Launch
Atlas 5 launches NASA’s Lucy asteroid mission
An Atlas 5 successfully launched a NASA spacecraft Oct. 16 on a mission to study distant asteroids that may hold clues to the early history of the solar system.
Shenzhou-13 heads for space station after reaching orbit
A second crew of three astronauts are heading for China’s Tianhe space station module after the successful launch of the Shenzhou-13 mission Friday.
Virgin Galactic postpones SpaceShipTwo flight, begins maintenance period
Virgin Galactic will postpone a SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceflight that had been scheduled for this month, electing to instead immediately begin an extended maintenance period for the spaceplane and its carrier aircraft that will further delay the start of commercial flights.
Arianespace launches OneWeb past the halfway mark
OneWeb has contacted all 36 satellites launched from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome Oct. 14, enlarging the broadband constellation beyond its halfway mark toward full deployment next year.
China launches first solar observatory, tests grid fins
China carried out its 37th orbital launch of the year Thursday, successfully sending the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer and 10 other satellites into orbit.
CAPSTONE launch delayed to March 2022
The launch of a NASA cubesat mission that will test the orbit to be used by the lunar Gateway has slipped to next March, the result of broader launch delays Rocket Lab has suffered because of the pandemic.
Blue Origin launches second crewed New Shepard mission
Blue Origin launched Star Trek actor William Shatner and three others into space on a brief suborbital flight Oct. 13, the second crewed flight of the company’s New Shepard vehicle.
India’s PM vows broader public-private space cooperation as OneWeb eyes Indian launches
India's prime minister said Oct. 11 his government will widen cooperation with industry, young innovators and startups to bring about “exponential innovation” in the country’s space sector. OneWeb, meanwhile, signaled its intent to launch its satellites aboard Indian rockets.
Astra prepares for next launch after identifying cause of August launch failure
Small launch vehicle company Astra has identified the cause of an August launch failure and says it will make its next attempt as soon as late this month.
Varda Space selects SpaceX for launch of first space manufacturing satellite
Space manufacturing startup Varda Space will launch its first spacecraft on a Falcon 9 in early 2023 to demonstrate the ability to produce a wide range of materials in microgravity.
Rocket Lab to launch NASA smallsat using SBIR award
Rocket Lab will launch a NASA technology demonstration satellite under an unconventional arrangement as the agency works on a more standardized approach for launching smallsats.
Taiwan’s TiSPACE to try again after launch attempt ends in flames
Launch startup Taiwan Innovative Space Inc.’s quest to field a commercial smallsat launcher suffered a setback last month when a suborbital prototype of a planned orbital rocket caught fire during liftoff.
Japanese carmaker Honda developing reusable rocket for LEO satellites
Honda says its core automotive technologies for combustion, fluid, remote control and guidance will be applied to a rocket it aims to test launch by 2030.
Soyuz delivers cosmonaut and film crew to ISS
A Soyuz spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station Oct. 5 carrying a cosmonaut as well as an actress and director who will film scenes for a Russian movie.
Classified satellite declared lost after China launches twice in 2 hours
The status of a classified satellite launched from southwest China Sept. 27 remains unknown more than 12 hours after liftoff.
Atlas 5 launches Landsat 9
An Atlas 5 successfully launched the latest in the Landsat series of Earth science satellites Sept. 27, continuing a program that started nearly half a century ago.
