Florida's Space Coast will see no rocket launches this week for the first time since 2021, following SpaceX's Aug. 30 launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The Falcon Heavy's liftoff marked the final scheduled mission from the state until at least early October, according to SpaceX and NASA officials. The pause comes as Florida's 2026 launch total stands at 55 so far, down from the record 109 orbital missions in 2025.
The slowdown follows a surge in activity last year, when Florida surpassed all previous annual launch records. In 2021, the state recorded 31 launches — a number that tied its then-existing record. This year's pace has dropped significantly, with no launches planned through at least Sept. 14. SpaceX officials cited routine maintenance and payload scheduling as factors in the temporary hiatus.
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 spend more than six hours outside the International Space Station upgrading its aging infrastructure. The spacewalk is part of a series of recent extravehicular activities aimed at extending the ISS's operational life.
NASA's next crewed mission from Florida, Crew-13, has been pushed back from mid-September. The joint NASA-SpaceX mission was originally scheduled to begin astronaut training in late August but has been delayed due to technical reviews and crew readiness assessments. No U.S. astronauts have launched to space since NASA's Artemis II lunar mission in April.
In Titusville, a mysterious company has approached the city about a potential $230 million project at the Titusville Regional Airport. The proposal, which has not been publicly detailed, has sparked interest among local officials and business leaders. The airport's director said discussions are ongoing but declined to comment on the project's scope or timeline.