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The Space Coast experienced a record-breaking year in 2022 with a total of 57 launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, the commander of Space Launch Delta 45, there could be even more launches in 2023, with an estimated range of 86 to 92 potential launches.

As of August 17, there have been a total of 42 launches on the Space Coast in 2023. Out of these, 34 were from Cape Canaveral and 8 were from Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX has been the leading provider with 40 launches, including 37 Falcon 9 missions and 3 Falcon Heavy missions. United Launch Alliance and Relativity Space each contributed one launch.

In terms of human spaceflights, there have been 2 missions in 2023. These include Crew-6 and Ax-2, both of which were carried out successfully.

Moving to the upcoming launches, several important missions are scheduled for the rest of the year. On August 11 and August 16, SpaceX launched Falcon 9 rockets on the Starlink 6-9 and Starlink 6-10 missions respectively. Each mission carried 22 V2 mini Starlink satellites, with the first-stage boosters being successfully recovered.

In late August, SpaceX is planning the Crew-7 mission, which will launch the Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center. This will be the seventh operational mission for SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

On August 29, United Launch Alliance will launch an Atlas V rocket carrying the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office and Space Force. The mission aims to improve space domain awareness and provide intelligence data for national security.

In September, another United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch Amazon’s two test Project Kuiper satellites. Originally planned to fly on ULA’s first Vulcan Centaur rocket, the satellites were switched to Atlas rockets due to delays in the Vulcan Centaur program.

In the months ahead, there are also missions planned by SpaceX, including the launch of NASA’s Psyche probe on a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center in October, and the Intuitive Machines IM-1 lunar lander mission from Kennedy Space Center in November.

Other launches to look forward to include the debut launch of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur, the Polaris Dawn mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9, and the Boeing CST-100 Starliner mission. Furthermore, SpaceX will conduct the first ISS launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in December.

The Space Coast continues to be a hub for space exploration and innovation, with an exciting lineup of launches scheduled for the remainder of 2023.

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