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The Family Vacation Guide

How To Get From Orlando to Kennedy Space Center: Your Options

posted by James Brockbank on December 4, 2022 // last updated on December 4, 2022

There’s so much to enjoy at Kennedy Space Center, and you might be curious to know how you can get there from Orlando. 

Orlando is 54 miles from Kennedy Space Center. Essentially, there are three options you can use to get to Kennedy Space Center from Orlando. All these options involve using a shuttle or a bus. 

You can use the line 08 bus or shuttle or line 104 or line 13 bus. For the line 08 bus, it will take you about 3 hours 31 minutes. You can get to Kennedy Space Center faster using the line 104 bus since it will take about 2 hours.

What is Kennedy Space Center?

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Kennedy Space Center is one of NASA’s ten field centers. It’s a popular tourist attraction in Florida. The space center is one hour east of Orlando and two hours south of Jacksonville. 

Just as its name suggests, it’s an area where NASA performs most of its activities, including space-travel events and launches.

The good thing about KSC is that it’s open for visitation and is packed with outstanding attractions that will amaze you. Daily admission at KSC allows you to visit the rocket garden, planet play, astronaut encounter, watch space films at the IMAX® theater, and more.

The fastest way to get to KSC is by using the line 08 bus or shuttle.

Your trip will cost you an average of $57, and you should arrive at your destination in 3 hours and 31 minutes.

If you’re running on a tight budget, driving to your destination will save you money. The money you will spend here depends on your car’s fuel efficiency. 

However, you should spend about $12 or less. It will take you about an hour to arrive at KSC.

If you don’t have a car, the best option will be to use taxi services. You will spend more, but you won’t have to bear the hassle of moving around with the car to find a suitable packing space. Plus, it’s a great idea if you are thinking of enjoying yourself during or after the tour and worrying less about driving.

Where Can You Stay Near Kennedy Space Center

There are many hotels near KSC, so you don’t have to worry about where you’ll be staying during your short tour. Some of these hotels include:

Cape Crossing Resort & Marina is located on Merritt Island, about 7 miles from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral Wharf. 

The accommodation features a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, and a fitness center. Guests have free internet access, a sauna, and a shared lounge.

All the hotel’s units are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a coffee machine, a dishwasher, a wardrobe, and a hairdryer. Merritt Island Airport is just 5 miles from the hotel.

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson is about 9.4 miles from KSC. The accommodation doesn’t compromise when it comes to offering top-notch services to its clients. 

You’ll enjoy your stay here since you can take advantage of the amenities offered, including complimentary breakfast, a pool, free internet, free parking, and a fully-equipped fitness center.

Hampton Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral Cruise Port, Fl, is located 1.5 miles from Cape Canaveral Beach. The hotel provides accommodation featuring private parking, a fitness center, and a bar. 

It’s conveniently located close to KSC and other notable restaurants within the area. The rooms have a flat-screen TV and are air-conditioned.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral-Cocoa Beach offers an all-year-round outdoor pool and barbecue. KSC is only 3.7 miles from the hotel, while Port Canaveral is 1.2 miles. Melbourne International Airport is 20.5 miles from the property.

The hotel’s units feature free internet, a flat-screen TV, a fridge, a microwave, and a dishwasher. You also have access to meeting rooms and a business center. If you’re a basketball fan, you can enjoy yourself at the hotel’s basketball court or exercise in the fitness center within the premises.

Other hotels near Kennedy Space Center include:

• Motel 6-Cocoa Beach, FL
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Cocoa Beach-Port Canaveral
• Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach
• Courtyard By Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Center

You may consider car rental services around Kennedy Space Center to ensure you can tour the city and its famous attractions. It’s the perfect option to avoid the stress of hopping from one bus to another or booking different taxis. 

Comparing options is the best way to secure affordable car rental deals. Luckily, there are many options to pick from, depending on your budget and other preference factors. 

For instance, if you choose small, medium, or large vehicles. You can also rent a van or a convertible. Naturally, prices will vary but expect to pay somewhere between $15 to $80 for small cars.

You’ll have to spend about 6-8 hours at KSC to ensure you don’t miss out on the most popular attractions at the center. Exciting things to try out here include:

• Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour – Lift Off!
• Shuttle Launch Experience
• Journey To Mars Explorers Wanted
• Space Shuttle Atlantis
• Heroes & Legends
• Apollo/Saturn V Center – The Race To The Moon

There’s so much to do while you’re in KSC. You only need to ensure you’re not in a hurry to try out the above attractions. Remember, booking your hotel in advance is essential since you’ll have a place to stay as you tour other popular attractions around Florida’s Space Coast. 

Moreover, early bookings can save you money. If you rent a car to tour around, you should also consider shopping for the best quotes.

More about our TFVG Author

James Brockbank

A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.

What To Experience On A Day Trip To Kennedy Space Center From Orlando

From real rocket launches to NASA history, astronaut encounters, and space travel, this tour of the Kennedy Space Center is for curious space lovers!

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Take a break from Florida’s theme parks and popular tourist attractions just for one day. Instead of Orlando rollercoasters, beautiful Florida beaches, and the vibrant nightlife of Miami , why not go to infinity and beyond? At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, that’s precisely what mere mortals can do (well, not literally, but it’s as close as non-astronauts can get to outer space!)

As one of the best things to do in Florida besides amusement parks , this is no ordinary day trip from Orlando. Operated for NASA by Delaware North, this outta-this-world center of intergalactic awe isn’t just one of Florida’s top museums; it’s an astronomical hub here on Earth pioneering the way for deep space travel and a place of discovery and development of cutting-edge space exploration innovations from NASA.

Related: This Is How You Can Budget For Orlando, Depending On Your Itinerary

Open to curious minds and aspiring astronauts to learn about the tremendous vast above and around planet earth (and beyond what’s currently known), the KSC Florida is a spaceport of the future where the public can learn about space, other worlds, travel beyond the stratosphere, and the mesmerizing science that upholds space.

Holding a wealth of mind-blowing journeys, exhibits, and experiences under its roof (though the magic within goes beyond the skies), the Kennedy Space Center has always been one of Florida’s most popular attractions.

Related: Orlando For Cheap: How To Plan An Affordable Vacation

What’s more, this incredible place also holds history in its every nook and cranny, detailing the iconic past of space travel as well as offering visitors the chance to experience what it’s like to be a real astronaut, with space shuttle simulations and virtual space experience delighting those who walk through the spaceship doors.

With so many things to see at Kennedy Space Center, it commands a full day to explore its entirety - and one of the most convenient and immersive ways to enjoy its magnificence is by taking a tour of KSC (details incoming below!)

Anyone who says “no” isn’t in their right mind; the Kennedy Space Center is, quite possibly, one of the top attractions in Florida, taking curious visitors on an adventure through space and time. Packed to the brim with attractions, activities, and exhibits, KSC visitors can enjoy an immersive experience while learning about America’s history of space travel at the Rocket Garden, the Apollo/Saturn V center, and numerous other museums across the vast complex.

Related: The 11 Best Museums In Florida You Need To Visit

• Kennedy Space Tour Name: Kennedy Space Center Day Trip with Transport from Orlando
• Tour Price: From $69.99
• Duration: 10 hours approximately

Book This Tour

Among the best space experiences in the world, this out-of-this-world day trip takes visitors to the epic Kennedy Space Center from Orlando, where they’ll spend hours exploring the entire NASA world-class facility, launchpads, and rocket exhibits like the famous Saturn V. Guests can savor the mind-blowing simulated Shuttle Launch Experience, watch stellar IMAX films, and get the first-hand scoop on real space stories at the Astronaut Encounter experience. If that wasn’t enough, participants also get the chance to upgrade their tour to have lunch with a veteran astronaut, as well as scope out extra sightseeing opportunities.

Kennedy Space Center Highlights: What Does The Tour Include?

• Kennedy Space Center tour from Orlando with optional upgrades
• Transportation to and from the Kennedy Space Center via selected Orlando locations
• Kennedy Space Center tickets included
• Tour NASA’s launch headquarters and the iconic Shuttle Launch Experience
• Check out the famed Rocket Garden, Apollo/Saturn V Center, and view two IMAX virtual space films
• Meet veteran astronauts at the Astronaut Encounter show
• The choice to upgrade the tour and have lunch with an astronaut
• The opportunity to upgrade to the Space Pass Plus and visit the Vehicle Assembly Building
• Local taxes

Food and drinks aren’t included on this Kennedy Space Center tour; however, they’re available to purchase. Also, Rocket Launch tickets may command an extra charge.

