Launches & Spacecraft

SpaceX launching powerful Falcon Heavy rocket today for 1st time in 18 months: Watch it live

By Mike Wall published 26 April 26

SpaceX will launch its Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time in 18 months on Monday morning (April 27), and you can watch the dramatic action live.

Russia launches 3 tons of cargo to the International Space Station from Kazakhstan (video)

By Mike Wall last updated 25 April 26

Russia launched its latest Progress cargo ship toward the International Space Station from Baikonur Cosmodrome today (April 25).

Rocket Lab launches Japanese 'origami' satellite, 7 other spacecraft to orbit (photos)

By Mike Wall published 22 April 26

Rocket Lab launched eight Japanese satellites to orbit on Wednesday night (April 22), including one that features an origami-folded antenna.

Blue Origin's huge New Glenn rocket grounded after launch mishap

By Mike Wall published 22 April 26

The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily grounded Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, which failed to deliver a satellite to the proper orbit during its third-ever launch on Sunday (April 19).

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force after rocket swap (video, photos)

By Mike Wall last updated 21 April 26

SpaceX launched a new GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force early Tuesday morning (April 21) — a mission that was originally supposed to fly on a competitor's rocket.

600 rocket landings! SpaceX notches another milestone during Sunday Starlink launch (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 20 April 26

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on April 19. The mission featured the 600th landing of a Falcon first stage.

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.