The Space Coast ended 2025 with a record 109 launches from SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin, according to data compiled by local tracking groups. With 2026 already showing 35 orbital launches through May 25, the region could surpass last year's total as NASA prepares to launch the Space Launch System rocket on Artemis II and commercial companies ramp up operations. SpaceX alone has accounted for 30 of the 2026 launches so far, including 29 Falcon 9 missions and one Falcon Heavy flight. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station has hosted 33 of the year's launches, while Kennedy Space Center has seen two.
NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled for later this year, will mark the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System rocket since the Apollo era. The mission will carry astronauts around the moon before returning to Earth, a key step in the agency's lunar exploration plans. SpaceX has also announced plans for multiple Starlink missions in 2026, with the May 25 launch from Space Launch Complex 40 carrying 29 satellites. United Launch Alliance has launched three missions so far, including two Atlas V flights and one Vulcan Centaur, while Blue Origin has completed one New Glenn mission on the National Security Space Launch program.
The pace of launches has accelerated rapidly in recent years. In 2025, the Space Coast saw 109 orbital launches, 1 hypersonic missile test, and four human spaceflights. The previous year had 93 launches, and 2023 totaled 72. The increase reflects growing commercial activity and NASA's expanded presence, including the return of the SLS rocket. SpaceX has dominated the numbers, with 101 Falcon 9 launches in 2025 and 88 in 2024, though ULA and Blue Origin have also expanded their roles in government and commercial contracts.
Local observers say the launch activity has become a near-constant presence along the Space Coast. The May 25 Starlink mission was the 35th orbital launch of 2026, with 30 more planned through the end of the year. SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin have all increased their frequencies, while NASA's Artemis II mission adds a high-profile government launch to the mix. With no signs of slowing down, the region is poised to break its own records again in 2026.