Tour participants get up bright and early for a full day swooning over space travel at the Kennedy Space Center. The day starts with a morning pickup from select Orlando locations, and guests pick a comfy seat on the coach and relax on board for the 45 minutes it takes to get to the space center.

Upon arrival at the KSC Visitor Complex, guests are free to explore the place at their leisure. They can hop on a NASA bus for a short journey to one of the many epic exhibits, many of which include:

• The Early Space Exploration exhibit - showcases stories and artifacts from legendary missions like Gemini (there’s an actual Gemini program capsule on display here!)
• The Rocket Garden, where the first NASA rockets await as well as those from all eras of space travel (the Children’s Play Dome here is a favorite among little ones and adults alike!)

Related: Disney Vs. Universal Orlando: Comparing Florida’s Best Parks

Launch Into The Apollo/Saturn V Center & The US Astronaut Hall Of Fame

Visitors can also head to the Apollo/Saturn V Center and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, where they can relive the excitement of the Apollo era. This full-on, incredible exhibit celebrates the never-before-achieved feat that shook the entire world: the moment humans first reached the moon.

In this exhibit, tourers also get to relive Neil Armstrong’s iconic moonwalk, touch a moon rock, and get a closer look at the giant Saturn V rocket - indeed, the largest ever rocket built, measuring 63 feet (110 meters) in height!

Discover The Astronaut Encounter Show & The Rocket Garden

Throughout the day, guests can also take a tour of the most famous NASA landmarks, as well as meet a real veteran NASA astronaut at the Astronaut Encounter Show. The epic Rocket Garden with its imposing rockets also awaits, wherein the first rocket to break free from gravity is housed. Another important feature to discover is the Heroes and Legends exhibit, which features the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and honors NASA’s fallen heroes.

After that, visitors can learn more about what it truly takes to become a Martian astronaut exploring the red planet on the Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted experience.

Watch Out-Of-This-World Space Showings At The IMAX: A Virtual Trip To The International Space Station

Next up, visitors can soak up a feast for the eyes and mind via a complimentary showing or two at the IMAX Theater housed within the complex. Shown on massive five-story screens, the engaging stellar movies are IMAX® A Beautiful Planet and Journey To Space 3D, taking viewers on a virtual journey to the International Space Station.

In addition, all that virtual space exploration will surely ignite questions for real astronauts. During the Astronaut Encounter, real astronauts can answer those burning questions as they discuss their experiences with the public, telling genuine stories of their professional lives and on-the-job ordeals working in space!

Leave Planet Earth And Feel What It’s Like To Be An Astronaut At The Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit

More mind-tingling exhibits entice visitors at the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, where more than 60 interactive experiences provide a full-sensory space affair invigorating the mind and senses (take heed: this is one of the best things to do at Kennedy Space Center!)

In this part of the trip, visitors get to relish the people, passion, and patriotism backing NASA’s Space Shuttle program, which birthed both the International Space Station and launched the Hubble Space Telescope.

Here, tour participants also savor what it’s like to be a real astronaut; they’ll explore a replica of the ISS and even board a full-size Space Shuttle mock-up and experience an authentic virtual launch into space on the heart-thumping Shuttle Launch Experience. This shuttle experience truly is a wild ride; aspiring astronauts can orbit the Earth on an extraordinary simulation trip that replicates the true sounds, sights, and feelings of a real shuttle launch.

From taking the helm in the shuttle cockpit to experiencing floating in the midst of space, this is one wicked journey unlike anything else - one that visitors do not want to miss.

Related: These Are Orlando’s Coolest Hotels To Book For 2022

Of course, in between exhibits and stops, visitors can take snack breaks at their own expense in the Rocket Garden or the Orbit Cafe. Once the tour is over and the day ends, a coach collects tourers and returns them to their departure point in Orlando - easy and hassle-free.

Related: How To Watch A Space Rocket Launch At The Kennedy Space Center

Additional Tour Options : Visitors can upgrade their tour to have a chatty sit-down lunch with a real astronaut who’s a member of NASA’s Astronaut Corps!

Another option available is the Space Pass Plus , which combines all the experiences above with a guided tour of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), the NASA Causeway, the Operations and Checkout building, and the A/B Camera Stop to view the countdown clock at Press Site - previously a crawler transporter that moved Apollo moon rockets.

The Kennedy Space Center is an immersive, unbelievable place with overwhelming experiences for lovers of space, space travel, and human-space history. Whether people opt for a bus tour or not, a visit is guaranteed to be a memorable day out. However, veterans of the center and visitors who’ve been to the establishment before will always recommend a bus tour; it’s a full-day experience with what seems like a whole universe to explore within the complex. Ultimately, the bus tour conveniently comprises many of the best bits and rarely fails to get five stars in Kennedy Space Center reviews.

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Kennedy Space Center Express & ICON

Home > Tours > Kennedy Space Center Express & ICON

Kennedy Space Center Express & ICON

Watch Itinerary

You’ll be over the moon for this awesome look into the science and history of the space program with our express option, you will meet the bus at our final meeting point and get transportation straight to the space center plus, when you get back to orlando, you can take a ride on the wheel at icon park to get views of the whole city.

• Skip the pickups and get direct service to Kennedy Space Center from ICON Park
• Feel the liftoff with a shuttle launch experience
• Touch a piece of real moon rock
• Stroll around the Rocket Garden
• Walk underneath the Saturn V
• Experience the Space Shuttle Atlantis
• Get a bird's eye view from the Wheel at ICON Park Orlando!
• Round trip transportation from Orlando's ICON Park
• Admission ticket to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• Ticket for the Wheel at ICON Park
• Professional guide/driver services
• Meals and beverages
• Optional gratuities
• Admission on 'black out dates' due to special launch events at Kennedy Space Center

Please Note

• Bring a camera to capture all of the amazing sights!
• Visitors may bring backpacks and soft-sided coolers into the visitor complex. Food and beverages packed in small, soft-sided coolers are permitted. Glass bottles or containers are not permitted. Beer is for sale at select locations and no outside alcoholic beverages are permitted. For security, all bags are subject to search.

If your scheduled your date becomes a rocket launch please contact us, as regular packages may not be permitted (launch dependent).

Restrictions

When would you like to go, unavailable, please select:, options selected:, optional extras, price breakdown:.

Pickup points

Not booked your hotel yet? Hotel not listed? Staying with a friend/family?

Don't worry, you can give us that information when you add this item to your cart.

Pickup Info

This does not include hotel pick up. You will meet the bus at the ICON Park under The Wheel at 8:00am. This is at the rear side of the plaza, facing Universal Blvd. Free parking is available in the ICON Park parking garage

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Kennedy Space Center Adventure with Transport from Orlando

• "Straight to the Gate" Admission Ticket to Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral (if option chosen)
• Roundtrip Transportation from International Drive, Disney and Kissimmee areas
• Professional and Certified Guide on Bus
• Taxes and Fees
• Entry/Admission - Space Shuttle Atlantis
• Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
• Gateway: Deep Space Complex
• Heroes and Legends exhibit featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
• Shuttle Launch Experience simulator
• Entry/Admission - NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• Entry/Admission - Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex
• Entry/Admission - Shuttle Launch Experience
• Entry/Admission - Titusville
• Entry/Admission - Space Shop at Kennedy Space Center
• Option 1 Margaritaville Resort Orlando, 8000 Fins Up Cir, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA Departure time: 7:15am at this location. Proceed through the security gate and park to the left or right of the hotel. Meet at the main lobby for pickup.
• Option 2 Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 8707 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821, USA Departure time: 7:30am at this location. Free Parking at Golden Corral. Pickup time:
• Option 3 Orlando Starflyer, 8265 International Dr unit c suite 108, Orlando, FL 32819, USA Departure time: 8am at this location. Bus will pickup at the Orlando Starflyer. Free parking located in the Parking Garage.
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Infants must sit on laps
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 55 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Space Shuttle Atlantis
• Space Shop at Kennedy Space Center
• Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex

