Launches & Spacecraft

Latest about Launches & Spacecraft

a camera mounted on the side of a rocket captures the plume from the booster's nine engines as they near cutoff and separation.

Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites before making 550th SpaceX landing

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. The first stage then made the company's 550th landing.

Launches & Spacecraft
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches the "RAISE and Shine" mission from New Zealand on Dec. 13, 2025.

Rocket Lab launches Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit (photos)

By Mike Wall last updated

Rocket Lab launched a Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit from New Zealand on Saturday night (Dec. 13).

Launches & Spacecraft
mosaic of photographs of a tan, rocky asteroid during a flyby by a spacecraft

On this day in space! Dec. 13, 2012: Chinese spacecraft flies by asteroid Toutatis

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell last updated

On Dec. 13, 2012, a Chinese spacecraft flew by the asteroid Toutatis.

Launches & Spacecraft
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Josh Dinner, Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off into the dusk sky adding the warm glow surrounding it ocean-side launch pad

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Florida on worldwide 300th orbital flight of 2025 (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2025. It was the 300th worldwide orbital launch attempt of 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
A large, metal bullet-shaped rocket is carried on a trailer behind a truck.

Rocket Lab's 'Hungry Hippo' passes final test ahead of 1st reusable Neutron rocket launch

By Josh Dinner published

Rocket Lab has signed a contract to launch its new Neutron rocket on a test flight that will advance the U.S. Air Force's point-to-point cargo transportation concept.

Launches & Spacecraft
test

Rocket Lab scrubs launch of Korean disaster-monitoring satellite due to sensor issue

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab will launch a Korean disaster-monitoring satellite today (Dec. 10), and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft
An illustration of a spacecraft with solar panels floating in front of a red planet

NASA's loses contact with MAVEN Mars orbiter on the far side of the Red Planet

By Josh Dinner published

Something happened to the probe on the far side of the Red Planet.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts into the predawn sky, lighting its launch pad and ground below

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from California on 160th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on Dec. 10, 2025. It was the 160th Falcon 9 flight of the year.

Launches & Spacecraft
A Chinese Long March 4B rocket launches the Yaogan 47 satellite to space from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 9, 2025.

China breaks record with 3 Long March rocket launches in 19-hour stretch (video)

By Mike Wall published

China just launched three Long March rockets in less than 19 hours, setting a new national mark for liftoff cadence.

Launches & Spacecraft
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