SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center was scrubbed Monday, April 27, 2026, due to weather conditions. The mission, which aimed to send a Boeing-built Viasat broadband satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit, is now rescheduled for Wednesday, April 29, between 10:13 a.m. and 11:38 a.m. ET. Despite the scrub, another launch from Cape Canaveral offers a chance for visibility far beyond Florida. United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is set to liftoff just before 9 p.m. ET Monday, and clear skies could allow residents in New Jersey, North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, and Alabama to see it.
The Atlas V, equipped with five solid rocket boosters, is launching from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral. Visibility depends on weather and cloud cover, but ULA has released a map showing which states may have a view. The rocket’s ascent will be visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions, according to the space agency. This follows a pattern seen in previous Atlas V launches, where the rocket’s bright plume often lights up the night sky for observers hundreds of miles away.
The Falcon Heavy’s rescheduled launch will be the first for the heavy-lift vehicle since 2023. The mission will deploy the Viasat satellite, which is designed to expand broadband connectivity across the Asia-Pacific region. SpaceX officials said teams are working to address the issues that caused Monday’s scrub, though no specific details were released.
Residents along the East Coast can track the Atlas V’s progress through ULA’s website or via live streams from Florida Today. The Falcon Heavy’s launch will also be broadcast online, with updates available 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space. Both missions highlight the continued activity at Kennedy Space Center, where multiple launches are expected in the coming months.