Photo: David C Tomlinson / The Image Bank Unreleased / Getty Images
Cape Canaveral, FL - Florida’s Space Coast is launching into uncharted territory in 2025, with officials projecting a record-breaking 107 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, a dramatic leap from the 93 launches set just two years ago.
The region, long known as the heart of America’s space program, is rapidly becoming the busiest launch site in the world.
By early May, 37 launches had already been completed, nearly triple the 18 launches recorded in 2019, and the pace is only accelerating.
SpaceX, the leading commercial launch provider, is preparing for two back-to-back Falcon 9 missions tentatively scheduled for May 5 and May 6, though official confirmation is still pending.
According to flight notices from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the May 5th launch is expected to occur between 4:48 a.m. and 9:29 a.m., with the second mission slated for the evening of May 6th between 8:48 p.m. and 1:19 a.m. on May 7th.
Both missions will reportedly carry batches of approximately 50 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, part of SpaceX’s expanding global broadband network.
The Falcon 9 boosters are expected to land on drone ships stationed in the Atlantic, avoiding the sonic booms that sometimes shake Central Florida.
These launches follow closely on the heels of a successful nighttime liftoff on April 30th at 9:51 p.m., further cementing SpaceX’s near-weekly cadence from the Cape.
In response to this high-tempo launch environment, Space Launch Delta 45 has implemented significant security and infrastructure upgrades at Patrick Space Force Base.
Officials say these enhancements are essential for supporting the volume and strategic importance of ongoing launch operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also conducting a formal environmental review of SpaceX’s request to boost its annual Falcon launch total from 50 to 120.
A virtual public meeting is scheduled for May 8th to address environmental concerns.
According to FAA documents, preliminary findings indicate that the increased launch rate would not cause significant harm to local air quality, marine habitats, wildlife, cultural landmarks, or coastal and water resources.
The study evaluated a wide range of potential environmental impacts, from noise pollution and carbon emissions to marine ecology and climate effects, ultimately concluding that the expanded launch schedule falls within safe and sustainable limits.
With reusable rocket technology making rapid turnaround launches possible, and the growing demand for satellite internet and national defense infrastructure, Cape Canaveral is positioned to redefine space access in 2025 and beyond.