CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the year draws to a close, 2026 is poised to set records as a landmark year for Space Coast, quite literally.

In the coming months, NASA is gearing up for the launch of its most powerful rocket to date, alongside another even mightier contender. One of these monumental launches will carry a crew on a historic mission to the moon.

NASA is determined to place astronauts on the moon before the conclusion of President Trump’s second term, making 2026 a pivotal year in pursuit of this ambitious objective.

Astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch are on the brink of a groundbreaking mission. With Artemis II, they are set to become the first humans to orbit the moon in over five decades, perhaps as soon as next month.

The successful completion of this mission, highlighted by their dress rehearsal on December 20, would set the stage for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land a crew on the moon.

That yet-to-be-named crew’s landing vehicle is the only rocket bigger than the Artemis SLS.

Recently, the Space Force told your Cape Canaveral Community Correspondent James Sparvero that like Artemis II, SpaceX’s Starship could launch at Kennedy Space Center within months.

It would be the first Starship launch in Florida.

[VIDEO: SpaceX wins approval to redevelop historic pad for Starship flights from Florida coast]

2025 was the first year more than 100 rockets launched from the Space Coast.

“The days of old where we were putting up ten, 15, maybe 20 launches in a calendar year are behind us,” Colonel Brian Chatman said.

Chatman, the director of the range and commander of Space Launch Delta 45, told Sparvero triple digits are expected again in 2026.

To support the record pace, upgrades are being made to everything from launch pads, to roads, to communication lines.

“That’s all setting the stage for what we have going forward to be able to support increased capacity and throughput for launch providers out here,” Chatman said.

[VIDEO: Florida draft permit would let Blue Origin send rocket wastewater to Indian River Lagoon]

One of those providers, Blue Origin, is seeking a new permit from Florida’s DEP to release rocket wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon.

A public hearing where you can weigh in on the proposal is now scheduled for Jan. 30 between 4-7 p.m. at the Brevard County UF/IFAS Extension Building at 3695 Lake Drive in Cocoa.