Florida's Space Coast shattered its own record in 2025 with 109 orbital rocket launches, and the pace shows no signs of slowing in 2026. By the end of March, 22 rockets had already lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, with more scheduled in April. The April calendar includes NASA's Artemis II mission and a SpaceX Starlink launch, keeping the region at the forefront of space activity.
NASA's Artemis II mission is set for Wednesday, April 1, from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center. The flight will carry three NASA astronauts and a Canadian astronaut on a 10-day journey around the moon, testing systems and procedures for future lunar landings. The launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. with a two-hour flexibility period. Unlike previous missions, this flight will not produce sonic booms, according to officials.
The following day, SpaceX will launch 29 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for liftoff between 7:52 a.m. and 11:52 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, with a northeast trajectory. As with Artemis II, this mission will not generate sonic booms.
Space enthusiasts are also watching for Blue Origin's next New Glenn rocket launch, though specific details remain tentative. Florida Today's Space Team will provide live blog coverage for both missions starting at least 90 minutes before liftoff, accessible at floridatoday.com/space. Launch schedules frequently change due to weather, technical requirements, and other factors, so residents are advised to check updates regularly.