Rocket launches surge in 2026 in California. What happened to Florida?

USA Today · , USA TODAY · 2026-11-06 13:53 UTC

Florida will not even come close to setting a new launch record in 2026 as SpaceX, Blue Origin and others slow down cadences. Here's what's happening.

Florida’s 2026 slowdown in rocket launches occurs as California is experiencing a record launch year. Here's what's going on.

When you think of spaceflight in the United States, you most likely think of Florida.

The Sunshine State, after all, is where astronauts hitch rides aboard powerful rockets to begin their ventures in orbit. And, of course, anything from telescopes to orbiters to internet-beaming satellites regularly get off the ground during launches from either NASA's iconic Kennedy Space Center or the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

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