Rocket launch from Florida may be visible as far as Maryland on Friday morning

Show Caption Hide Caption Atlas V launches Boeing Starliner with manned mission in mind After years of development, United Launch Alliance's Atlas V launched Boeing's Starliner, which will will eventually take astronauts to the ISS.

When an Atlas V rocket with Boeing's Starliner capsule launches early Friday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, people as far as Maryland could see it take off.

After years of planning, development and building, 6:36 a.m. Friday will be the moment United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket launches Boeing's Starliner, a capsule that will eventually take astronauts to the International Space Station.

Friday's flight is an uncrewed test of the capsule, known as Orbital Flight Test, that will see it stay eight days at the ISS until a landing in White Sands, New Mexico. The Cape's Launch Complex 41 will host the liftoff.

If all goes according to plan, it'll pave the way for Starliner to launch astronauts from American soil as soon as next year. Domestic human spaceflight capabilities ended with the space shuttle program's last flight in July 2011.

Wondering when and where you may see the historic maiden launch of #AtlasV #Starliner? This visibility map shows when and where your best chances are to see the rocket! Launch is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:36amEST from @45thspacewing at Cape Canaveral. https://t.co/1zR8TnX3Ww pic.twitter.com/FAtZ86neCz — ULA (@ulalaunch) December 19, 2019

Which states can see it?

A graphic from ULA shows Atlas V's intended flight path and its launch visibility, which will depend on cloud cover.

Things to know: Boeing's Starliner mission from Cape Canaveral

Launch, Space Coast, Orlando, northern part of the Treasure Coast, parts of Daytona Beach

Launch + 60 seconds, visibility extends to Port St. Lucie, central Florida, areas south of Jacksonville

Launch + 120 seconds (booster engine cutoff), visibility extends to Tampa, Jacksonville, Treasure Coast, parts of the Georgia coast

Launch + 180 seconds (booster Centaur separation and main engine start 1), visibility extends to include Savannah, Georgia; parts of the South Carolina and North Carolina coasts

Launch + 240 seconds, visibility extends to include Virginia Beach; Charlotte, North Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina

Launch + 300 seconds, visibility extends to include Dover, Delaware; Annapolis, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; West Virginia; parts of Virginia; North Carolina; South Carolina; east coast of Georgia; most of central and east coast of Florida

Beyond 300 seconds, folks in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland could see some light from Atlas V, though it will largely depend on cloud coverage and could be faint by then.

Follow Jennifer Sangalang and Emre Kelly on Twitter: @byjensangalang and @emrekelly