SpaceX launches have paused on the Space Coast through May 12, marking the first extended gap since 2023. The last rocket lifted off May 1, and the next scheduled launch is not expected until May 12, according to SpaceX and NASA officials. The slowdown comes as the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex reported over 90,000 out-of-county visitors on April 15, the day of Artemis II's moon mission launch. The Space Coast Office of Tourism used cellular tracking data to count visitors in a zone stretching from Pineda Causeway to Scottsmoor.
NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar voyage since Apollo, drew crowds despite rainy weather. Officials said the numbers exceeded expectations for a non-summer travel period. The visitor surge has raised questions about long-term tourism trends for the region.
An independent astronomer tracking orbital debris confirmed a spent SpaceX rocket stage will collide with the moon in August. The object, which has orbited Earth for over a year, is expected to impact the lunar surface at 1.5 miles per second. The prediction comes from orbital tracking software analyzing the hardware's trajectory.
Astronaut Chris Williams captured footage of an atmospheric breakup event from the International Space Station in February. The NASA astronaut, who arrived at the orbital outpost in November, described the phenomenon as 'quite a light show.' His photos show debris burning up as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, a common but visually striking occurrence.