When ULA launches its massive rocket, depending on cloud cover, Floridians (and visitors) as far as Jacksonville, Cape Coral and Miami could see it light up the sky after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to ULA.<\/p>\n
What’s on board the ULA Atlas V rocket? Amazon satellites. Amazon founder\u00a0and billionaire Jeff Bezos launched Project Kuiper<\/a>, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX founder and fellow billionaire Elon Musk,<\/a> and his Starlink satellites.<\/p>\n This week’s “ULA Atlas V Kuiper 3” rocket launch is the fifth mission of\u00a0the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites<\/a>. Online, the mission has been called the “Amazon rocket launch” or “the Amazon rocket launch from Florida,\u201d but it\u2019s accurate to call it the Amazon satellite rocket launch or Amazon-ULA rocket launch.<\/p>\n Business is booming: Here’s a list of all 2025 rocket launch missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida<\/a><\/p>\n In Florida, people can best see this rocket launch in person, particularly if you’re\u00a0anywhere on the Space Coast<\/a> (Melbourne, Florida, area), the\u00a0Fun Coast<\/a> (Daytona Beach area) or the\u00a0Treasure Coast<\/a> (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce).<\/p>\n The Amazon satellite rocket launch is extra special because of the potential to see it in other states. In the past, readers have submitted photos or posted on\u00a0social platforms pictures of SpaceX Falcon Heavy<\/a>, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach. Other rocket launches have been spotted in New Jersey and Georgia.<\/p>\n ULA’s Atlas V rocket should be visible for most of Florida pending weather and clouds.<\/p>\n Below is information on ULA’s powerful rocket, the Atlas V, how to watch the Amazon satellite rocket launch and suggestions on where to watch it from Florida and beyond.<\/p>\n What is Amazon Project Kuiper? Is Jeff Bezos involved in Amazon satellite rocket launches?<\/p>\n Amazon founder\u00a0Jeff Bezos launched Project Kuiper<\/a>, a global constellation of 3,232 broadband satellites that will compete for customers with SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s sprawling Starlink network. It began with the first-ever launch of\u00a0Project Kuiper production satellites<\/a>, courtesy of the massive United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, on April 28, 2025 (see photos above).<\/p>\n Other “Project Kuiper” rocket launches occurred near Father’s Day (June 23, 2025, for ULA), and July 16, 2025, and Aug. 11, 2025, from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, all missions launching from Cape Canaveral.<\/p>\n Rocket launches from the Space Coast of Florida \u2212 either from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station \u2212 have significantly increased within the past few years, with the bulk of launches from SpaceX and Starlink satellites.<\/p>\n But Bezos’ Amazon satellite rocket launch, the premiere was known as KA-01 mission, will “deploy all of the satellites safely in orbit, which means they can independently maneuver and communicate with our team on the ground,” according to an Amazon news release.<\/p>\n “Once the satellites have successfully separated from the rocket, they will begin a series of mostly automated steps to activate onboard systems and use their electric propulsion systems to gradually ascend to their assigned orbit of 392 miles (630 km),” the release said. “The satellites will travel at a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 km per hour) on orbit and circle the planet approximately every 90 minutes.”<\/p>\n All told, ULA will launch eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets on Project Kuiper missions. The Amazon initiative has also contracted with SpaceX, Blue Origin and Arianespace, upping the total to 80-plus pending launches.<\/p>\n Best beaches to watch a Florida rocket launch, from the Space Coast to Palm Beach<\/a><\/p>\n What time is Amazon satellite rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? When does United Launch Alliance Atlas V liftoff?<\/p>\n Amazon-ULA rocket launch was scheduled for 8:09 a.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It has a northeast trajectory. Equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters, the Atlas V will lift the $10 billion internet constellation’s set of satellites (see above) into low-Earth orbit.<\/p>\n Live coverage starts two hours before liftoff at\u00a0floridatoday.com\/space<\/a>:\u00a0You can watch live rocket launch coverage from\u00a0USA TODAY Network\u2019s Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at\u00a0floridatoday.com\/space, starting two hours before liftoff. You can download the free\u00a0FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the\u00a0App Store\u00a0or\u00a0Google Play, or type\u00a0floridatoday.com\/space<\/a>\u00a0into your browser.<\/p>\n Where in Florida can I watch ULA Atlas V liftoff, Amazon rocket launch in person?<\/p>\n In Florida, we can best see this moment in person if you’re\u00a0anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County<\/a>) or certain spots in the\u00a0First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County<\/a>) or the\u00a0Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County<\/a>).\u00a0However, people in Jacksonville, far north of Cape Canaveral, and West Palm Beach, far south of Cape Canaveral, have posted rocket launch photos and video on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.\u00a0Pro tip:\u00a0If you do watch it in person, especially on Florida’s Space Coast, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic.<\/p>\n A rocket launch can be a treat for the ears, too: On the Space Coast, a \u201crumble\u201d can be heard or window-shaking can be expected in some parts of Brevard County after liftoff.<\/p>\n Live weather radar: Will it rain in Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch near NASA and Kennedy Space Center? Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.<\/p>\n Which cities can see ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? Can I watch Amazon satellite rocket launch from Florida?<\/p>\n ULA provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Atlas V launch of Kuiper 3 for Amazon and its intended flight path and launch visibility. Note: Cities in the Space Coast of Florida, which is in Brevard County and measures 72 miles of coast, include Titusville, Mims, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria and Sebastian.<\/p>\n Launch, Space Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bithlo, the northern part of the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill<\/p>\n 1: Launch + 60 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County, St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area<\/p>\n 2: Launch + 90 seconds, which includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach<\/p>\n 3: Launch + 150 seconds, which includes solid rocket booster jettison, visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota 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, parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas<\/p>\n 4: Launch + 210 seconds, which includes booster separation, Tallahassee, Panama City, Panhandle, Big Bend area of Florida; visibility extends beyond Florida to Georgia, South Carolina, parts of North Carolina<\/p>\n 5: Launch + 270 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities:<\/p>\n Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, GeorgiaAlabama; Dothan, Alabama; just outside Birmingham, AlabamaTennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; just outside Huntsville, Tennessee; just outside Nashville, TennesseeKentuckySouth Carolina; Spartanburg, South CarolinaNorth Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilmington, North CarolinaVirginia; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, VirginiaWest Virginia; Charleston, West VirginiaMaryland; Washington, MarylandDelaware; Annapolis, Delaware; Dover, Delaware<\/p>\n 6: Launch + 330 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities:<\/p>\n BermudaNew Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey; New York, New JerseyPennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Erie, PennsylvaniaOhio: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Toledo, OhioIndiana: just outside Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Wayne, IndianaMichigan: Detroit, MichiganKentucky: just outside Louisville, KentuckyRhode Island: Providence, Rhode IslandConnecticut: Hartford, ConnecticutMassachusetts: Boston, MassachusettsNew York: Binghamton, New York; Albany, New York<\/p>\n 7:\u00a0Launch + 390 seconds, visibility of Atlas V rocket may be possible in these states and locations:<\/p>\n BermudaAlabamaTennesseeKentuckyGeorgiaSouth CarolinaNorth CarolinaVirginiaWest VirginiaOhioIndianaMichiganDelawareMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaNew YorkRhode IslandConnecticutMassachusettsNew HampshireVermontMaineToronto, Canada<\/p>\n The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by ULA.<\/p>\n Photos of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket after Cape Canaveral, Florida, liftoff<\/p>\n Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network<\/a>. Follow her on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0or Instagram at\u00a0@byjensangalang<\/a>. Support local journalism.\u00a0Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper<\/a>.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/KMLB_loop.gif\")
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