Best Amazon rocket launch, ULA Atlas V photos, Instagram posts, tweets after Florida liftoff
Heart, send, post: Amazon rocket launch from Florida.
At 7:01 p.m. ET Monday, April 28, 2025, United Launch Alliance's massive Atlas V rocket blasted off in a picture-perfect, "so Florida" scene − and fans online quickly reacted.
"Amazon rocket launch" was trending after the Atlas V liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. And though the stunning rocket launch images and Instagram Reels shared on social media soon after (scroll down to see them), the mission marked a significant win for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The billionaire launched Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Starlink satellites.
The mission got kudos from familiar names, too:
"Congratulations! Welcome to space. Proud to have been your Amazon driver." ~ Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, whose X feed is full of retweets and photo posts of ULA's Atlas V rocket launch
'Space Florida congratulates our partner, Amazon's Project Kuiper, on the successful launch aboard ULA's Atlas V. Amazon's presence at our launch and landing facility demonstrates the power of long-term infrastructure investments and the advantages of centralizing operations within a thriving aerospace hub. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Project Kuiper as they scale and expand their space-based operations, further reinforcing Florida's leadership in the new era of aerospace commerce.' ~ Robert Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, the state's aerospace finance and development authority
Equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters, the reason why it could be visible far from the Space Coast of Florida, the Atlas V sent the $10 billion internet constellation's first set of 27 satellites into low-Earth orbit.
Visibility from most of Florida was possible, according to ULA.
USA TODAY Network's Space Team provided live coverage of the Amazon rocket launch from Cape Canaveral at floridatoday.com/space.
Below are stunning images of the Amazon rocket launch from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Amazon rocket launch, Atlas V photos: Cape Canaveral, Florida, liftoff
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