Launches & Spacecraft

Watch SpaceX launch advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force early on April 20

By Mike Wall published 19 April 26

SpaceX will launch a new GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force early Monday morning (April 20), and you can watch the action live.

Giant BlueBird 7 mobile phone satellite will be deorbited after faulty Blue Origin launch

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 19 April 26

Blue Origin, the space launch company founded by Jeff Bezos, achieved a successful recovery of its first reused orbital-class rocket, but the payload it put into space was left in the wrong location.

Blue Origin reuses huge New Glenn rocket for 1st time, lands booster at sea — but deploys satellite into wrong orbit (launch video)

By Josh Dinner last updated 19 April 26

The BlueBird 7 satellite will be deorbited.

Blue Origin fires up used New Glenn rocket ahead of landmark reflight (photo)

By Mike Wall published 16 April 26

Blue Origin conducted a static fire test today (April 16) with a flight-proven New Glenn booster, paving the way for a planned launch on Sunday morning (April 19).

SpaceX fires up next-gen 'Version 3' Starship ahead of landmark May test flight (photos)

By Mike Wall published 15 April 26

SpaceX just conducted the first full-duration static fire test with the upper stage of its 'V3' Starship, clearing a big hurdle on its path to launch, which is expected next month.

SpaceX launches huge 'Cygnus XL' cargo ship carrying over 5 tons of supplies to ISS astronauts (video)

By Mike Wall last updated 11 April 26

Northrop Grumman's second "Cygnus XL" cargo ship launched toward the International Space Station on Saturday morning (April 11).

Private German company Isar Aerospace scrubs historic launch try from Norway

By Mike Wall last updated 9 April 26

Isar Aerospace had aimed to launch its Spectrum rocket from Norway today (April 9) but scrubbed the try due to a technical issue.

Crew of tiny worms readies for April 11 launch to International Space Station

By Tereza Pultarova published 9 April 26

A crew of tiny worms will spend six months aboard the International Space Station, helping researchers better understand how long-term spaceflight affects human astronauts.

Atlas V rocket launches its heaviest-ever payload, sending 29 Amazon internet satellites to orbit

By Mike Wall last updated 4 April 26

An Atlas V launched 29 of Amazon's internet satellites — collectively the heaviest load the rocket has ever lofted — on Saturday morning (April 4).

1st results from Blue Ghost lunar lander reveal how much we still don't know about the moon

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 3 April 26

Data from Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander casts doubt on the decades-old view of the moon as divided between a hotter near side and cooler far side.