A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is set to launch from Cape Canaveral at 1:45 a.m. ET Saturday, April 4, 2026, and may be visible in Tallahassee and as far north as New Jersey. The 20-story-tall rocket, weighing 1.3 million pounds, will use five solid rocket boosters for liftoff. This mission marks the fifth launch for Amazon’s Leo constellation, a project aimed at expanding low-Earth orbit satellite coverage. The launch was previously scheduled for March 29 but was delayed due to weather conditions.
Residents across Florida have reported seeing rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral in the past. In December 2023, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy was visible from Boca Raton to Myrtle Beach, and in February 2025, a Falcon 9 rocket was spotted in Fayetteville, North Carolina. More recently, in February 2026, a Falcon 9 launch was seen in West Palm Beach, about 150 miles from Cape Canaveral.
The Atlas V launch could be visible from parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and even New Jersey, depending on weather and cloud cover. United Launch Alliance teams have been preparing for the mission, which is part of Amazon’s effort to deploy thousands of satellites for global internet services.
USA TODAY Network’s Space Team will provide live coverage starting 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. Previous launches from the area have often been visible hundreds of miles away, though visibility is not guaranteed. The current forecast shows a 60% chance of clear skies at the launch site, but cloud cover could affect how far the rocket is seen.
This launch continues a trend of Florida-based missions being visible across the southeastern United States. The Atlas V’s bright plume and trajectory may make it easier to spot than some previous rockets, according to observers who have tracked such events.