A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for the 33rd time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. The flight carried 28 Starlink satellites on the Starlink 6-104 mission, marking the first orbital launch of 2026. The booster, which had previously flown on missions like Crew-10 and Crew-11, landed at Landing Zone 1 at the Cape. This was the 11th Falcon 9 launch of 2026 so far.
The Space Coast ended 2025 with 109 orbital launches, a record high driven by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin. That total included 83 launches from Cape Canaveral and 26 from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX alone conducted 101 of those flights, mostly using its Falcon 9 rocket. The year also saw four human spaceflights, including NASA’s Crew-10 and Crew-11 missions, and private missions like Ax-4.
2026 is shaping up to be another busy year. As of Feb. 21, the Space Coast had already recorded 12 orbital launches this year, all from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX has conducted 11 of those flights, while ULA’s Vulcan Centaur made its first launch of the year. Blue Origin has yet to launch its New Glenn rocket in 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the moon, is expected to launch later this year from Kennedy Space Center.
The Space Coast’s launch activity has grown steadily since 2023, when 72 orbital launches occurred. In 2024, that number rose to 93, with SpaceX leading the way. For 2025, the region saw 109 launches, including one hypersonic missile test. The trend shows no sign of slowing, with SpaceX planning multiple Starlink missions and ULA preparing for more Vulcan launches.
Launch details are updated regularly on the Space Coast Launch Schedule, which tracks all upcoming missions. The next scheduled launch is a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on March 1, 2026, carrying more Starlink satellites. Residents and visitors can view launches from nearby observation areas, though viewing conditions depend on weather and mission specifics.