A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this week, becoming the 50th spaceflight mission launched from Florida in 2023. The launch, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, will carry a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. This milestone underscores Brevard County’s continued dominance as a hub for space activity, with over 100 launches expected from the area this year alone. The mission will be the 15th launch of 2023 from the Cape, according to the Florida Space Institute. SpaceX has conducted 12 of those flights, with United Launch Alliance accounting for three. The 50th mission of the year comes as the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station prepare for a record number of launches in 2023. NASA’s Artemis I moon mission is set for a late 2023 launch from Kennedy, while SpaceX plans multiple Crew Dragon flights to the International Space Station. Local officials have noted the economic impact of the space industry on Brevard County, which has seen over $1.5 billion in space-related investments since 2020. The 50th mission of the year is expected to draw thousands of spectators to the Space Coast, with viewing areas open along the Atlantic coast near the launch sites. SpaceX’s launch team has confirmed the Falcon 9 will lift off from the historic Launch Complex 39A, the same site used for Apollo 11 and the first Space Shuttle missions. The rocket will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean after deploying its payload. The 50th mission of the year follows a busy summer for Florida’s spaceports, which hosted 22 launches between May and August. The Florida Spaceport Authority reported a 25% increase in commercial launch activity compared to 2022.