Florida Space Coast Blasts Past Launch Records

Florida's Space Coast has set a new annual record, having hosted an astounding 109 orbital rocket launches in 2025. As of July 13, 2026, the region has already seen 46 launches this year. A significant event in April 2026 was NASA's Artemis II mission, which successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center, carrying four astronauts on a journey farther than any humans had previously traveled, completing a lunar flyby.

Launch activity saw a slowdown in May and June 2026, with only six launches each month. This period was also marked by a setback for Blue Origin, as their New Glenn rocket exploded during a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This incident has removed Blue Origin's launches from the Eastern Range manifest for the foreseeable future.

The July 2026 schedule is expected to be busy, particularly with SpaceX's Falcon 9 launches. Three launches have already occurred in July. The final Atlas V 551 launched on July 2, followed by a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites on July 5. Another SpaceX Starlink launch on July 9 created a striking visual "jellyfish" effect visible across the Space Coast and beyond.

Scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, is another SpaceX Starlink mission from Launch Complex 40. Additionally, a SpaceX Globalstar 2-R mission is scheduled, though its launch window is to be determined. Rocket launches from Florida are often visible from various points across the state, depending on trajectory and atmospheric conditions. NASA+ content, including some rocket launches, is available via Amazon Prime Video.