A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:41 a.m. on April 11, carrying Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft on the NG-24 resupply mission. The launch is part of 26 orbital launches scheduled for the Space Coast in 2026, according to data compiled by local tracking groups. This includes 23 SpaceX Falcon 9 launches, one NASA Space Launch System (SLS) flight for Artemis II, and two United Launch Alliance missions — one Atlas V and one Vulcan Centaur — with no Blue Origin New Glenn launches recorded so far this year.
The Space Coast ended 2025 with 109 orbital launches, a record driven by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin. That total included 101 Falcon 9 launches, six ULA missions, and two New Glenn flights. In 2026, activity remains robust, though Blue Origin has not yet launched its New Glenn rocket this year. NASA’s Artemis II mission, set for later this year, will add a human spaceflight to the tally, joining SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission as the only crewed launches planned for 2026.
Comparing annual totals, 2024 saw 93 launches, including eight Falcon Heavy missions and the first Polaris Dawn crewed flight. In 2023, the Space Coast recorded 72 launches, with SpaceX dominating with 68 missions. The 2025 record outpaced even the busiest years, though 2026’s pace appears slightly slower due to Blue Origin’s delayed New Glenn schedule. All data is tracked by the Florida Space Coast Economic Development Commission and verified through public launch logs.
Residents and visitors can monitor upcoming launches through the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s public viewing areas. The next major event is NASA’s Artemis II launch, expected in late 2026, which will carry astronauts around the moon for the first time since Apollo. Launch schedules are updated regularly on the Space Coast’s official website and through local media outlets.