SpaceX is once again redefining the boundaries of commercial spaceflight. With a proposal to ramp up its launch frequency to 120 times per year from Florida’s Space Coast, the company is setting an ambitious new standard for space exploration. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given initial approval for public review, signaling that the expansion is not only possible but likely.
A Bold New Era for SpaceX
SpaceX currently operates out of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where it is permitted to conduct 50 Falcon 9 launches per year. The new plan would more than double this capacity, allowing for up to 120 launches annually—equivalent to one launch every three days. This expansion also includes a new landing zone that would accommodate up to 34 Falcon 9 first-stage landings per year.
The FAA’s draft environmental assessment found that the proposed increase in launch frequency would have no significant negative impact on the surrounding environment. The agency evaluated potential effects on air quality, climate, noise levels, and water resources, concluding that, “Based on the above review … the FAA has preliminarily concluded that the Proposed Action would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment.” This assessment is being conducted in cooperation with the Department of the Air Force, with a public review period open until April 24.
In addition to these changes at SLC-40, NASA is evaluating a separate SpaceX proposal to build a new Falcon 9 landing zone near historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. This would increase launches at that site to 36 per year, including up to five Falcon Heavy missions. The new landing zone would allow for 20 landings, with the rest taking place on drone ships off the coast.
SpaceX’s Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
The proposed expansion is just the latest in a string of SpaceX milestones. The company is aggressively advancing its Starship program, designed for deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars, with ongoing test flights at its Texas launch facility. Meanwhile, its Falcon 9 rockets continue to be the workhorses of commercial spaceflight, launching satellites, cargo, and crew missions with remarkable frequency and reliability.
SpaceX’s ability to maintain such a high launch cadence while consistently landing and reusing rocket boosters has fundamentally changed the economics of space travel. If the proposed increase in launches is approved, it will mark a significant leap forward in making space more accessible and affordable.
SpaceX currently uses both Launch Complex 40 and Launch Complex 39A for manned and unmanned spaceflights. The efficiency of these launch sites was demonstrated when SpaceX launched a Starlink satellite mission just two days before Crew-10’s departure to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 14. This ability to conduct multiple missions within days highlights SpaceX’s growing dominance in the field.
A Rescue Mission That Highlights SpaceX’s Leadership
As SpaceX pushes forward with its expansion, its Crew-10 mission recently underscored the company’s growing importance to NASA and the international space community. Launched on March 14, 2025, this mission carried four astronauts to the ISS to retrieve two NASA astronauts who had been stranded in space for nine months due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were initially meant to return to Earth shortly after arriving at the ISS in June 2024. However, critical malfunctions in the Starliner’s helium system and reaction control thrusters prevented a safe return. Instead of bringing them home, the Starliner was sent back to Earth unmanned, forcing the astronauts to integrate into the station’s Expedition 72 crew until a viable return option could be arranged.
That option came in the form of SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, which launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center and successfully docked with the ISS on March 15. The four new crew members—Commander Anne McClain, Pilot Nichole Ayers, and Mission Specialists Takuya Onishi and Kirill Peskov—will now take over station duties, allowing Wilmore and Williams to return home aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule.
The mission’s commander, Anne McClain, highlighted the importance of strong leadership in space exploration, saying, “Spaceflight is hard, and success depends on leaders of character who choose a harder right over the easier wrong, and who build programs, partnerships, and relationships. We explore for the benefit of all.”
The Future of Spaceflight is Now
The Crew-10 mission represents the tenth operational human spaceflight mission for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. Designed to carry up to seven passengers, the nearly 27-foot spacecraft has become a critical component of NASA’s commercial crew program. This program enables NASA to focus on deep space exploration while relying on commercial partners like SpaceX to handle missions to low Earth orbit.
SpaceX’s success with Crew-10 comes in stark contrast to Boeing’s Starliner program, which has suffered repeated delays and technical failures. The Starliner’s problems forced NASA to extend Wilmore and Williams’ stay on the ISS, but the additional time in space was used productively. NASA announced that the astronauts had completed over 900 hours of research while waiting for their return flight.
The FAA’s initial approval of the expanded launch schedule marks another step in SpaceX’s rapid ascent. If approved, this new launch frequency will further revolutionize the industry, bringing humanity closer to routine, cost-effective space travel. With Starship development accelerating and Falcon 9 launches increasing, SpaceX is not just expanding its operations—it is shaping the future of space exploration.
