United Launch Alliance postponed its Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral on March 29, 2026, due to weather concerns. The original liftoff was set for 3:53 a.m. EDT, but no new date has been announced. The mission, part of Amazon’s Leo constellation project, would have been the fifth in the series. Rocket visibility maps suggest the launch could have been seen as far north as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and as far west as Georgia, with Tallahassee potentially in view. Previous launches have been spotted hundreds of miles away, including a SpaceX Falcon 9 seen in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in February 2025.
The Atlas V, standing 20 stories tall and weighing 1.3 million pounds, would have used five solid rocket boosters to reach orbit. Such launches often create bright, visible trails, especially under clear skies. Historically, Florida rockets have been visible beyond the Space Coast: a SpaceX Falcon Heavy was seen from Boca Raton to Cedar Key in December 2023, and a Falcon 9 was photographed in Fayetteville, North Carolina, last year. Visibility depends on atmospheric conditions, observer location, and the rocket’s trajectory.
While the Atlas V launch is on hold, SpaceX remains on track for its own Falcon 9 mission on March 29. That launch, unrelated to the Atlas V, will also originate from Cape Canaveral. Residents in central Florida and along the Gulf Coast may have another chance to see a rocket in the sky later this week.
The postponement adds to the uncertainty around the Atlas V’s timeline. United Launch Alliance has not provided a revised launch window, but the mission remains a key part of Amazon’s plan to expand its low-Earth orbit satellite network. If rescheduled, the next attempt could still offer a rare opportunity for residents far from the Space Coast to witness a rocket launch.