DYK: World Space Week is an annual holiday observed October 4-10 by 90+ nations worldwide to honor “each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.” 🚀

Palm trees + out-of-this-word views | Photo by @susangunnphotography

And here in Florida, we obviously have some pretty stellar reasons to join in the celebrations.
From the Sunshine State’s place in space and Polk County soup that made it to the moon, to local astronauts that have all participated in extraterrestrial missions and the economic impact that space travel has on our state, here are a few fast facts that really rock our world, by the numbers. 🌎

$5.9 billion. The economic impact NASA has on Florida. NASA’s Moon to Mars program supports around $2 billion in economic output + supplies jobs to over 10,000.
9. That’s how many astronauts call Florida their home. This includes Wendy B. Lawrence, who was the first woman graduate from the US Naval Academy to fly into space.
72. The miles of beaches along the Space Coast, making it the longest stretch in FL.
15. Apollo 15, that is. When building out the menu for the Apollo 15 journey, Astronaut James Irwin made a special request to the NASA food specialist for Lake Wales’ Chalet Suzanne’s “Soup Romaine” – and it soon became the “unofficial” soup for NASA astronauts.
8. In the 1950s, a rocket named Bumper 8 was launched from FL, making the Space Coast what it is, today. Originally, rockets were launched from New Mexico, but “The Cape” was later selected, due to its proximity to the equator and the East Coast.
17,144+. The number of aerospace-related companies from Florida. This includes Lockheed Martin, which has its own space-ial place in Lakeland, off of Parkway Frontage Rd. Florida also ranks no. 2 in the US for the number of aviation + aerospace companies.
2020. This year, SpaceX + NASA’s Crew Dragon Launch mission carried Astronaut bffs, Bob Behnken + Doug Hurley from Florida to the International Space Station (ISS) – a feat that hasn’t happened on US soil in nearly 10 years.

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