Similar experiences

• You’ll have 3 starting options See departure details
• 1 NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Stop: 4 hours - Admission included See details
• 2 Space Shuttle Atlantis Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 4 Shuttle Launch Experience Stop: 20 minutes - Admission included See details
• 5 Apollo/Saturn V Center Stop: 90 minutes - Admission included See details
• 6 Heroes & Legends Featuring The U.S Astronaut Hall Of Fame Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 7 Space Shop at Kennedy Space Center Stop: 20 minutes - Admission included See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• Sarah-loves2travel2 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent company Everything was well planned and seamless. Your guide on the journey was exceptional giving lots of fantastic info. Air boat ride was great - we saw lots of alligators Space center was WOW! We had plenty of time for the space center to see what we wanted to see. Will definitely book with real Florida again Read more Written April 25, 2024
• C5404WWhelenk 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Swim with manatees Brad was an amazing tour guide. He kept us safe and entertained all day Swimming with Manatees was the most fabulous thing we have ever done and the air boat ride was great. Thankyou Read more Written April 24, 2024
• jessicahatcher09 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great day out Fantastic day out! All stops were really well organised and our driver Brad was absolutely excellent :) Highly recommend Read more Written April 24, 2024
• mariahs764 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Manatee, airboat and wildlife reserve tour. Brad was an amazing tour guide. We had lots of fun! He was very knowledgeable and easy going. We would highly recommend this tour for all ages. Read more Written April 24, 2024
• mariamV581HP 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The best solo trip I ever had It was a wonderful experience. Where could I start, first of all Ricky was great tour. The captains for every little event were amazing. Then the bus ride was very fun, watching Shrek was actually very fun and distracting. Once we was in the water we got to see a baby manatee and his mother, as well as a male feasting. I actually loved the airboat ride, everything was actually very fun. Read more Written April 24, 2024
• jonpS3910NB 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sunshine State Adventure! John asked what we wanted to see, and unbridled joy couldn't stop me from slicing through the brief silence. Before anyone else could utter a word, I said what we were all thinking... "Baby manatee"! And we were off, expectations tempered, but hopeful, and Captain Ray shouts it out to John not two minutes later. Ricky was an excellent tour guide and drove us to and fro with a sunny disposition to go along with the clear skies and stunning sights. Excellent value and travel was a breeze. Read more Written April 24, 2024
• 676ambern 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Just book the trip We had a great time and all of our guides were amazing. I know it is not manatee season anymore as the gulf water heats up, but we lucked out and got to swim with 4 including a baby on the way to the springs. While the springs themselves were not full of manatee like they are in the cold season, the water was beautiful and crystal clear. On the way back we even saw an alligator swimming, which our wonderful, yet insane guide John jumped in to get some pictures of. Next stop at Homosassa Springs was short, about an hour. The park itself is small but well maintained and mostly shady trails with some really interesting wildlife. We ended the day at Wild Bills for the airboat ride. If you plan on sitting in the front BRING A CHANGE OF CLOTHES. It was such a fun experience, we saw lots of gators and got soaked to the bone. If you don't want to get wet sit in the back of the boat, it's still an amazing time. Thanks for an awesome, stress free day Uncle Dave! Read more Written April 22, 2024
• heathermZ8580ZO 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome experience We had a great day! Dave was an awesome tour guide to each of our destinations. Our manatee swim was an amazing experience and our guide was so fun. Wild Bill's airboat was a perfect way to end the day. Read more Written April 22, 2024
• kylepI9623BP 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 10/10 First time in Florida and this trip was a perfect introduction! So much fun and all the guides were great. Perfect day trip thanks Uncle Dave! Read more Written April 22, 2024
• T6738BVsarahp 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles So much fun! Such a great experience for families! The experience was amazing! We had a blast!! We would have liked to see more manatees but understand time of the year makes a difference in how many are around! Definitely recommend this tour for families! Read more Written April 22, 2024
• 691delian 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic day out with family My family and I went for this tour in the first week of April. The tour is really well organised as you cover 3 experience in one go and the inclusion of the transport is a real plus as you do not need to worry about travelling and parking and you get to see Florida's countryside. The tour delivery was well paced, full of information delivered in a very relaxed and informal way, in line with a proper holidays' mood. The timing was also really convenient for a young family. Pick up was at 8.30 and return was around 5., so you have plenty of time to get ready in the morning and time to relax in the evening. The lunch provided was also both really filling and tasty. Thank you for making our day special. Read more Written April 19, 2024
• sumrrideW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Experience! Go and you'll be smiling. TJ, our skiff pilot, was an incredible host to the river. Great guy, great scenery and GREAT value for the price. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Read more Written April 18, 2024
• cptkremmen 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles There are no manatees I think you need to read a real review of this trip. It comprises 3 parts. Manatee swim,nature park. Wild bill airboat ride 1) manatee swim. This is my big problem. It sounded great but when you get there, it is 1 elderly unwell manatee who doesn’t move. When I politely asked why we did not go where there were more manatees I was told it was not manatee season and there were no more manatees. So it should say swimming no closer than 20 metres from 1 manatee. Not what we were promised at all 2) local nature park. Just that a local open air nature park I had low expectations and it met them 3). Wild bills airboat ride. Superb, 5 stars. Just go on this and forget the rest unless you are travelling in January!! Read more Written April 17, 2024
• toyinm993 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Florida 2024 Dave is a thoughtful guide and drove us from our pick up location to all our destinations. Had sooo much fun snorkelling with the manatees- Hunter is a fantastic tour guide and will put you as ease if your anxious like I was. Not forgetting Chad our boat captain🙌🏾. Finally, we got to also go riding on an air boat at wild Bill’s gator tour which was just lovely! I absolutely will recommend! My 13yr old, 11yr old and 7yr old had an amazing time. It was lovely and educative for myself, hubby and kids😀 Read more Written April 10, 2024
• Passenger58440270421 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best day ever! We went on the manatee, nature park and airboat tour with Real Florida Adventures and it was an absolutely incredible day. We swam with two manatees and saw some breathtaking views at Crystal River. The wildlife at the Homosassa nature reserve was great and Aaron drove our airboat at Wild Bills where we saw at least 10 wild alligators. We had Dave from RFA driving us the whole day and he was very friendly, insightful and great with the kids. Overall a 10/10 day that I'd recommend to absolutely anyone! Read more Written April 10, 2024

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30-Minute Everglades Airboat Tour from Orlando

1-Hour Ultimate Everglades Airboat Tour from Orlando

Wild Florida Adventure + Airboat Tour from Orlando (All-Inclusive)

Book with confidence.

• Handpicked Tours & Activities
• Flexible Cancellation
• No Hidden Fees!
• Worry-Free Experience

1-407-900-0210

[email protected]

We’re Available

Monday-Friday From 8 am – 6 pm (EST)

Saturday-Sunday From 10 am – 2 pm (EST)

• Approx. 11 Hours
• Free Cancellation
• Admission Ticket
• Roundtrip Transportation

Trip Details

Step off the beaten path and discover the real Florida! Experience the ultimate Kennedy Space Center tour and airboat ride from Orlando with roundtrip transportation. Get ready for a full day of excitement as you journey into the Central Florida Everglades on a thrilling 30-minute airboat tour. At your next stop Kennedy Space Center, get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go inside NASA’s launch headquarters, see Space Shuttle Atlantis, and more!

Trip Highlights

• Visit Wild Florida Wildlife & Nature Park
• Take an airboat ride through the Everglades Activity lasts approx. 30-minutes
• Admission to Kennedy Space Center
• See the Rocket Garden, Space Shuttle Atlantis & more
• Experience the Deep Space Launch Complex
• Touch a piece of Moon Rock
• Convenient pickup and drop-off locations in Orlando

Trip Includes

• Free Cancellation May be canceled or changed up to 24 hours prior to departure
• Partially Guided
• No Hidden Fees! Sales Tax is included in all prices

Trip Excludes

• Optional Gratuities
• Meals & Beverages

After pickup from your selected location, take a short 45-minute drive from Orlando to the Central Florida Everglades. Your first stop of the day is Wild Florida Wildlife & Nature Park , where you’ll get an in-depth look at the beauty of Florida’s wetlands.

At this locally owned nature preserve, you’ll embark on a thrilling 30-minute airboat ride through St Johns River. Get the chance to journey into 4,200 acres of untouched wilderness, protected swamps, marshes, and rivers that make up the Everglades ecosystem. Along the way, your expert guide will point out native plants, flowers, birds, and other natural wildlife like alligators.

