A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 2:53 a.m. on April 21, 2026, carrying a GPS III-8 satellite for the U.S. Space Force. The launch marked the 29th orbital mission from the Space Coast this year, with 25 from SpaceX, two from United Launch Alliance, one from Blue Origin and one from NASA’s Space Launch System. The flight added to a record 109 launches in 2025, the most ever recorded for the region.
The Space Coast’s 2026 launch calendar includes 29 orbital missions through April 21, with 28 from Cape Canaveral and one from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX dominates the schedule with 25 Falcon 9 launches, while ULA contributes one Atlas V and one Vulcan Centaur. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is set for its first orbital flight this year, and NASA’s Artemis II mission will launch the SLS rocket later this year. Two human spaceflights—Crew-12 and Artemis II—are also planned.
The region’s 2025 total of 109 launches surpassed previous records, driven by SpaceX’s 101 Falcon 9 missions and six ULA launches. Blue Origin completed two cargo flights to the International Space Station. In 2024, the Space Coast saw 93 launches, including SpaceX’s first Falcon Heavy flight. The trend shows no sign of slowing, with 2026 expected to match or exceed 2025’s pace.
NASA’s Artemis II mission, scheduled for later this year, will be the first crewed flight of the SLS rocket. The mission will send astronauts around the moon, marking a key step in NASA’s lunar exploration program. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to dominate commercial launches, with Crew-12 set to transport astronauts to the ISS. The Space Coast’s launch activity has become a cornerstone of Brevard County’s economy, with thousands of jobs tied to the space industry.