Florida’s Space Coast is bracing for another historic month as the rocket launch schedule coming up in April from Cape Canaveral, Florida promises to be one of the most ambitious in recent memory. Following a record-shattering 2025 that saw 109 orbital rocket launches soar from the Sunshine State, the pace shows no sign of slowing. By the end of March 2026 alone, 22 rockets had already taken flight, setting the stage for a critical month of crewed exploration, national security deployments, and commercial broadband expansion.
Space fans and industry watchers are turning their eyes skyward for a heavy diet of missions, headlined by the highly anticipated NASA Artemis II crewed moon mission. This pivotal flight will send astronauts around the lunar sphere, paving the way for future surface exploration. Alongside NASA’s return to deep space, the manifest includes routine but vital SpaceX Starlink deployments and significant milestones for United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin.
Although the headline-grabbing crewed missions draw the most attention, the operational tempo at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center remains relentless. Logistics, satellite internet constellations, and cargo resupply for the International Space Station continue to drive the daily cadence. Residents and visitors should be aware that dates and times routinely change for a wide variety of reasons, including weather and technical checks.
Artemis II Leads the April Manifest
The month kicks off with high stakes on Wednesday, April 1. NASA is targeting a 6:24 p.m. Launch for Artemis II, with a two-hour window. This mission involves three NASA astronauts and a Canadian astronaut venturing around the moon and back during a 10-day flight. The trajectory is set for East, lifting off from Pad 39B. Unlike some high-energy trajectories, this mission is not expected to produce sonic booms over populated areas.
Following the historic crewed departure, the focus shifts immediately to commercial operations. On Thursday, April 2, SpaceX is scheduled to launch Starlink 10-58. A Falcon 9 rocket will deploy 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 40. The launch window is broad, spanning from 7:52 a.m. To 11:52 p.m., with a northeast trajectory.
Commercial and Cargo Missions
The competition to blanket the globe with broadband internet remains fierce. United Launch Alliance (ULA) is preparing an Atlas V rocket with five solid rocket boosters for the Amazon Leo 5 mission. This launch, which carries the next batch of 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites (previously known as Project Kuiper), has been postponed from Sunday and is now listed as TBA. It will lift off from Launch Complex 41 with a northeast trajectory.
Later in the month, on Friday, April 24, ULA is scheduled to fly Amazon Leo 6, another Atlas V mission carrying 29 broadband satellites from Launch Complex 41. Meanwhile, Blue Origin is gearing up for its next New Glenn rocket launch, no earlier than Friday, April 10. This mission, New Glenn-3, will launch AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellite to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 36, marking Blue Origin’s third launch from the Cape.
Cargo operations for the International Space Station are too on the docket. On Wednesday, April 8, a SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch a Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL spacecraft carrying NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment. This mission, CRS-24, will lift off from Launch Complex 40. Residents should note that sonic booms are expected for this launch.
April 2026 Launch Schedule at a Glance
For those tracking the rocket launch schedule coming up in April from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the following table outlines the confirmed and tentative missions. All times are Eastern Standard Time.
| Date | Mission | Vehicle | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 | NASA Artemis II | SLS | Pad 39B, KSC | 6:24 p.m. |
| April 2 | SpaceX Starlink 10-58 | Falcon 9 | LC-40, CCSFS | 7:52 a.m. – 11:52 p.m. |
| TBA | ULA Amazon Leo 5 | Atlas V | LC-41, CCSFS | Postponed |
| April 8 | Northrop Grumman CRS-24 | Falcon 9 | LC-40, CCSFS | TBA |
| No Earlier Than April 10 | Blue Origin New Glenn-3 | New Glenn | LC-36, CCSFS | TBA |
| April 24 | ULA Amazon Leo 6 | Atlas V | LC-41, CCSFS | TBA |
Looking Ahead: Late April and Beyond
The activity does not stop at the end of the month. Late April features a SpaceX GPS III-8 mission for the Space Force from Launch Complex 40, as well as a SpaceX ViaSat-3 F3 launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Looking further into the first half of 2026, Blue Origin is planning a Blue Moon Pathfinder mission to launch a lunar lander carrying NASA payloads. An uncrewed Boeing Starliner-1 mission is scheduled for no earlier than April to deliver cargo to the ISS, and Sierra Space aims to launch its Dream Chaser space plane atop a ULA Vulcan rocket in the fourth quarter of 2026.
As the Space Coast continues to break records, live coverage for each launch typically begins at least 90 minutes before liftoff. Space enthusiasts are encouraged to monitor official channels for the most real-time updates, as weather and technical requirements can shift even the most solidified schedules.
What mission are you most excited to watch this month? Share your thoughts in the comments below and help us spread the word about the incredible activity on the Space Coast.