Your next visit is Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Complex for an afternoon of excitement! Here, you’ll have approximately 6.5 hours to explore previously restricted areas, walk under the massive Saturn V rocket, and even meet an astronaut from outer space! Explore the Heroes & Legends exhibit featuring the Astronaut Hall of Fame where you’ll find American heroes of the Last Frontier. See the largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia and space artifacts ever assembled.

At the Observation Gantry , get a bird’s-eye view of the space shuttle launch pads. Stop by the Apollo/Saturn V Center to see a real rocket and touch a piece of moon rock! You can even watch IMAX movie screenings of Hubble 3D, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, or Space Station 3D, which takes you on a virtual trip to the International Space Station.

Inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit , see the legendary spacecraft, Atlantis. More than 60+ interactive experiences highlight the people and passion behind NASA’s space program that launched the Hubble Space Telescope and built the International Space Station. Find out what it’s like to be a real astronaut! Take the helm at the shuttle cockpit and experience the sensation of floating in space as you strap in for a simulated shuttle launch.

At the Deep Space Launch Complex – Gateway , which opened in May 2022, you can explore the future of space travel. Discover the futuristic prototypes of cutting-edge innovations for space exploration from NASA and their commercial partners. Then, enter the spaceport of the future and launch aboard one of four unforgettable journeys on an immersive experience through deep space.

Once your day comes to an end, and you’ve experienced all the fascinating attractions that Kennedy Space Center has to offer, hop onboard the shuttle bus for a relaxing ride back to Orlando.

Depart & Return Orlando

8:30 am to 7:30 pm

Trip Duration

Approx. 11-hours

Pickup & Drop-off Locations

(Google Maps)

7:00 am – Charley’s Steak House (2901 Parkway Blvd, Suite 1A, Kissimmee, FL 34747)

7:10 am – Walt Disney World Swan (1200 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830)

7:20 am – Golden Corral Buffet & Grill at Lake Buena Vista (8707 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821)

7:35 am – Loews Royal Pacific Resort (6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, FL 32819)

7:50 am – Avanti Palms Resort & Conference Center (6515 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819)

8:00 am – ICON Park (8375 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819)

How long do orders take to process?

Orders typically take 1-2 Business Days to process. You’ll receive an email confirmation once your order has been received. A final confirmation will be sent with your ticket voucher once the booking is confirmed.

Can I change or cancel my order?

Most of the activities on our website can be changed or canceled up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure date. However, a select few are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please refer to the Trip Details , or contact us for questions regarding a specific activity.

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Yes. The person who placed the order must be present on the day of the activity. The credit card holder is required to show a valid photo ID and a matching ticket voucher. Otherwise, entry will not be permitted.

Can I book a trip for someone else?

If you would like to book a trip for someone and you will not be present on the day of the activity, you must submit a Credit Card Authorization Form and a copy of your valid photo ID and credit card for verification.

What should I bring on the day of my tour?

We recommend packing a day bag with your swimsuit, towels, a change of clothes, snacks, water, and sunscreen. Closed-toed shoes may be required for certain activities.

What time do I need to be at the pickup spot?

Please arrive at least 10-15 minutes before the pickup time indicated at checkout or on your confirmation email/tour voucher. 

Can I park my car at the pickup location?

Yes. Most of the pickup locations allow free car parking and are easily distinguishable. If you park at any of the Walt Disney World Resorts or Universal Orlando Resorts, there will be an additional fee for parking.

What if I need help on the day of the trip?

If you need help on the day of your scheduled activity, or you need to contact the tour operator for any reason, please contact the phone number listed on your ticket voucher. 

Are tour vehicles wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair- and scooter-accessible vehicles are available upon request. Any passenger requiring an ADA-accessible vehicle must inform us at least 2 Business Days prior to departure. 

What languages are available?

All of our tours are guided in English. Other languages may be available upon request for groups. Please contact us to inquire about tours in other languages.

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SpaceX rocket launch doubleheader: Where to watch from Daytona, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill

In volusia county, immediately north of kennedy space center and cape canaveral, the best views to watch a rocket launch is along the beach..

Day or night, watching a rocket launch on the beach is so Florida. But can someone Volusia County see a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral ?

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes. We have suggestions on where and how to watch a rocket launch from Ormond Beach to Oak Hill below if you keep scrolling.

Is there a rocket launch in Florida today? Rocket launch calendar for Florida

Here's what we know about the rocket launch missions, mentioned in  FLORIDA TODAY's rocket launch calendar  for the month, which is updated frequently. (Check that link often for rocket launch times and dates because they are routinely subject to change for a variety of reasons.)

FLORIDA TODAY, a USA TODAY Network-Florida newspaper, provides interactive launch coverage at  floridatoday.com/space  with frequent updates on launches at least 90 minutes in advance, sometimes longer, depending on the mission. For questions or comments, email  Space Reporter Rick Neale  at [email protected] or tweet him  @rickneale1  on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. You also can contact Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at [email protected] or tweet her @brookeofstars on X or Instagram .

When is the next rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center, Florida? Saturday, April 27: SpaceX Galileo satellites

Though SpaceX has not publicly announced this mission, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows this launch window will open Saturday, April 27, 2024.

• Mission:  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch Galileo satellites for the European Space Agency's global navigation system from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
• Launch window:  8:29 p.m. to 9:11 p.m. EDT Saturday, April 27, 2024
• Location:  Launch pad 39A
• Live coverage:  Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at  floridatoday.com/space .

Is there a rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida? Sunday, April 28: SpaceX Starlink

Though SpaceX has not publicly announced this mission, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows this launch window will open Sunday, April 28, 2024.

• Mission:  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Launch window:  5:50 p.m. to 10:21 p.m. EDT Sunday, April 28, 2024
• Location:  Launch Complex 40
• Trajectory:  Southeast
• Local sonic boom:  No
• Booster landing:  Drone ship out on the Atlantic Ocean

Where can I watch SpaceX rocket launches online?

If you want to watch live rocket launch coverage,  FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team  will provide updates at  floridatoday.com/space , starting about 90 minutes before launch time. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

Where can I see a rocket launch in Volusia County , Florida?

In Volusia County, immediately north of Brevard County — home to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — you can get a great view of a SpaceX, NASA or United Launch Alliance rocket launch.

The best views to watch a rocket launch from here is along the beach. Look due south. Readers have also mentioned seeing a rocket launch from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. Here are some recommended spots:

•  South New Smyrna Beach  (Canaveral National Seashore), there may be parking costs. New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sandy beaches. An eclectic and quaint beach town, despite its reputation as the "Shark Bite Capital of the World," New Smyrna Beach has always been a haven for surfers who come for the waves.

Dinner and a launch: Perfect for a SpaceX or NASA rocket launch, best waterfront restaurants in Volusia County

•  Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park , 6656 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Bethune Beach, which is 3.5 miles south of New Smyrna Beach and one mile north of the Apollo Beach entrance to Canaveral National Seashore Park, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, showers and nearly 800 feet of beachfront sidewalk,  according to Volusia County's site . The nearby riverside park area is across South Atlantic Avenue with tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball and volleyball courts, playground, fishing pier and restrooms. The river by the park can be a great viewing spot for manatees, dolphins and pelicans.

•  Apollo Beach  at  Canaveral National Seashore  (south of New Smyrna Beach). Canaveral National Seashore runs along Florida's East Coast in Volusia County and Brevard County. To access Apollo Beach, take Interstate 95 to exit 249, then travel east until it turns into State Road A1A. Follow SR A1A south to the park entrance.

•  Oak Hill riverfront  is the  southernmost city in South Volusia County .

•  Sunrise Park , 275 River Road, Oak Hill

•  Goodrich's Seafood and Oyster House  back deck, 253 River Road, Oak Hill

•  Seminole Rest national historic site , 211 River Road, Oak Hill

•  Riverbreeze Park , 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill

•  Mary Dewees Park , 178 N. Gaines St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a rental building,playground, baseball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, outdoorrestrooms, pavilions, picnic areas and grills.

•  Nancy Cummings Park , 232 Cummings St., Oak Hill. Facilities include a playground, baseball field, basketball courts, outdoor pavilion and restrooms.

