A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Northrop Grumman MRV-MEP mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. The first-stage booster made its 32nd and final flight before being retired. This launch marked the 48th orbital mission from the Space Coast in 2026, with 41 from SpaceX, 5 from United Launch Alliance and 1 from Blue Origin, plus NASA’s upcoming Artemis II flight.
The Space Coast ended 2025 with 109 orbital launches, a record driven by SpaceX’s 101 Falcon 9 missions, 6 from ULA and 2 from Blue Origin. That total included four human spaceflights: Crew-10, Fram2, Ax-4 and Crew-11. In 2024, the region saw 93 launches, including 88 from SpaceX and 5 from ULA. The numbers dropped slightly in 2023 to 72 launches, but still included three crewed missions.
So far in 2026, 46 of the 48 planned orbital launches are scheduled from Cape Canaveral, with 2 from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX leads with 40 Falcon 9 and 1 Falcon Heavy missions, while ULA has 4 Atlas V and 1 Vulcan launches planned. Blue Origin is set for one New Glenn mission on the NG-3 flight. NASA’s Space Launch System rocket will launch Artemis II in 2026, adding a human spaceflight to the tally.
The region’s launch activity shows no signs of slowing. With SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin all increasing their flight rates, and NASA’s Artemis program advancing, 2026 is shaping up to be another busy year. The Space Coast’s infrastructure at both Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center continues to support the growing demand for orbital and suborbital missions.
The most recent launches include the July 21 MRV-MEP mission and a series of crewed flights in previous years. Detailed records of past launches are available through official sources, but the trend of increasing launch frequency shows no immediate end.