Florida has eclipsed its previous orbital-launch record of 93 and has reached at least 96 launches this season, with the Space Coast poised to hit 100 before Thanksgiving. Space Beat host Rob Landers and reporter Rick Neale review the milestone and explain why a sunny day can still force a launch delay. Key events include Blue Origin's New Glenn recovery with a NASA Mars payload, SpaceX's record Cape Canaveral launch, and ULA's ViaSat-3 F2 mission.
Florida's Space Coast Shatters Orbital-Launch Record — 96 and Counting, 100 Possible Before Thanksgiving
Florida has eclipsed its previous orbital-launch record of 93 and has reached at least 96 launches this season, with the Space Coast poised to hit 100 before Thanksgiving. Space Beat host Rob Landers and reporter Rick Neale review the milestone and explain why a sunny day can still force a launch delay. Key events include Blue Origin's New Glenn recovery with a NASA Mars payload, SpaceX's record Cape Canaveral launch, and ULA's ViaSat-3 F2 mission.
02:51 AM, 11/15/2025Technology
Record Year for Florida Launches
Florida's long-standing orbital-launch milestone has been broken. The state, which set a record of 93 orbital launches in 2024, has already exceeded that mark and reached at least 96 launches this season, with the Space Coast on track to log the year's 100th launch before Thanksgiving.
Highlights from the launch rush
- Blue Origin's historic New Glenn mission: Blue Origin successfully launched a NASA-bound Mars spacecraft aboard New Glenn and recovered the booster — a landmark flight for the company.
- SpaceX sets a new Cape Canaveral milestone: A Starlink mission became the record-breaking rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, further contributing to the run of high-tempo activity.
- ULA's ViaSat-3 F2/Atlas V launch: United Launch Alliance completed the ViaSat-3 F2 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking Florida's 96th orbital launch of the season.
Why good weather isn't always good enough
Space Beat host Rob Landers and space team reporter Rick Neale discussed one of the season's subtler points: even a clear, sunny day can sometimes be unsuitable for launch. Factors such as upper-atmosphere winds, range safety constraints, tracking and telemetry conditions, or concerns about debris and recovery can force delays despite blue skies.
Other notes
The episode also touched on how rare auroras are this far south — while northern lights can occasionally be visible in Florida, such displays are extremely uncommon.
Originally published in Florida Today as "Florida's space launches shatter old rocket launch record."
What this means: The surge in launches highlights a new era of high-cadence operations on the Space Coast, driven by commercial providers and government contracts alike. With multiple providers now flying frequently from Cape Canaveral and nearby pads, Florida is quickly becoming the busiest orbital launch hub in the nation.