A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:43 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, on the Starfall Demo mission. The launch marked the 36th orbital flight of the year for SpaceX alone, as the Space Coast prepares for what could be another record year in 2026. The mission, part of SpaceX’s ongoing efforts to test new technologies, was visible across much of Brevard County and drew crowds to nearby viewing areas.
The Space Coast ended 2025 with 109 orbital launches, a record that included 83 from Cape Canaveral and 26 from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX accounted for 101 of those launches, all using its Falcon 9 rocket, while United Launch Alliance contributed six and Blue Origin added two. The year also saw four human spaceflights, including SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission and Boeing’s Crew Flight Test. NASA’s Artemis II mission, set for 2026, is expected to add another human flight to the tally.
As of June 23, 2026, the Space Coast has already recorded 42 orbital launches this year, with 40 from Cape Canaveral and two from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX has conducted 36 launches, including 35 Falcon 9 missions and one Falcon Heavy. United Launch Alliance has launched four rockets, and Blue Origin is set to launch its New Glenn rocket on the NG-3 mission. NASA’s Space Launch System rocket is also scheduled for a launch on Artemis II, marking the first crewed mission of the Artemis program.
The trend of increasing launches shows no signs of slowing. In 2024, the Space Coast saw 93 launches, with 67 from Cape Canaveral and 26 from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX led with 88 launches, followed by ULA with five and Blue Origin with two. The number of human spaceflights has also grown, from three in 2023 to five in 2024 and four in 2025. With multiple companies and NASA’s Artemis program active, 2026 is shaping up to be another busy year for the region’s space industry.