Several rocket launches in recent years aim to put satellites into low Earth orbit.
One of those is the Atlas V, which is scheduled to launch Monday night, April 27, 2026.
According to the United Launch Alliance, the mission of the rocket is to deliver a bunch of satellites that will provide fast, reliable internet to underserved communities.
When, where, how you can see this launch
The scheduled time window for launch is between 8:52 p.m. and 9:51 p.m. Monday, which is an opportune time frame for us to see the rocket’s vapor trail.
Local sunset is just shy of 8:00 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
This means that the sun’s light is very low on the horizon just to our west, acting like a flashlight on the rocket that flies east.
This illuminates the vapor trail, potentially giving it the “jellyfish” appearance in our eastern sky.
You’re encouraged to look toward the eastern sky about three minutes after launch. As the rocket travels east, it may appear as though it’s going horizontal due to the curvature of the Earth.
If you get any pictures or videos of the launch, send them our way to www.wral.com/reportit.