Launches & Spacecraft

Unidentified metal spheres found on Australian beach are 'debris from a foreign rocket body', space agency says

By Elizabeth Howell Published 6 July 26

The Australian Space Agency is warning residents of Queensland to be on the lookout after metallic-looking spheres, possibly space debris, appeared on a beach.

1 private spacecraft intercepts another on Space Force's groundbreaking 'Victus Haze' mission

By Josh Dinner Published 3 July 26

A U.S. Space Force mission pitting two satellites against each other has completed the organization's first tactical intercept of an orbital target.

NASA launches rescue mission to save Swift space telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere

By Josh Dinner Last updated 3 July 26

This is the final flight of the historic Pegasus rocket.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink satellites from California

By Robert Z. Pearlman Published 2 July 26

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

SpaceX fires up all 6 of Starship's engines ahead of 13th test flight (video)

By Josh Dinner Published 2 July 26

SpaceX completed a Starship engine test at its Starbase facility recently, igniting all six of the vehicle's engines for a full minute.

Atlas V rocket launches 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites to orbit from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 2 July 26

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched 29 more Amazon Leo internet satellites to orbit from Florida early Thursday morning (July 2).

Rocket Lab aborts launch of Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite at last second

By Mike Wall Last updated 1 July 26

Rocket Lab tried to launch its eighth mission for the Japanese Earth-imaging company iQPS on Thursday (June 30), but the attempt ended in an abort.

Blue Origin starts rebuilding launch pad damaged by New Glenn rocket explosion — and it will look very different when it's done 

By Mike Wall Published 30 June 26

Blue Origin has started rebuilding the launch pad damaged by the explosion of its New Glenn rocket last month, but the company is working from a very different blueprint this time around.

'The start of a new era': Rocket Lab buying satellite-communications company Iridium for $8 billion

By Josh Dinner Published 29 June 26

California-based launch company Rocket Lab has inked a landmark $8 billion deal to acquire long-time satellite communications giant Iridium.

SpaceX launches 15,000-pound SiriusXM satellite to orbit from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 29 June 26

SpaceX launched a big SiriusXM radio satellite to orbit from Florida's Space Coast tonight (June 28).