Florida’s Space Coast Has Lift-Off!

Most people who visit Central Florida these days know one of the most active and vibrant attractions is the Kennedy Space Center, just an hour’s drive east of Orlando. But not many are aware of the whole area that goes under the name of Florida’s Space Coast. And it just so happens that it is gearing up for a bonanza year in 2026.

From milestone rocket launches to celebrations for the America 250 anniversary, the Space Coast is gearing up for 2026 with the aim to welcome visitors to the next era of US space exploration, including the build-up to the launch of the historic Artemis II mission next month.

The New Year sees this part of the Sunshine State enjoying unprecedented momentum, having closed out a successful 2025 fuelled by record-setting launch activity, transformative aerospace investment and ever-increasing national attention ahead of NASA’s bid to send astronauts back to the Moon. And, as the United States marks 250 years in 2026, the Space Coast embodies the nation’s spirit of discovery and progress.

Here’s what in store ahead of all the activity centred on the Kennedy Space Center this year.

A record 2025

The Space Coast hosted an astonishing 109 rocket launches last year, breaking the previous record of 93 set in 2024, a milestone that solidifies its status as the Launch Capital of America and its critical role in the global space ecosystem. Just as importantly, each mission draws thousands of visitors to the area’s beaches, parks, restaurants and event spaces. And now that is all set for an even bigger blast-off in 2026.

As the nation heads into its 250th anniversary, the Space Coast proudly stands at the intersection of US history and innovation, America’s home of human space launch. The Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center will be featured in an upcoming docuseries spotlighting Florida’s contributions to the nation. The Space Coast’s prominent role in progress, exploration and achievement will be on display at 250th celebrations all year. Among the major advancements in 2025:

• More rocket launches than ever, with those 109 missions.

• Lockheed Martin broke ground on a new $140million facility in Titusville.

• Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, now has over 150 satellites in orbit following its sixth successful launch.

• Infrastructure upgrades at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center are enabling faster turnaround times.

• Blue Origin’s continued investments in manufacturing and operations have doubled its Space Coast footprint.

• NASA and the Department of Defense conducted joint readiness exercises for the upcoming Artemis II mission.

About Florida’s Space Coast

The Space Coast is the family-friendly destination located just an hour east of Orlando’s villa areas along the Beachline Expressway (528). Encompassing Cocoa Beach, Melbourne and The Beaches, Port Canaveral, Titusville, Palm Bay and Viera, it is home to the world’s second-busiest cruise port and 72 miles of beaches (the longest stretch in the state), as well as 190,000 acres of wetlands and waterways full of habitats found nowhere else.

“Florida’s Space Coast has never been more vibrant, more innovative, or more essential to America’s future,” says Peter Cranis, Executive Director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism. “In 2025, we saw extraordinary launch activity, major investments from industry leaders and visitor enthusiasm that continues to grow with every mission and every year. As we enter 2026, we’re proud to welcome travellers from around the world to experience the Launch Capital of America and be part of more historic moments.”

Artemis II is the second of the planned missions aimed at putting astronauts back on the Moon after a gap of 54 years (Apollo 17 in 1972). Artemis I was an uncrewed test flight in 2022, but the second launch will be with four astronauts and a full orbit of the Moon. It will be the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration. The 10-day flight – with an earliest launch date of February 6 – will help to confirm the systems and hardware needed for early human lunar exploration missions.

What this means for our visitors

With all the excitement about the Artemis II mission, the Space Coast is poised to become the only place on Earth where travellers can directly witness humanity’s return to the Moon, which promises to be an unparalleled moment. Beyond Artemis II, the Coast is gearing up for its most active year yet, with up to 120 launches planned. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) is planning to double its lift-offs from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and SpaceX aims to add up to 44 Starship-Super Heavy launches a year from Kennedy Space Center and up to 76 a year from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. In addition, the Federal Aviation Authority has increased the Falcon 9 launch cadence at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to a whopping 120 a year, up from 50.

So, as the United States marks 250 years in 2026, the Space Coast embodies the nation’s spirit of discovery and progress. Launch tourism offers visitors a chance to witness history in motion – a real-time expression of American ingenuity that began with early exploration and continues today with lunar missions, commercial spaceflight and deep-space innovation.

At the same time, visitors can enjoy other top attractions along the coast, in addition to the KSC. Chief among them is Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, with its seven-mile self-guided wildlife drive; Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, an absolute must for those who like to explore WWII memorabilia and many of the planes involved in warfare; the family-friendly Brevard Zoo, with more than 900 animals from around the world; and the eclectic Wizard of Oz Museum. This is also the place for surfing lessons, while the iconic Ron Jon Surf Shop in the heart of Cocoa Beach is just a must-see place to shop and catch that surf vibe. For dining, seafood is very much the speciality of the area, and you shouldn’t miss the locals’ hangouts of Dixie Crossroads in Titusville and Rusty’s Seafood Bar & Grill in the fab The Cove section of Port Canaveral, where you can watch the cruise ships leave each evening. For a sunset treat, Grills Riverside in Melbourne is another excellent choice.

For more information on things to do and places to eat, check out the full Space Coast Office of Tourism website at VisitSpaceCoast.com. You can also look up the full launch schedule, and where to watch from, on this link.

Have you been to the Kennedy Space Center in the past?