Florida's Space Coast is on track for another record-breaking year of rocket launches, with a dense schedule of missions planned from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Following a historic 93 launches in 2024, the region is preparing for an even faster pace in 2025, driven primarily by SpaceX's Starlink deployments, commercial satellite missions, and government payloads from NASA and the U.S. Space Force.
This guide provides a detailed overview of the most recent and upcoming missions, tracking the rapid evolution of commercial and government spaceflight from one of the world's busiest spaceports. The schedule is regularly updated to reflect the latest changes and announcements from launch providers like SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin.
Key Takeaways
- Florida's Space Coast achieved a record 93 launches in 2024, up from 72 in 2023.
- Projections for 2025 suggest the potential for up to 156 launches, supported by increased operational capacity.
- SpaceX continues to dominate the launch manifest, with frequent Falcon 9 missions for its Starlink constellation.
- Key upcoming missions include crewed flights to the ISS, scientific probes, and the debut of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
Upcoming Launch Manifest for 2025
The latter part of 2025 is filled with critical missions for commercial, scientific, and government clients. SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA), and Blue Origin all have significant flights scheduled from Florida's launch pads.
September 2025
The month features several high-profile missions, including important scientific payloads for NASA and NOAA, as well as continued satellite deployments for major constellations.
- Sept. 23: A SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39-A. The primary payload is NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On–Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Observatory. It will be joined by two NASA observatories: the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) and the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory.
- Sept. 25: SpaceX plans to launch the Starlink 10-15 mission from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), carrying 28 satellites for its internet constellation.
- Sept. 25: United Launch Alliance will launch an Atlas V rocket with 27 satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper from SLC-41. This mission adds to the growing low-Earth orbit internet constellation.
- Late September (TBD): Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is slated for its debut launch, carrying NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft. This mission, aimed at studying Mars' magnetosphere, was delayed from 2024 to ensure the rocket's readiness.
Later in 2025
The remainder of the year includes important commercial and national security missions, alongside pioneering flights for new space vehicles.
- October (TBD): ULA has an Atlas V mission scheduled to launch the ViaSat-3 F2 communications satellite from SLC-41.
- Date TBD: A ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket will carry the USSF-87 payload for the Department of Defense from SLC-41.
- Date TBD: The first flight of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane to the International Space Station is planned on a ULA Vulcan Centaur.
- Late 2025 (TBD): A SpaceX Falcon Heavy will launch Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and will target a landing near the lunar south pole.
Launch Cadence by the Numbers
As of September 21, 2025, the Space Coast has seen 80 orbital launches for the year. SpaceX has been responsible for 76 of these missions, with ULA contributing three and Blue Origin one. This rapid pace demonstrates the increasing industrialization of access to space.
Future Missions Scheduled for 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, the launch manifest includes ambitious missions that will push the boundaries of space exploration, including crewed lunar missions and the deployment of new commercial space stations.
Key Missions in 2026
The year 2026 is set to be a landmark year for human spaceflight and lunar exploration, with several key missions on the schedule.
- Early 2026: NASA's Artemis II mission is planned to launch from KSC's Pad 39-B. This will be the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
- Early 2026: The Boeing Starliner-1 mission, the first operational crewed flight for the Starliner capsule, is scheduled to launch on a ULA Atlas V from Cape Canaveral.
- May 2026: SpaceX plans to launch the uncrewed Vast Haven-1 space station on a Falcon 9 rocket.
- June 2026: A crewed SpaceX Dragon mission is scheduled to fly commercial astronauts to the Vast Haven-1 station.
- Date TBD: A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch the Draper Lunar Lander to the Schrödinger basin on the far side of the Moon, carrying NASA science payloads.
The Rise of Commercial Lunar Missions
NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative is a key driver of the launch schedule. By contracting private companies like Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic, and Firefly Aerospace to deliver science instruments to the Moon, NASA is fostering a commercial lunar economy while advancing its Artemis program objectives.
Looking Toward 2027 and Beyond
The long-term schedule is dominated by NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a sustainable presence there.
The most significant mission planned is Artemis III, scheduled for summer 2027. This historic flight will land four astronauts near the Moon's south pole, marking the first human return to the lunar surface since the Apollo program. The mission will launch from KSC's Pad 39-B.
Other missions include multiple robotic landings by Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace under the CLPS program, targeting various lunar regions to conduct scientific research and prospect for resources like water ice.
Review of 2024 and Early 2025 Launches
The current high tempo of launches is built on the achievements of previous years. In 2024, the Space Coast hosted 93 launches, a new record. Of these, 88 were conducted by SpaceX, while five were from ULA. This included five human spaceflights.
Record-Setting Pace in Early 2025
The year 2025 began with a rapid series of launches, primarily focused on building out SpaceX's Starlink constellation. By the end of February alone, SpaceX had conducted nearly 20 launches from Florida.
A notable event in January was the debut of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. The NG-1 mission on January 16 marked the first flight of the heavy-lift vehicle, launching a pathfinder for the company's Blue Ring orbital platform. This added a new major launch provider to the Space Coast's operational roster.
The increasing frequency of launches from multiple providers highlights a new era in space access, where government agencies and commercial companies work in parallel to achieve ambitious goals in Earth orbit and beyond.
Other significant missions in early 2025 included the SpaceX Crew-10 and Fram2 private astronaut missions to the ISS, further demonstrating the maturity of commercial human spaceflight. United Launch Alliance also began its series of launches for Amazon's Project Kuiper, using its reliable Atlas V rocket to deploy the internet satellites.
