Cape Canaveral in Florida expects to become the world's busiest spaceport this year with up to 24 rocket launches, said Col. Thomas Falzarano, commander of the Air Force's 45th Space Wing.

In 2014, the Russians were tops with 21 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan but two of these launches failed. In the same year, Cape Canaveral had 18 launches and all were successful.

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Col. Falzarano also said during the National Space Club Florida Committee's meeting in Cape Canaveral that he was delighted to be there since the space business "was picking up".

The 2015 launch lineup will be Cape Canaveral's busiest year since 1992.

The schedule for this year consists of 14 launches for privately held SpaceX and 10 launches for United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin Corporation and The Boeing Company.

For 2016, 36 launches are on the schedule, Col. Falzarano added.

The first launch took place January 10 when a SpaceX cargo ship lifted off for the International Space Station (ISS). It carried scientific equipment, lab experiments, food, water and belated Christmas gifts for the ISS crew.

SpaceX plans four more ISS resupply missions this year and a number of communications satellite launches. On January 29, SpaceX will launch a weather satellite designed to serve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

United Launch Alliance will mainly launch U.S. military satellites this year using Atlas 5 rockets and Delta boosters. SpaceX also plans to enter the military business over the year.

TagsCape Canaveral, spaceport, SpaceX, rocket launch, United Launch Alliance, International Space Station, space exploration, rocket