Launches & Spacecraft

Rocket Lab launches mystery satellite to orbit for secret customer (photo)

By Mike Wall Published 11 September 26

Rocket Lab launched an Earth-observation satellite to orbit for a confidential customer on Thursday night (Sept. 10), without providing a livestream or many details about the mission.

SpaceX launches classified mission for the US Space Force from California (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 10 September 26

SpaceX launched the secret USSF-153 mission for the U.S. Space Force today (Sept. 10) from California's central coast.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 27 Starlink satellites, lands on ship at sea (video)

By Mike Wall Published 6 September 26

SpaceX launched yet another batch of its Starlink internet satellites today (Sept. 6), sending them up from California's central coast.

Private German rocket makes history, reaches orbit from European soil

By Mike Wall Last updated 5 September 26

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket made history today (Sept. 5), becoming the first vehicle ever to reach orbit from European soil.

India sends Earth-imaging satellite toward geosynchronous orbit in milestone launch (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 3 September 26

India launched an Earth-imaging satellite toward geosynchronous orbit today (Sept. 3) — something it had not previously done successfully.

2 spacecraft headed to Mercury are about to begin their long-awaited arrival for Europe and Japan — watch it live today

By Mike Wall Last updated 3 September 26

The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission will begin its drawn-out Mercury arrival phase on Sept. 3, and you can watch the action live.

China's private, reusable Pallas-1 rocket aces debut launch (video)

By Mike Wall Published 2 September 26

Galactic Energy's new Pallas-1 rocket aced its debut launch on Monday (Aug. 31), successfully reaching orbit. The vehicle's first stage did not attempt a landing, however.

Falcon Heavy brings the heat | Space photo of the day for Sept. 2, 2026

By Brett Tingley Published 2 September 26

An incredible launch photo captures fire spewing from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket during the launch of NASA's Roman Space Telescope on Aug. 30, 2026.

Rocket Lab launches Japanese radar satellite to orbit on 'Owl Around the World' mission (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 2 September 26

Rocket Lab launched a Japanese synthetic aperture radar satellite to orbit on Sept. 2 for Synspective, a Tokyo-based Earth-imaging company.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites to orbit on its 35th flight

By Mike Wall Published 2 September 26

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 27 Starlink satellites from California early this morning (Sept. 2). It was the 35th flight for the rocket's first stage.