•  Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park , 275 River Road, Oak Hill. This location has about 350 feet of beautifully restored shoreline, according to the city of Oak Hill online. Facilities include a pavilion, picnic tables and kayak launching facilities.

•  A.C. Delbert Dewees Municipal Pier , 243 River Road, Oak Hill. Facilities include a520-foot observation pier with two covered decks and seating, the city of Oak Hill site states.

•  Bird Observation Pier  on River Road across from A.C. Delbert Municipal Pier (see above). Facilities include a 100-foot observation pier.

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories,  click here .) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or  [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1

Science | Space Coast launch schedule

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Upcoming missions from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral

The Space Coast set a new launch record in 2023 with 72 orbital missions from either Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The pace of launches could ramp up by the end of 2024 to a near twice-weekly rate with as many as 111 missions possible.

Check back for the latest information on upcoming launches.

By The Numbers:

2024: 30 Space Coast launches in 2024 (updated April 23) | 21 from Cape Canaveral, 9 from KSC | 28 from SpaceX (28 Falcon 9s), 2 from ULA (1 Vulcan, 1 Delta IV Heavy) | 2 human spaceflight ( Ax-3 , Crew-8 )

2023: 72 Space Coast launches in 2023 | 59 from Cape Canaveral, 13 from KSC | 68 from SpaceX (63 Falcon 9s, 5 Falcon Heavy), 3 from United Launch Alliance (1 Delta IV Heavy, 2 Atlas V), 1 from Relativity Space | 3 human spaceflights ( Crew-6 , Ax-2 , Crew-7 )

Details on past launches can be found at the end of file.

April 23 (Delayed from April 22): SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-53 mission carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:17 p.m. This was the 30th Space Coast launch of the year, with all but two coming from SpaceX. It also marked the 300th successful recovery of a first-stage booster among Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Of note, the launch came 16 minutes ahead of a Rocket Lab launch from New Zealand. Read more .

April 28: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-54 mission carrying Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 during four-hour window from 5:50-9:50 p.m.

May 6: (Delayed from July 21, 2023; April 22, 2024): Boeing CST-100 Starliner atop United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 at 10:34 p.m. on the Crew Flight Test (CFT) carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on an eight-day mission to the International Space Station followed by a parachute-and-airbag-assisted ground landing in the desert of the western United States. Read more .

TBD, 2nd quarter of 2024: United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur on Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41. The Vulcan first-stage received its 2nd of two Blue Origin BE-4 engines by April 17, and the Dream Chaser is on its final round of testing at NASA’s Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio that began in March and continued through mid-April before it will be shipped to Kennedy Space Center. Support equipment arrived April 17 to KSC’s Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) ahead of its arrival. Read more .

June 25: SpaceX Falcon Heavy on its 10th launch ever with payload of the GOES-U satellite for the NOAA from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39-A.

No earlier than mid-August 2024: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Crew-9 mission. Crew is NASA astronauts Zena Cardman making her first flight and the 10th of 11 members of the Turtles to fly to space; pilot Nick Hague making his third flight including one mission abort from Russia, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson, who flew three times on Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-121, STS-120, and STS-131 logging 42 days in space, and Roscomos cosmonaut and mission specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov, making his first trip to space.

October 2024: SpaceX Falcon Heavy on the Europa Clipper mission to travel 1.8 billion miles to investigate Jupiter’s moon Europa to determine whether there are places below Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, that could support life. The mission’s detailed investigation of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.

No earlier than October 2024: Axiom Space was awarded the right to fly Axiom-4. No crew has been announced, but NASA requires it to be commanded by a former NASA astronaut with experience on the space station such as the Ax-1, Ax-2 and Ax-3 commanders. The commercial flight brings four crew for a short stay on the ISS. This mission is targeting a 14-day stay, and will fly up with one of the SpaceX Crew Dragons. The launch date is dependent on spacecraft traffic to the ISS and in-orbit activity planning and constraints that have to be coordinated with NASA.

UPCOMING: TBD IN 2024

TBD, early 2024: United Launch Alliance Atlas V on USSF 51 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41.

TBD, Summer 2024 (Delayed from summer 2023): Polaris Dawn mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 topped with the Crew Dragon Resilience from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A. The private orbital mission will bring billionaire Jared Isaacman to space for a second time after 2021′s Inspiration4 mission. It’s the first of up to three planned Polaris missions, and will feature a tethered spacewalk. Also flying are Scott Poteet, given the title of mission pilot, specialist Sarah Gillis, and specialist and medical officer Anna Menon. Both Gillis and Menon are SpaceX employees. Read more .

TBD, 2nd half of 2024: United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur on first of four planned Department of Defense mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41. Dependent on ULA completing both Certification 1 and Certification 2 flights.

TBD, 2nd half of 2024: United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur on second of four planned Department of Defense mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41.

TBD, 2nd half of 2024: United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur on third of four planned Department of Defense mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41.

TBD, 2nd half of 2024: United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur on fourth of four planned Department of Defense mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41.

TBD: First launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. On the Space Force manifest for September 2024, according to Space Force officials.

November 2024: SpaceX Falcon Heavy flying Astrobotic’s Griffin lunar lander as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. It will include NASA’s Artemis lunar rover, the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, which will explore the relatively nearby but extreme environment of the moon in search of ice and other potential resources. This mobile robot will land at the south pole of the moon in late 2024 on a 100-day mission. The critical information it provides will teach us about the origin and distribution of water on the moon and help determine how to harvest the moon’s resources for future human space exploration.

December 2024: Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 with the company’s second Nova-C lander featuring NASA’s PRIME-1 drill, to land a drill and mass spectrometer near the south pole of the moon in order to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples. Also flying is the Lunar Trailblazer, a mission selected under NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program, a small satellite designed to provide an understanding of the form, abundance, and distribution of water on the moon, as well as the lunar water cycle.

UPCOMING: TBD IN 2025

TBD, no earlier than early 2025: Boeing Starliner-1 on ULA Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Launch Complex 41. NASA astronauts Scott Tingle and Mike Fincke will be commander and pilot, respectively. This Starliner previously flew on Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test-2 mission. Depending on data from CFT mission, this could become SpaceX Crew-10 mission.

September 2025: NASA Artemis II mission to send four crew on 8-day orbital mission to the moon from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-B. Read more .

UPCOMING: TBD IN 2026

September 2026: NASA Artemis III mission to send four crew on lunar landing mission to the moon from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-B. Read more .

LAUNCHED IN 2024

Jan. 3: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Ovzon 3 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:04 p.m. This was the first launch of 2024. The 3,968-pound Ovzon 3 satellite is the first privately funded and developed Swedish geostationary satellite ever to be launched, headed for a geostationary transfer orbit where it will then propel itself to its geostationary orbit over 3-4 months at 59.7 degrees east at 22,236 miles altitude. The first-stage booster flew for the 10th time with a recovery landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

Jan. 7: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-35 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:35 p.m. The first-stage booster made its 16th flight having previously flown on two crewed and two cargo missions to the International Space Station among others. It managed its recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. Read more .

Jan. 8 (Delayed from May 4, Dec. 24-26): First-ever launch of United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur on Certification-1 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 at 2:18 a.m. Primary payload was commercial company Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander headed to the moon. Also flying will be another human remains payload for Celestis Inc., this time brining the ashes of more than 200 people to space including “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and actor James Doohan who played “Scotty” on the TV series. Read more .

Jan. 14 (Delayed from Jan. 13): SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-37 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 with 23 Starlink satellites at 8:52 p.m. The first-stage booster flew its 12th mission and with a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. This was the fourth launch from the Space Coast in 2024. Read more .

Jan. 18 (Delayed from Jan. 17): SpaceX Falcon 9 with a Crew Dragon Freedom for Axiom Space’s Axiom-3 mission launched at 4:49 p.m. from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A. The crew includes one astronaut each from Italy, Turkey and Sweden while the mission is led by Axiom’s chief astronaut Michael López-Alegría who is making his sixth trip to space. The customers are Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, who will act as pilot. In the two mission specialist roles are Alper Gezeravcı of Turkey and ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden. All three have served in their respective nations’ air forces. The commercial flight brings four crew for a short stay on the ISS. This mission is targeting a 14-day stay with docking planned for Saturday at 5:15 a.m. The first-stage booster made a landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

Jan. 28: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-38 mission with 23 Starlink satellites at 8:10 p.m. liftoff on a southerly trajectory from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A. The first-stage booster made its 18th flight, with past missions including the crewed flights of Inspiration4 and Ax-1, and had a recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. Read more .

