Top 20 Stories of NASA Kennedy 2025

NASA Kennedy Top 20 Stories of 2025

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida spent 2025 preparing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II, which will send four astronauts around the Moon in early 2026. The center also celebrated milestones in science experiments aboard the International Space Station, solar wind studies, and preparations for future Mars exploration.

January: NASA Kennedy Marks New Chapter for Florida Space Industry

Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro and charter members of the Florida University Space Research Consortium signed a memorandum of understanding to advance research and development supporting NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach.

January: Firefly Launches Blue Ghost Mission One

Firefly Aerospace launched its Blue Ghost Mission One lunar lander on January 15, carrying NASA scientific instruments as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The lander successfully touched down on the Moon on March 2.

February: Intuitive Machines Launches to the Moon

Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 Nova-C lunar lander launched February 26, delivering NASA science and technology demonstrations to the Mons Mouton region of the Moon. The lander reached the surface on March 6.

March: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Launch

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov launched on March 14 to the International Space Station for a five-month science mission.

March: NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH Missions Launch

On March 11, NASA launched the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. These missions will study the history of the universe and the Sun’s corona and heliosphere.

March: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Returns

NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on March 18 after a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station. 

March: NASA Causeway Bridge Opens

The Florida Department of Transportation completed construction of the NASA Causeway Bridge, improving access between Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the mainland.

March: NASA Artemis Teams Complete URT-12

NASA and Department of Defense teams conducted Underway Recovery Test-12 off the coast of California, validating recovery procedures for Artemis II astronauts and the Orion spacecraft.

April: NASA’s SpaceX 32nd Commercial Resupply Mission

On April 21, SpaceX launched its 32nd commercial resupply mission, delivering nearly 6,700 pounds of scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. Continue to NASA for the full story.

July: Artemis III Begins Processing

NASA’s Artemis III SLS engine section and boat-tail were integrated at Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building, streamlining manufacturing and enabling simultaneous production of multiple core stages.

August: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Launches

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov launched on August 1 for a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.

August: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Returns

Crew-10 astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California on August 9, completing their nearly five-month mission.

August: NASA’s SpaceX 33rd Commercial Resupply Mission

On August 24, SpaceX launched its 33rd resupply mission, delivering more than 5,000 pounds of food, science investigations, and equipment to the International Space Station.

August: Orion Tested and Stacked With Hardware

NASA’s Orion spacecraft was integrated with its launch abort system in August, preparing for Artemis II. The system ensures astronaut safety during launch emergencies.

September: NASA Launches IMAP Mission

NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) launched September 24 to study the boundary of the heliosphere and solar wind impacts.

September: Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Mission

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft delivered over 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station.

October: Orion Integrated With SLS Rocket

On October 20, NASA stacked the Orion spacecraft atop the SLS rocket in preparation for Artemis II’s wet dress rehearsal.

November: NASA’s ESCAPADE Begins Journey to Mars

NASA’s ESCAPADE twin spacecraft launched November 13 aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket to study solar wind interactions with Mars’ magnetosphere.

November: NASA and European Partners Launch Sea Satellite

On November 16, the Sentinel-6B satellite launched to measure sea levels, improve weather forecasts, and protect coastal infrastructure.

December: Artemis II Crew Dry Dress Rehearsal

On December 20, Artemis II astronauts conducted a full launch day simulation, including suit-up, walkout, and spacecraft ingress, preparing for their mission around the Moon in early 2026.