space, and there's a possibility that people in Jacksonville might catch a glimpse of the Atlas V rocket. The launch could be visible not just within Florida but potentially from other states as well.

When ULA launches its powerful rocket, visibility will depend on cloud cover. Floridians, including those in Jacksonville, Cape Coral, and Miami, may have the chance to see the Atlas V rocket light up the sky after liftoff from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to ULA, visibility across most of Florida is likely.

The ULA Atlas V rocket is carrying Amazon satellites as part of Project Kuiper, an initiative launched by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos. This project aims to create a global network of 3,232 broadband satellites to compete with SpaceX's Starlink network, led by Elon Musk. The upcoming "ULA Atlas V Kuiper 3" mission marks the fifth launch of Project Kuiper production satellites.

This particular launch has been widely referred to as the "Amazon rocket launch" or "the Amazon rocket launch from Florida." However, it is more accurate to call it the Amazon satellite rocket launch or the Amazon-ULA rocket launch.

What Makes This Launch Special?

The Amazon satellite rocket launch is particularly special because of its potential visibility beyond Florida. In the past, readers have shared photos of SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches that were visible from locations like Myrtle Beach. Other rocket launches have also been spotted in New Jersey and Georgia. ULA’s Atlas V rocket should be visible outside of Florida, depending on weather and cloud conditions.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the Atlas V rocket, how to watch the Amazon satellite rocket launch, and where to view it from Florida and beyond.

Understanding Amazon Project Kuiper

Jeff Bezos initiated Project Kuiper as a response to the growing competition in the satellite internet market. The project involves launching a constellation of satellites designed to provide high-speed internet access globally. The first-ever launch of Project Kuiper production satellites took place on April 28, 2025, using the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Other "Project Kuiper" missions have occurred near Father’s Day on June 23, 2025, and July 16, 2025, with additional launches scheduled for August 11, 2025. These launches are taking place from Cape Canaveral, with some missions utilizing SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.

Rocket launches from the Space Coast of Florida have become increasingly common in recent years, with most launches involving SpaceX and Starlink satellites. However, Bezos’ Amazon satellite rocket launch, known as the KA-01 mission, is significant because it represents the deployment of all satellites safely into orbit, allowing them to maneuver and communicate with ground teams.

Once deployed, the satellites will use their electric propulsion systems to ascend to their assigned orbit of 392 miles (630 km). They will travel at over 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 km per hour) and circle the planet approximately every 90 minutes.

Launch Details and Viewing Locations

The Amazon-ULA rocket launch was scheduled for 8:09 a.m. ET on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It has a northeast trajectory and is equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters. The launch is expected to carry the second set of satellites into low-Earth orbit.

Live coverage of the launch begins two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. Viewers can watch live updates from USA TODAY Network’s Space Team, which includes FLORIDA TODAY space reporters and visuals journalists. The live blog features a countdown clock and real-time updates.

Best Places to Watch the Launch in Florida

In Florida, the best places to witness the launch in person include the Space Coast (Brevard County), the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County), and the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County, and Martin County). While the launch is centered around Cape Canaveral, people in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach have also reported sightings of previous rocket launches.

Pro tip: If you plan to watch the launch in person, especially on the Space Coast, arrive early and stay later due to heavy traffic. A “rumble” or window-shaking sensation may be felt in parts of Brevard County after liftoff.

Visibility Beyond Florida

Depending on the trajectory, weather, and cloud cover, the Atlas V rocket launch may be visible in various cities across the United States. Some of the locations where visibility is possible include:

• Launch + 60 seconds: Space Coast, Orlando, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and Oak Hill.
• Launch + 90 seconds: Includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing. Visibility extends to Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra Beach.
• Launch + 150 seconds: Visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, southern Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, and parts of the Caribbean and Bahamas.
• Launch + 210 seconds: Tallahassee, Panama City, Panhandle, Big Bend area of Florida; visibility extends beyond Florida to Georgia, South Carolina, and parts of North Carolina.
• Launch + 270 seconds: Georgia, Savannah, Atlanta, Columbus, Alabama, Dothan, Birmingham, Tennessee, Knoxville, Huntsville, Nashville, Kentucky, South Carolina, Spartanburg, North Carolina, High Point, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Wilmington, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Richmond, West Virginia, Charleston, Maryland, Washington, Delaware, Annapolis, Dover, and more.
• Launch + 330 seconds: Bermuda, New Jersey, Trenton, New York, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Erie, Ohio, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Indiana, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Michigan, Detroit, Kentucky, Louisville, Rhode Island, Providence, Connecticut, Hartford, Massachusetts, Boston, New York, Binghamton, Albany, and others.
• Launch + 390 seconds: Bermuda, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Toronto, Canada.

These estimates are based on a graphic provided by ULA. Photos of the Atlas V rocket after liftoff from Cape Canaveral have been captured by photographers and shared online.