A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Friday, May 15, 2026, marking the 33rd orbital launch of the year for the Space Coast. The mission, part of SpaceX’s CRS-34 resupply mission to the International Space Station, was delayed three days due to weather. The launch comes as the region continues its streak of record-breaking activity, with 109 launches in 2025 and projections for a similar number in 2026.
This year’s launches include contributions from SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, and NASA. As of May 15, 2026, there have been 31 launches from Cape Canaveral and 2 from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX has conducted 28 launches, including 27 Falcon 9s and 1 Falcon Heavy. ULA has launched 3 rockets—2 Atlas Vs and 1 Vulcan—while Blue Origin has one New Glenn launch. NASA’s Space Launch System rocket is scheduled for Artemis II, set to carry astronauts beyond the moon.
The 2026 launch count includes two human spaceflights: SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission and NASA’s Artemis II. The year’s total of 33 orbital launches surpasses 2025’s 109 launches, though the comparison includes different metrics. In 2025, the Space Coast saw 83 launches from Cape Canaveral and 26 from KSC, with SpaceX responsible for 101 Falcon 9 launches. ULA conducted 6 launches, and Blue Origin had 2 New Glenn missions.
Looking further back, 2024 saw 93 launches, including 88 from SpaceX and 5 from ULA. In 2023, the region recorded 72 launches, with SpaceX leading at 68 launches. The increase in activity reflects growing commercial and government space operations, including NASA’s Artemis program and private-sector missions. Launch details are tracked by the Florida Launch Schedule, a public resource maintained by Brevard County officials.