Launches & Spacecraft

Latest about Launches & Spacecraft

The top of a rocket lifts off amidst a bright orange hue.

SpaceX Starlink mission lands rocket off coast of The Bahamas for 1st time (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink satellites today (Feb. 18) and then landed the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas — a first for the company.

Launches & Spacecraft
A Rocket Lab Electron vehicle launches the first "Gen-3" Earth-imaging satellite for the company Blacksky on Feb. 18, 2025.

Rocket Lab launches sharp-eyed Earth-observation satellite to orbit (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

Rocket Lab launched a high-resolution imaging satellite for the company Blacksky toward low Earth orbit this evening (Feb. 18).

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 15, 2025.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink satellites on record-setting 26th flight (video, photos)

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for the 26th time this morning (Feb. 15), setting a new reuse record for the company.

Launches & Spacecraft
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander captured this photo of the moon shortly after arriving in lunar orbit on Feb. 13, 2025.

Welcome to the moon! Firefly's Blue Ghost lander reaches lunar orbit (video, photos)

By Mike Wall published

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander reached lunar orbit on Thursday (Feb. 13) and snapped some photos to commemorate the milestone.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white space suit with a gold visor next to a four-wheeled, car-like rover on a grey, dusty surface

Meet 'Tansuo' and 'Wangyu,' China's next moon rover and astronaut spacesuit (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China's human spaceflight agency has unveiled official names for a spacesuit and rover to be used in the country's moon landing mission before the end of the decade.

Launches & Spacecraft
fiery smoke rises from below as a tall chrome cylinder stands next to a tower

SpaceX test-fires Starship megarocket and Super Heavy booster ahead of next launch (video, photos)

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX fired up its next Starship and booster for an engine test before the rocket's upcoming launch to space.

Launches & Spacecraft
Blue Origin launches its first New Glenn rocket from Pad 36 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Jan. 16, 2025.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin targeting late spring for 2nd launch of powerful New Glenn rocket

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin aims to launch its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for the second time in late spring, after making modifications designed to help the vehicle's first stage stick its landing this time.

Launches & Spacecraft
a cubic lunar lander on four legs sits on the dusty surface of the moon next to a small four-wheeled rover

Japan's Resilience lunar lander prepares for 1st swing around the moon

By Andrew Jones published

The second lunar lander from Japanese space exploration company ispace is ready for a flyby of the moon as part of its elongated moon landing journey.

Launches & Spacecraft
A white conical vessel with round window near the top stands surrounded by white scaffolding under a dark blue evning sky. Above, a giant, jelly-fish like plume trails a rocket launching through the sky.

SpaceX rocket launch spawns dazzling 'space jellyfish' in evening sky (photos)

By Tariq Malik published

If you saw something strange in the evening sky over California on Feb. 10, we can explain.

Launches & Spacecraft
A black and white SpaceX rocket launches with yellow flowers in the foreground.

SpaceX rocket launches 21 Starlink satellites into orbit, then lands at sea (video)

By Tariq Malik published

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 1:53 p.m. EST (1853 GMT), less than 24 hours after another Starlink flight from California.

Launches & Spacecraft
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