Launch
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.
RocketStar ready for second suborbital flight attempt
New York-based RocketStar plans to launch its aerospike-powered rocket for the first time this fall, carrying a prototype satellite for resource-mapping startup Lunasonde on a brief suborbital trip.
Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, ULA win Space Force contracts for rocket technology projects
Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance were selected to participate in Space Force development projects to advance rocket engine testing and launch vehicle upper stages.
Next commercial Falcon Heavy mission to launch debut Astranis satellite
Astranis said Sept. 23 that SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket will launch its first commercial satellite in a direct-inject mission to geostationary orbit in spring 2022.
Rocket Lab to launch Astroscale inspection satellite
Rocket Lab will launch an Astroscale mission to rendezvous with a spent rocket stage in low Earth orbit, a prelude to eventually deorbiting the stage.
Tianzhou-3 spacecraft docks with Chinese space station
China's Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft docked in orbit with the Tianhe space station module Monday following launch from the coastal Wenchang launch center.
FAA releases draft environmental report on SpaceX Starship orbital launches
A draft environmental assessment released by the Federal Aviation Administration suggests that SpaceX will be able to proceed with orbital Starship launches from Texas, but with a number of mitigations required.
SpaceX to launch Turksat 6A
Turksat will launch its first domestically built communications satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9, the Turkish government announced Sept. 17.
ABL Space Systems to launch NASA technology demonstration mission
Small launch vehicle developer ABL Space Systems has won a contract to launch a NASA technology demonstration spacecraft in 2023.
China rolls out cargo mission rocket as Shenzhou-12 astronauts leave space station
China is preparing to launch its second space station cargo mission just as its Shenzhou-12 astronauts are set to return to Earth.
SpaceX launches Crew Dragon on first private mission
SpaceX successfully launched a Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying four nonprofessional astronauts on its first private crewed mission Sept. 15, a long-awaited milestone in the commercialization of spaceflight.
OneWeb’s broadband constellation reaching halfway mark
OneWeb is about halfway through deploying its low Earth orbit constellation, after Arianespace successfully launched another 34 satellites for the broadband operator Sept. 14 .
SpaceX launches first dedicated polar Starlink mission
SpaceX launched its first dedicated polar Starlink mission Sept. 13 as the company moves into the next phase of deployment of its broadband satellite constellation.
Potential component defect to delay next Virgin Galactic flight
Virgin Galactic is further delaying its next SpaceShipTwo suborbital flight in order to check a potential issue the company says is unrelated to an ongoing FAA investigation.
SpaceX wins contract to launch weather satellite after ULA withdraws
NASA has selected SpaceX to launch the last in a series of geostationary weather satellites that had previously been launched by United Launch Alliance.
