Space Coast will likely see more rocket launches in 2016

The Air Force’s 45th Space Wing today will preview how many rocket launches the Space Coast can hope to see in 2016.

Projections at the start of the year are rarely met, but there's a good chance 2016 will beat last year's total of 17 orbital launch attempts.

SpaceX's total of 7 attempts last year was limited by a Falcon 9 failure in June. SpaceX hopes to exceed that number this year with launches from both Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, and United Launch Alliance could launch as many as 12 times from the Cape.

Col. Shawn Fairhurst, the 45th Space Wing’s vice commander, will provide the update on Wing activities and Eastern Range operations to the National Space Club Florida Committee's luncheon meeting at the Radisson Resort at the Port.

The meeting also will present Air Force Capt. John Richmond with the club’s 2016 Forrest S. McCartney National Defense Space Award.

The club is mourning the death last Tuesday of the late McCartney’s wife, a Titusville resident known affectionately as “Miss Ruth.”

Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 or jdean@floridatoday.com. And follow on Twitter at @flatoday_jdean and on Facebook at facebook.com/jamesdeanspace.​

From the Space Notebook. More on this week's notebook below:

SpaceX nears next Falcon 9 launch and landing at sea

Orbital ATK prepping for possible March launch on Atlas V to ISS

Six-hour ISS spacewalk set for Friday

ULA targeting Feb. 3 for Atlas V GPS launch from Cape

Optimistic report for space flowers growing on ISS