What Happened
Rocket Launches Surge In Florida As Space Industry Expands
Florida is at the center of a new space race as rocket launches continue to climb, with the FAA predicting nearly 4,300 launches between 2026-2036. The state’s Kennedy Space Center is playing a crucial role in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return Americans to the moon. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is the most active in the world, and the company is working to prepare for flight tests of its Starship rocket. The surge in launches is also driven by the growing demand for satellite deployments and space tourism, according to the USA TODAY Network.