It has been a record year for space launches in Florida, shattering previous marks and reaching a record number of launches by mid-November.“SpaceX doing more than one launch in a day, and different companies doing more than one launch in a day, is something I would have never thought of even five years ago,” said Don Platt of Florida Tech.Here are some of the monumental moments from the past year.On Jan. 16, Blue Origin launched its inaugural New Glenn rocket, setting the stage for what would later put the company on the map. The rocket successfully reached its intended orbit but failed to recover its first-stage booster.On March 8, WESH 2 went inside the Vehicle Assembly Building to see progress on Artemis II, which is poised to launch in February 2026. The team also got an up-close look at the Orion capsule.On March 14, Crew-10 successfully lifted off from Launch Pad 39A after a previous scrubbed attempt. The crew replaced Crew-9, which included astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The two had been aboard the International Space Station since June 2024. Their return was delayed due to safety concerns with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, paving the way for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to take over.SpaceX later faced challenges of its own. Its Starship mega-rocket exploded for the third time during a test flight May 27. Two previous test flights had also failed. Then, on June 18, the 10th test flight suffered a sudden energetic event, exploding on the test stand during prelaunch preparations.Starship’s 11th test flight was finally successful in October.While there were many other successful launches, including Crew-11 and several commercial spaceflights, one November launch stood out.Blue Origin’s second New Glenn mission proved monumental for the company, as it successfully landed its first-stage booster.“It sort of illustrates that we’re still in a golden age of space,” Platt said.Another milestone for the WESH 2 team was traveling to Starbase, Texas, to learn more about SpaceX’s Starship rocket, which is expected to come to Brevard County in the near future. The research trip turned into breaking news when one of the boosters exploded during testing.Despite everything that unfolded over the past year, much of it was accomplished amid budget cuts and uncertain leadership. In December, billionaire entrepreneur and former astronaut Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA’s new administrator.It has been a year to remember, with more on the way in 2026.
It has been a record year for space launches in Florida, shattering previous marks and reaching a record number of launches by mid-November.
“SpaceX doing more than one launch in a day, and different companies doing more than one launch in a day, is something I would have never thought of even five years ago,” said Don Platt of Florida Tech.
Here are some of the monumental moments from the past year.
On Jan. 16, Blue Origin launched its inaugural New Glenn rocket, setting the stage for what would later put the company on the map. The rocket successfully reached its intended orbit but failed to recover its first-stage booster.
On March 8, WESH 2 went inside the Vehicle Assembly Building to see progress on Artemis II, which is poised to launch in February 2026. The team also got an up-close look at the Orion capsule.
On March 14, Crew-10 successfully lifted off from Launch Pad 39A after a previous scrubbed attempt. The crew replaced Crew-9, which included astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The two had been aboard the International Space Station since June 2024. Their return was delayed due to safety concerns with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, paving the way for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to take over.
SpaceX later faced challenges of its own. Its Starship mega-rocket exploded for the third time during a test flight May 27. Two previous test flights had also failed. Then, on June 18, the 10th test flight suffered a sudden energetic event, exploding on the test stand during prelaunch preparations.
Starship’s 11th test flight was finally successful in October.
While there were many other successful launches, including Crew-11 and several commercial spaceflights, one November launch stood out.
Blue Origin’s second New Glenn mission proved monumental for the company, as it successfully landed its first-stage booster.
“It sort of illustrates that we’re still in a golden age of space,” Platt said.
Another milestone for the WESH 2 team was traveling to Starbase, Texas, to learn more about SpaceX’s Starship rocket, which is expected to come to Brevard County in the near future. The research trip turned into breaking news when one of the boosters exploded during testing.
Despite everything that unfolded over the past year, much of it was accomplished amid budget cuts and uncertain leadership. In December, billionaire entrepreneur and former astronaut Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA’s new administrator.
It has been a year to remember, with more on the way in 2026.
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