Florida's Space Coast will see no rocket launches this week, marking a temporary pause in activity after SpaceX's Aug. 30 Falcon Heavy mission carried NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope into orbit. The silence follows a record year in 2025, when Florida saw 109 orbital launches — a number that dwarfs the 31 launches recorded across all of 2021. So far in 2026, 55 rockets have launched from the state, but the pace has slowed compared to 2025's breakneck pace. The Falcon Heavy's recent flight was the last scheduled launch from Florida until at least early October, according to officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
The slowdown comes as SpaceX and NASA recalibrate operations after the successful telescope launch. The mission, which marked the final planned launch for the week, involved a Falcon Heavy rocket lifting off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The flight, which included a rare sonic boom heard across the Space Coast, was part of a broader shift in launch schedules as agencies prioritize upcoming missions. SpaceX has not announced new launch dates for the next few weeks, though officials say activity is expected to resume in early October.
Meanwhile, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot are set to conduct the first all-women spacewalk in over a year later this month. The two will exit the International Space Station for more than six hours to perform upgrades on the aging orbital lab. The spacewalk, part of a series of recent extravehicular activities, will focus on maintenance work to extend the ISS's operational life. The mission highlights ongoing efforts to modernize the station as NASA prepares for future deep-space missions.
NASA's next crewed mission from Florida, Crew-13, has also been delayed. Originally slated for mid-September, the joint NASA-SpaceX mission is now expected to launch in late October. The delay follows the Artemis II lunar mission in April, which marked the first crewed flight from U.S. soil since 2022. The rescheduling allows for additional testing and preparations ahead of the Crew-13 launch, which will carry four astronauts to the ISS for a six-month stay.
Adding to the Space Coast's recent developments, a mysterious company has approached Titusville's municipal airport about a potential $230 million project. Details remain unclear, but local officials say the proposal could involve aerospace-related operations. The airport, located just north of Kennedy Space Center, has been a hub for emerging space companies in recent years. No formal agreements have been announced, and officials are currently reviewing the proposal.