United Launch Alliance’s mighty Atlas V rocket — which was outfitted with five solid rocket boosters for extra lifting power — is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
And it’s possible Palm Beach County — and other states — can see it light up the sky early next week.
Last month, the Atlas V rumbled off the pad in a picture-postcard setting and with a visibility range possible for most of Florida, according to ULA. Early next week, the Atlas V rocket will once again be equipped with five solid rocket boosters to launch the next batch of Amazon Leo broadband satellites (previously referred to as Project Kuiper) into low-Earth orbit — giving a great show to those watching.
Though rockets in Florida lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, it’s possible for spacecraft to be seen far beyond the launch pad, including in other states: In December 2023, the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket was spotted from Boca Raton to Cedar Key to Myrtle Beach. And in February 2025, people in Fayetteville, North Carolina, posted photos and video of a Falcon 9 rocket after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida. More recently, in February 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was seen about 150 miles away from Cape Canaveral in West Palm Beach, Florida. In March 2026, people in New Jersey reported seeing a SpaceX rocket in the sky.
Most recently, NASA’s Artemis II rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center was visible across the state − from Gainesville, Fort Myers and Jupiter.
Pending weather conditions and cloud cover, the ULA Atlas V rocket launch could be visible from most of Florida up to New England, according to ULA’s visibility map (see below).
What time is ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida?
United Launch Alliance will launch an Atlas V rocket with five solid rocket boosters, sending the next batch of 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. Launch is set for 8:52 p.m. ET Monday, April 27, 2026, with a northeast trajectory from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Which states can see ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? See visibility map
United Launch Alliance provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Atlas V-Amazon Leo rocket launch and its intended flight path and launch visibility for Monday, April 27, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It will be the company’s 6th Amazon Leo constellation mission. The flight path also includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing, solid rocket booster jettison, booster separation and when visibility extends across Florida up along the East Coast and west toward Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and parts of Indiana.
According to ULA, “the evening launch will be visible from Florida to New England, if weather conditions in your area permit. This visibility map shows when and where your best chances are to see the rocket as it streaks northeasterly into space.”
Where to see a Florida rocket launch in Palm Beach County. What does a West Palm Beach rocket launch view look like?
From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it’s about 150 miles. Rocket launches from can often be seen here, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north.
Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way.
If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include:
Watch some rocket launches with NASA+ on Prime Video
Watch NASA+ content with Amazon Prime Video
NASA content, including some rocket launches and Artemis II mission coverage, is available to watch through NASA+ on desktop, both from its official site and YouTube. The platform is also available to download as a mobile app on smartphones.
All NASA+ content is also available to those who have Prime Video downloaded on any of their devices – whether it be a smartphone or smart TV.
The content, which does not require a Prime subscription to view, is one of Prime Video’s FAST channels (free ad-supported television). Viewers can find it under Prime’s Live TV section at the top of the screen when they open the app.
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Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rocket launch may be visible in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach. See map
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang, Rick Neale, Brooke Edwards, Eric Lagatta, Lianna Norman and Kimberly Miller, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
