Space Coast to Witness Several Launches and Landings In 2016

Air Force is expecting several rockets from diverse groups to be launched in 2016 from the more launch pads and even a runway compared to 2015. The Space Coast is likely to witness nearly 30 such launches. It will also welcome some space vehicles, including a classified military mini-shuttle’s touchdown, which will be the first for Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Also, in line are attempts by SpaceX to land more Falcon rocket stages, after it successfully landed its first booster on December 21, 2015.

The number of launches that will take place this year cannot be accurately predicted, but the number is likely to reach 30, according to Colonel Eric Krystkowiak, Commander of the 45th Launch Group at the Air Force's 45th Space Wing. This is in excess of the 18 launches that took place in 2015, making it the busiest year since 2009.

“It’s been a while since you kind of think about something flying back towards you that might hurt people and break things. But the community worked together”, he said.

The launches this year will include a maximum of 12 launches by United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and Delta IV rockets to carry highly expensive national security payloads and also a NASA mission for reviving an asteroid sample. The Atlas V rocket is being mounted by ULA to prepare it for its first 2016 mission from Cape Canaveral on February 3, 2016, carrying a Global Positioning System satellite.

Orbital ATK’s Pegasus XL rocket is likely to undertake a launch for NASA in the fall of 2016. Furthermore, SpaceX is planning to have more launches in 2016 compared with seven launch attempts it made in 2015. The SpaceX’s missions will include a series of commercial satellites and carrying cargo to the International Space Station. Air Force’s X-37B mini-shuttle is likely to land on KSC’s former space shuttle runway.