A ULA Atlas V rocket set for liftoff at 3:53 a.m. EDT Sunday, March 29, from Cape Canaveral may be visible in Fort Myers, Naples, and other parts of Florida, according to United Launch Alliance. The rocket, which stands 20 stories tall and weighs 1.3 million pounds, could light up the sky for viewers more than 300 miles away from the launch site. Visibility will depend on weather and cloud cover, but the launch is part of the fifth Amazon Leo constellation mission, a project aimed at expanding low-Earth orbit internet services.
The Atlas V will lift off with the power of five solid rocket boosters, creating a bright plume visible to those watching. Previous launches from Florida have been spotted as far north as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and as far east as New Jersey. In February 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was seen 150 miles away from Cape Canaveral in West Palm Beach. This launch could follow a similar pattern, with the rocket’s brightness potentially visible along the East Coast.
Residents of Fort Myers, more than 300 miles from the launch site, may see the rocket if conditions are clear. The same visibility map that tracked the Falcon 9 in 2025 and the Falcon Heavy in 2023 could apply here. United Launch Alliance teams are preparing for the mission, which is expected to take 90 minutes before liftoff for coverage on floridatoday.com/space. No specific viewing times have been confirmed yet, but the predawn launch window increases the chance of visibility in northern Florida and beyond.
The Atlas V has a history of being seen far from its launch site. In December 2023, the SpaceX Falcon Heavy was spotted from Boca Raton to Cedar Key to Myrtle Beach. Similar sightings are possible this weekend, though no guarantees exist due to weather variables. For those hoping to see the launch, the best chance will be in the hours before sunrise, when the rocket’s plume could be bright enough to pierce overcast skies.