Jan. 30: SpaceX Falcon 9 with Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft on the NG-20 mission to resupply the International Space Station at12:07 p.m.. This was the first ISS launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40, which SpaceX has been redeveloping to support future crewed missions in addition to KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A. This was the first of at least three SpaceX flights of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft as part of a deal after its 10-year run of launches atop Antares rockets ended with the Aug. 1 launch from Wallops Island, Virginia because of issues with Russian- and Ukrainian-made rocket engines and first stage parts that are being redeveloped with Firefly Aerospace for a future Antares rocket not expected until at least 2025. Following launch, the space station’s Canadarm2 will grapple Cygnus no earlier than Thursday, Feb. 1, and the spacecraft will attach to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading by the Expedition 70 crew. The first-stage booster made its 10th flight and returned for a touchdown at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

Feb. 8 (Delayed from Feb. 6, 7): NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:33 a.m. PACE will advance the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web, as well as clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. The first-stage booster flying for the fourth time made a recovery landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

Feb. 14: A SpaceX Falcon 9 on the USSF-124 mission launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:30 p.m. Payloads included two satellites for the Missile Defense Agency to track hypersonic missiles and four more satellites for the Tranche 0 constellation for the Space Development Agency. The first-stage booster flew for the seventh time with a recovery landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 2. Read more .

Feb. 15 (Delayed from Nov. 14, Jan. 12, Feb. 14): SpaceX Falcon 9 for the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission with the company’s Nova-C lunar lander Odysseus from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 1:05 a.m. This could end up being the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission to land on the moon after the failure of Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander. The IM-1 has a suite of six NASA payloads as part of a CLPS delivery and another six privately organized payloads. Landing would take place Feb. 22. Read more .

Feb. 20: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Merah Putih 2 mission, a communications satellite for Telkom Indonesia, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 at 3:11 p.m. into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. This was the 11th launch from the Space Coast in 2023 and 300th successful Falcon 9 launch since its debut in 2010, having only had one mid-launch failure in 2015. This was the 17th launch of the first stage booster, and it made a recovery landing downrange on the Just Read the Instructions droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

Feb. 25 (delayed from Feb. 24): SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-39 mission sending up 24 Starlink satellites launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:06 p.m. This was the 12th launch from the Space Coast in 2024. The first-stage booster for the mission flew for the 13th time and made a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. Read more .

Feb. 29: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-40 mission with 23 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 10:30 a.m. This was the 13th launch from the Space Coast in 2024. The first-stage booster for the mission flew for the 11h time and made recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions downrange in the Atlantic. Read more .

March 3 (delayed from Feb. 22, 28, March 1, 2): SpaceX Crew-8 on Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A  at 10:53 p.m. Bad weather on the ascent corridor took the first three launch options on March 1 and 2 off the table. It’s the eighth SpaceX operational mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Its four crew members are NASA astronauts Commander Matthew Dominick, Pilot Michael Barratt, Mission Specialist Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Alexander Grebenkin. They flew up in the Crew Dragon Endeavour making its fifth trip to space. The first-stage booster made its first flight. The mission had originally been targeting Feb. 22, but that was the target day for the Intuitive Machines attempt to land on the moon, and NASA chose to move the launch to “deconflict” NASA support operations that day. Read more .

March 4: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-41 mission sending up 23 more Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:56 p.m. The first stage booster flew for the 13th time and made a recovery landing on the droneship  A Shortfall of Gravitas. Read more .

March 10: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-43 mission sent up 23 more Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:05 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for the 11th time with a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions downrange in the Atlantic. This was the 16th launch from the Space Coast in 2024. Read more .

March 15 (Delayed from March 13, 14): SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-44 mission sending up 23 more Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 8:21 p.m. after scrubbing launches on both Wednesday and Thursday with about 2 minutes on the countdown clock. The booster flew for a record-tying 19th time and made a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. Read more .

March 21: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the CRS-30 resupply mission with a Cargo Dragon to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 4:54 p.m. This was the first Dragon launch from SLC-40 since the addition of a crew access arm to support Dragon launches from more than one Space Coast pad and augment normal launches from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A. The first-stage booster made a recovery landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

March 23 (delayed from March 22):  SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-42 mission sending up 23 more Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 11:09 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for 19th time.

March 25: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-46 mission sending up 23 more Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:42 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for the eighth time and landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship.

March 30: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Eutelsat-36X mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 5:52 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for the 12th time with a landing on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This was 20th SpaceX launch from the Space Coast in 2024 and 21st among all companies. Read more .

March 30: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-45 mission carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 9:30 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for the 18th time with a landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

April 5: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-47 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:12 a.m. The first-stage booster flew for the 14th time landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. It was the 275th recovery of a Falcon 9 booster for SpaceX. Read more .

April 7: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the the Bandwagon-1 mission from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39-A at 7:16 p.m, The first-stage booster flew for the 14th time and made a recovery landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit. This is the first of a new type of rideshare program flying to that orbit that augments SpaceX’s Transporter program that flies to SSO. Read more .

April 9 (Delayed from March 28): United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy on the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37 at 12:53 p.m. This was the final Delta IV Heavy rocket launch ever, and last of any Delta rocket, which has been flying for more than 60 years. The Space Force has one more launch on a ULA Atlas V rocket before future missions transition to ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur. Read more .

April 10: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-48 mission carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:40 a.m. The first-stage booster made its second flight with a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.

April 12: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-49 mission carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 9:40 p.m. The launch set a turnaround record for launches from SLC-40 at two days and 20 hours since the Aug. 10 launch. The previous record was Aug. 3-6, 2023 at three days, 21 hours, 41 minutes. The first-stage booster also flew for a record 20th time making a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. Read more .

April 17: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-51 mission with 23 Starlink satellites launched from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 5:26 p.m. The first-stage booster made its 12th flight and landed downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions. Read more .

April 18: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-52 mission carrying 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:40 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for the seventh time and made a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. Read more .

LAUNCHED IN 2023

Jan. 3: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Transporter-6 mission carrying 114 payloads for a variety of customers blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 9:56 a.m. Read more .

Jan. 9: A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off carrying 40 satellites for OneWeb at 11:50 p.m. Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. Read more .

Jan. 15: The fifth-ever flight of SpaceX’s powerhouse Falcon Heavy rocket lifted off at 5:56 p.m. from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A on a mission for the Space Force dubbed USSF-67. Read more .

Jan. 18: A SpaceX Falcon 9 on the GPS III Space Vehicle 06 mission for the Space Force rose through the pink, orange and blue horizon at 7:24 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. Read more .

Jan. 26: SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 5-2 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 launched at 4:32 a.m. sending up 56 Starlink satellites. Read more .

Feb. 2: Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-3 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A at 2:43 a.m. 200th successful flight of Falcon 9 on mission to send up 53 Starlink satellites. Read more .

Feb. 6: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Amazonas-6 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 lifted off at 8:32 p.m. Payload is communications satellite for Hispasat known also as the Amazonas Nexus. Read more .

Feb. 12: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-4 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 launched 55 Starlink satellites at 12:10 a.m. This set a then-record turnaround between launches from the same pad for SpaceX coming just five days, three hours, and 38 minutes since the Feb. 6 launch.  Read more .

Feb. 17: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Inmarsat’s I-6 F2 satellite launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 at 10:59 p.m. The second of six planned communication satellite launches, the first of which came in 2021 with the final coming by 2025. Read more .

Feb. 27: SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 6-1 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:13 p.m. carrying 21 of the second-generation Starlink satellites. Read more .

March 2: Crew-6 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launching Crew Dragon Endeavour from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39-A at 12:34 a.m. A Feb. 27 attempt was scrubbed with less than three minutes before liftoff. Flying were NASA astronauts mission commander Stephen Bowen and pilot Woody Hoburg, United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, heading to the International Space Station for around a six-month stay. It’s the sixth SpaceX operational mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Read more .

March 9: A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off carrying 40 satellites for OneWeb launched at 2:13 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. The first-stage booster flew for the 13th time landing at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

March 14: After arrival of Crew-6 and departure of Crew-5 to make room for a cargo Dragon, SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a cargo Dragon spacecraft on CRS-27, the 27th resupply mission to the International Space Station from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A at 8:30 p.m. Read more .

