Air Force Projects More Than 30 Launches From The Region

Florida residents and visitors who want to watch a rocket launch into space should have plenty of opportunities to do so in 2017, as there are as many as 32 potential launches planned from Cape Canaveral this year.

Speaking to the National Space Club Florida Committee, Col. Walt Jackim (pictured), commander of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base in FL, said 2017 will be "just a tremendous year. It's only going to get busier for us."

Col. Jakim's remarks came during his "State of the Wing" speech, according to Florida Today. He said ULA plans seven launches from Florida, the first being on January 19. Orbital ATK will also return to the Cape for an Air Force Mission, bringing new life to a long-dormant Launch Complex 46.

SpaceX has an aggressive schedule of launch activity planned in Florida this year, including the hoped-for debut of the Falcon Heavy rocket. SpaceX will attempt to recover those boosters either on its floating drone barge, or back on land at the space center.

A Falcon 9 may lift off from the historic pad 39A as early as January 26. Launch Complex 40 is still under repair following last September's explosion of a Falcon 9 booster during fueling.

In 2016, the Space Coast saw 23 launches, which was the busiest year in two decades for the Cape.

(USAF image)

FMI: www.patrick.af.mil