Space Coast Ends 2025 on a High Note, Poised for Even More in 2026

As 2025 closes out, the Space Coast is celebrating record launch activity, major infrastructure investments, and a strong tourism surge—while setting the stage for an even bigger 2026.

Record Launches Shatter Previous Highs

Florida’s Space Coast reinforced its reputation as the world’s leading launch hub in 2025, with 109 successful orbital launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station— the highest annual total ever recorded for the region.

Range officials and industry planners are already preparing for another busy year ahead. Forecasts point to roughly 100–120 launches in 2026, with longer-term projections suggesting the Space Coast could eventually support 300+ missions per year as new rockets and rapid-reuse operations scale up. (These longer-term figures are projections, not guarantees.)

Investing in Spaceport Infrastructure

Supporting a higher launch cadence means major investment on the ground. Florida’s leadership has proposed a $93.4 million spaceport infrastructure commitment aimed at strengthening the Space Coast’s launch ecosystem and related transportation improvements.

At the federal level, the U.S. Department of the Air Force is also backing modernization efforts. Reporting indicates approximately $800 million has been allocated for upgrades that help prepare the Eastern Range for significantly higher future launch demand. (Funding figures can evolve as projects move through budgeting and contracting.)

Starship Set to Launch from Florida

One of the biggest Space Coast headlines is SpaceX’s next-generation vehicle, Starship. The U.S. Air Force has issued a decision allowing SpaceX to redevelop Space Launch Complex 37 (LC-37) at Cape Canaveral for Starship operations. Plans described in public documentation include multiple pads and towers designed to support high cadence operations.

Timeline note: Some reporting suggests Florida Starship activity could begin as early as mid-2026, but that depends on construction progress, testing results, and regulatory approvals.

Starship’s expansion in Florida is closely tied to future exploration goals, including NASA’s Artemis plans and SpaceX’s longer-range ambitions. Starship has been selected by NASA for the first crewed lunar landing system under Artemis, which keeps Florida central to the next era of Moon missions.

Aerospace Industry Growth and Realities

The Space Coast’s supply chain is expanding too. Industrial gas provider Linde has announced a significant expansion in Mims, Florida to increase liquid oxygen and nitrogen capacity—key inputs for launch operations—supporting continued growth in regional space activity.

Tourism Thrives: Cruises and Hotels on the Rise

Tourism remains a cornerstone of the Space Coast economy. Local reporting highlights that 2025 was one of the strongest years on record for tourist development tax revenue—among the top two annual totals.

Port Canaveral also hit a major milestone, being reported as the world’s busiest cruise port by passenger volume, as new ships arrive and terminal improvements continue. Hotel construction and expansions are also underway, with additional properties and room inventory expected through 2026.

Looking Ahead to 2026

If 2025 was the year the Space Coast broke into a new launch era, 2026 looks like the year the region turns that momentum into an even more routine, high-tempo spaceport operation—while cruise growth, new hotels, and expanding suppliers continue to lift the broader economy.

From rocket watchers and beachgoers to cruise passengers and aerospace professionals, the Space Coast is set to remain one of the most dynamic places in the country heading into the new year.