March 17: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the SES 18 and 19 mission, a pair of communication satellites set to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. Set a record for SpaceX mission turnaround with launch only four hours and 17 minutes after a Starlink launch from California. Read more .

March 22: Relativity Space Terran-1, a 3D-printed rocket awaiting company’s first-ever launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 16 at 11:25 p.m. While first stage successfully separated, the second stage engine did not get it into orbit. Read more .

March 24: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-5 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:43 a.m. carrying 56 Starlink satellites to orbit. The booster made its 10th flight. Read more .

March 29: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-10 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launched at 4:01 p.m. The booster making its fourth flight landed on Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. Read more .

April 7: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Intelsat 40e mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:30 a.m. Read more .

April 19: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on Starlink 6-2 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:31 a.m. with 21 Starlink satellites. The first-stage booster made its eighth flight with a recovery on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

April 28: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the SES 03b mPOWER-B mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:12 p.m. Read more .

April 30: SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch of ViaSat-3 Americas’ communications satellite from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39-A at 8:26 p.m. All three boosters were expended, so no sonic boom landings. Also flying were payloads for Astranis Space Technologies and Gravity Space headed for geostationary orbits. It’s the sixth-ever Falcon Heavy launch. The launch pad endured a lightning strike on April 27, but SpaceX said the rocket was healthy for the attempt. Read more .

May 4: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-6 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station with 56 Starlink satellites at 3:31 a.m. The first-stage booster making its eighth flight was recovered once again on the droneship called A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

May 14: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 launnched at 1:03 a.m. Read more .

May 19: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-3 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 2:19 a.m. carrying 22 second-gen Starlink satellites. The first-stage booster made its fifth flight and landing on droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in Atlantic.  Read more .

May 21: Axiom 2 mission with four private passengers launched to the International Space Station for an eight-day visit flying on a SpaceX Falcon 9 topped with Crew Dragon Freedom from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A at 5:37 p.m.  The first-stage booster flew for the first time with a return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. This is only the second crewed mission from the U.S. in 2023 following March’s Crew-6 mission. The second Axiom Space private mission to the International Space Station following 2022′s Axiom 1 mission. Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is the mission commander with aviator John Shoffner as pilot and two mission specialist seats paid for by the Saudi Space Commission, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni. Read more .

May 27: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the ArabSat BADR-8 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:30 a.m. The first-stage booster made its 14th flight with a landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. Read more .

June 4: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-4 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 with 22 second-generation Starlink satellites at 8:20 a.m. The first-stage booster made its third flight and was able to land down range on droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean. The launch came 13 years to the day since the first Falcon 9 launch in 2010. It was the 229th attempt of a Falcon 9 launch with 228 of the 229 successful. Read more .

June 5 (Delayed from June 3, 4): SpaceX Falcon 9 on CRS-28 launched a cargo Dragon spacecraft, the 28th resupply mission to the International Space Station from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A at at 11:47 a.m. The first-stage booster made its fifth flight and SpaceX recovered it downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. This is the fourth flight of the crew Dragon, which will be bring up nearly 7,000 pounds of supplies, dock to the station 41 hours after launch and remain on the station for three weeks. Read more .

June 12: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-11 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 with 53 of the company’s internet satellites at 3:10 a.m.  The first stage booster flew for the ninth time with a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

June 18: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the PSN MSF mission to launch the Satria communications satellite for the Indonesian government and PSN, an Indonesian satellite operator. This satellite will provide broadband internet and communications capability for public use facilities in Indonesia’s rural regions. Liftoff was at 6:21 p.m. with the first-stage booster making its 12th flight and once again landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. Read more .

June 22: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy on NROL-68 for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command and the National Reconnaissance Office from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37B lifted off at 5:18 a.m. This was the second-to-last Delta IV Heavy launch with the final one expected in 2024. Read more .

June 23: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 5-12 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 carrying 56 Starlink satellites at 11:35 a.m. The first-stage booster flew for the ninth time and landed on a droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. Read more .

July 1: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the ESA Euclid space telescope mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:12 a.m. The European Space Agency telescope is designed to make a 3D map of the universe by looking at billions of galaxies up to 10 billion light years away across one third of the sky. Read more .

July 9: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-5 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:58 p.m. The booster made a record 16th flight and was recovered again downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.  Read more .

July 15: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 5-15 mission with 54 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:50 p.m. (early Friday scrubbed 40 seconds before launch, and early Saturday option passed over) Booster made a record-tying 16th fligh landing on droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic.  Read more .

July 23: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-6 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 8:50 p.m. carrying 22 of its v2 mini Starlink satellites. The booster flew for the sixth time and made a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.  Read more .

July 28: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-7 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:01 a.m. with 22 Starlink satellites. Booster flew for the 15th time including crewed launches Inspiration4 and Ax-1, and made recovery landing on droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. The launch set a record for turnaround time for the company from a single launch pad coming four days, three hours, and 11 minutes since the July 23 launch. The previous record was set from Feb. 6-12 at five days, three hours, and 38 minutes.  Read more .

July 28: SpaceX Falcon Heavy from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A that launched a telecom satellite for Hughes Network Systems called the Jupiter 3 EchoStar XXIV at 11:04 p.m. The two side boosters were recovered at Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This was the third Falcon Heavy launch of 2023 and seventh overall. Read more .

Aug. 3: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Intelsat G-37 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 1 a.m. The first-stage booster made its sixth flight with a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions. Read more .

Aug. 6: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-8 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:41 p.m. with 22 Starlink V2 minis. The first-stage booster made its fourth flight with another recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. The turnaround time between the Aug. 3 Intelsat G-37 mission and this mission broke SpaceX’s previous record for time between launches from a single launch pad. Previous record was from July 24-28 with a turnaround of four days, three hours, and 11 minutes. This one came in at three days, 21 hours, 41 minutes. Read more .

Aug. 11: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-9 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:17 a.m. Payload is 22 of the V2 mini Starlink satellites. First-stage booster flew for the ninth time with a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. Read more .

Aug. 16: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-10 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 with 22 of the V2 mini Starlink satellites. The first-stage booster made its 13th flight and SpaceX was able to recover it again on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. Read more .

Aug. 26: SpaceX Crew-7 mission on a Falcon 9 launching the Crew Dragon Endurance from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39-A lifted off at 3:27 a.m. liftoff. It’s the seventh SpaceX operational mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Flying are NASA astronaut and mission commander Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut and pilot Andreas Mogensen, mission specialist JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and mission specialist Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. This will be Endurance’s third spaceflight after having been used on the Crew-3 and Crew-5 missions. The launch will use a new first-stage booster. The crew will arrive at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. with hatch opening about two hours later. It will stay docked about 190 days. Read more .

Aug. 26: SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 6-11 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 9:05 p.m. with 22 Starlink satellites. The first stage flew for the third time and landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Aug. 31: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-13 mission carrying 22 of the v2 Starlink minis from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 10:21 p.m. It was SpaceX’s ninth launch of the calendar month matching the record nine launches it had in May. It was the company’s 60th orbital launch of the year. The first-stage booster flew for the seventh time and made a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. Read more .

Sept. 3: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-12 mission carrying 21 of the v2 Starlink minis from Kennedy Space Center’s Space Launch Complex 39-A at 10:47 p.m. It marked the 62nd SpaceX orbital launch in 2023 besting the 61 launches the company performed in 2022. The first-stage booster on the flight made its 10th launch and was able to make its recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

Sept. 8: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-14 mission carrying 22 of its Starlink satellites, flying from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 took off at 11:12 p.m. The first-stage booster made its seventh flight with a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. Read more .

Sept. 10 (delayed from Aug. 29): United Launch Alliance Atlas V on the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 for the National Reconnaissance Office and Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 at 8:47 a.m.. Delayed because of Tropical Storm Idalia. This was the second ULA launch of 2023. SILENTBARKER’s classified mission is to improve space domain awareness to support national security and provide intelligence data to U.S. senior policy makers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. It will provide the capability to search, detect and track objects from space-based sensors for timely custody and event detection. Read more .

