Brevard County's Space Coast is poised for another record-breaking year in 2026, with 14 rocket launches already completed by February and more than a dozen scheduled for March. The region set a new benchmark in 2025 with 109 orbital rocket launches — a total that surpassed all previous annual records. NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin are all expected to contribute to the tally this year, with three launches already confirmed for March alone. "The pace shows no signs of slowing," said Rick Neale, Florida Today's space reporter. "We're seeing a mix of commercial and government missions that keep the launch pads busy."
SpaceX leads the way with two Starlink satellite missions scheduled for March. The first, Starlink 10-40, is set for Wednesday, March 4, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A Falcon 9 rocket will carry 29 satellites into low-Earth orbit during a launch window from 1:58 a.m. to 5:58 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. No sonic booms are expected from the mission. A second Starlink mission, 10-48, follows on Thursday, March 12, with a similar timeline and location.
A third launch is planned for Monday, March 9, when SpaceX will send the Echostar XXV satellite to geosynchronous orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket is expected to lift off between 11:14 p.m. and 1:43 a.m. Tuesday from the same launch complex. Trajectory details for this mission remain to be confirmed. "These launches are routine now, but they're still a big deal for the community," Neale said. "Every mission brings traffic, noise, and a lot of anticipation."
Blue Origin's next New Glenn rocket launch is also on the horizon, though no specific date has been announced yet. NASA's Artemis II crewed moon mission remains a major goal for the agency, but officials have not confirmed a 2026 launch window. Launch schedules are subject to change due to weather, technical issues, and other factors. Florida Today's Space Team provides live coverage of each mission at floridatoday.com/space, starting 90 minutes before liftoff. For more information, readers can email Neale at [email protected].