Sept. 15: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-16 mission, carrying 22 of its Starlink satellites, flying from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 launching at 11:38 p.m. The first-stage booster for the mission made its fifth flight with a landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. It marked SpaceX’s 65th orbital launch of the year including missions from Canaveral, KSC and California. Read more .

Sept. 19: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-17 mission, carrying 22 of its Starlink satellites, flying from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 launching at 11:38 p.m. This was a record reuse flight for the first-stage booster flying for a 17th time with a recovery landing on the droneship A Short Fall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

Sept.23: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-18 mission, carrying 22 of its Starlink satellites, flying from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:38 p.m. The first-stage booster made a record-tying 17th flight with a recovery landing down range on droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

Sept.29: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-19 mission, carrying 22 of its Starlink satellites, flying from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 10 p.m. The booster on this flight made its 10th launch having flown on CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19 and five Starlink missions. It made a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. This was SpaceX’s 69th launch of the year, its 49th from the Space Coast, 39th from Cape Canaveral and the other 10 from KSC. With only three non-SpaceX flights this year, it was the Space Coast’s 52nd overall. Read more .

Oct. 5: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-21 mission with 22 of its Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:36 a.m.  The booster made its eighth flight with a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean. This was SpaceX’s 70th launch of the year, its 50th from the Space Coast, 40th from Cape Canaveral. With only three non-SpaceX flights this year, it is the Space Coast’s 53rd overall. Read more .

Oct. 6: United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 at 2:06 p.m. Payload was Amazon’s two test Project Kuiper satellites that were set to fly on ULA’s first Vulcan Centaur rocket, but switched to one of the nine Atlas rockets Amazon had previously purchased from ULA as Vulcan had been delayed to no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2023. Read more .

Oct. 13 (Delayed from Oct. 12): A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launched NASA’s Psyche probe into space launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A at 10:19 a.m. The probe was delayed from 2022, and headed for the asteroid Psyche, using a Mars-gravity assist and not arriving until August 2029. Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away. The two side boosters returned for a land landing at Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Read more .

Oct. 13 (Delayed from Oct. 8): SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-22 mission with 22 of its Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:01 p.m. The first-stage booster for the mission is making its 14th flight, and made another recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas down range in the Atlantic. The launch came 8 hours and 42 minutes after the Falcon Heavy launch from nearby KSC earlier in the day. Read more .

Oct. 17: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-23 mission with 22 of its Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 8:36 p.m. This is the first-stage booster made its 16th flight with a recovery landing downrange on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. This marked the Space Coasts’ 57th launch of the year, which matched the total it had in 2022. Read more .

Oct. 21: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-24 mission with 23 of its Starlink satellites launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 10:17 p.m. The first-stage booster made its fourth flight with a recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. This became the record 58th launch from the Space Coast for the year. Read more .

Oct. 29: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-25 mission with 23 of its Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:20 p.m. This was the 59th launch from the Space Coast for the year. The first-stage booster flew for the eighth time and made a  recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed down range in the Atlantic. Read more .

Nov. 3: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-26 mission with 23 of its Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 8:37 p.m. This was the 60th launch from the Space Coast for the year. The first-stage booster flew for a record 18th time and made a  recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed down range in the Atlantic. Read more .

Nov. 8: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-27 mission with 23 of its Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 targeting 12:05 a.m. The first-stage booster made its 11th flight with a landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions downrange in the Atlantic. This was the 61st launch from the Space Coast for the year. Read more .

Nov. 9: SpaceX Falcon 9 with cargo Dragon on the CRS-29 mission to carry supplies to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39-B at 8:28 p.m. It’s the 29th resupply mission for SpaceX with its cargo Dragon filled with 6,500 pounds of supplies for the Expedition 70 crew with an expected arrival to the ISS about 5:20 a.m. Saturday. It includes NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) science experiment to measure atmospheric gravity waves and how it could affect Earth’s climate and the Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration Low-Earth-Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T), a technology demonstration for laser communications among the ISS, an orbiting relay satellite and a ground-based observatory on Earth. The first-stage booster flew for the second time and landed back at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. Read more .

Nov. 12: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the SES O3b mPOWER mission to medium-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40  at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 4:08 p.m. First stage made its 9th flight with a recovery landing on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. Read more .

Nov. 18: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-28 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:05 a.m. with 23 Starlink satellites. First-stage booster flew for the 11th time and landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions This was the 64th launch from the Space Coast in 2023. This launch came hours ahead of the Starship and Super Heavy launch attempt in Texas. Read more .

Nov. 22: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-29 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 2:47 a.m. The first-stage booster flew for the 15th time and landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic. This marked the 65th launch from the Space Coast in 2023. Read more .

Nov. 27: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-30 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40at 11:20 p.m. This was a southerly trajectory launch. The booster flew for the 17th time (3rd booster to do so) and landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions. It was the 66th launch of the year from the Space Coast, 62nd from SpaceX in Florida, and 87th orbital launch from SpaceX including California missions. Read more .

Dec. 2: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-31 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11 p.m. First stage booster flew for the sixth time and landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. It marked the 67th launch of the year from the Space Coast, 63rd from SpaceX in Florida, and 89th orbital launch from SpaceX including California missions.

Dec. 7: SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-32 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:07 a.m. The first-stage booster flew for the ninth time with a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed downrange in the Atlantic. This was the 68th launch from the Space Coast in 2023. Read more .

Dec. 18 (Delayed from Dec. 11, 12, 13) SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-34 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:01 p.m. Read more .

Dec. 23: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-32 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:33 a.m.  This was a record 19th flight for the first-stage booster having flown previously on Crew Demo-2, ANASIS-11, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-3 and 13 Starlink missions. It made a recovery landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions downrange in the Atlantic. This was the 70th Space Coast launch of the year. Read more .

Dec. 28 (Delayed from Dec. 10, 11, 13): SpaceX Falcon Heavy from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A on USSF-52, the third mission for the Space Force, launching the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle on its seventh trip to space at 8:07 p.m. The side boosters flew for the fifth time, previously used on the Psyche mission, two Space Force missions and one commercial flight with another double land landing at Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Read more .

Dec. 28: SpaceX Falcon 9 on Starlink 6-36 mission with 23 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 targeting 11:01 p.m. This was the 12th flight for the first-stage booster with a recovery landing on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic. This was a record turnaround among SpaceX launches from Space Coast launch pads at 2 hours and 54 minutes besting October’s double launch that saw a Falcon 9 launch at CCSFS just eight hours, 42 minutes after a Falcon Heavy launch at KSC. Read more .

Follow Orlando Sentinel space coverage at Facebook.com/goforlaunchsentinel .

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Exploration Meets Education  

Inspire the next generation of space explorers with a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex field trip. Here, your students will launch into a galaxy of fun and learning through authentic NASA science, technology, engineering and math. While Kennedy Space Center's story has a rich history, today it is active as America's multi-user spaceport.

During a field trip, students come face-to-face with Space Shuttle Atlantis ® , explore the massive 363 foot-long Saturn V moon rocket at the Apollo/Saturn V Center , tour NASA's spaceflight operations, interact with immersive simulators and exhibits, and so much more. Additional ways to enhance your field trip include taking a guided bus tour, sitting down for Chat with An Astronaut , downloading the free Space Chase! app, or customizing your visit with the KSC SmartGuide . 

For the health and safety of guests and crew members, some activities may be impacted and new health procedures are in place.

Information:

• A trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a full-day experience.
• There is a 15 students minimum to qualify for a group rate.
• We are unable to accommodate walk-up groups.
• One-week advance reservation suggested; some programs or add-on enhancements require full payment at the time of booking.
• One chaperone for every five students in kindergarten through grade 5.
• One chaperone for every 10 students in grade 6 through 12.

Currently field trips are only available at the visitor complex and cannot be provided virtually.

Space Chase!  App

Space Chase!  Explore & Learn is the mobile learning experience for students before, during and after their school field trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Students use their smartphones to investigate and solve space-related challenges, earning stars for correctly accomplishing tasks. Enhance and extend your field trip with the  Space Chase!  app, now available in the  Apple Store  and  Google Play .

Educational Programs 

In addition to day trips, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex educational programs support the National Science Standards and NASA STEM initiatives. Learn more about the various programs .

Whether you are with a school, homeschool group or another youth group call 1.855.433.4210 from 10 AM to 4 PM EST daily to learn about all of our field trip opportunities.

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