Launches & Spacecraft

China launches debut mission of Falcon 9-like rocket with no advance notice (video)

By Mike Wall published 2 June 26

China launched its partially reusable Long March 12B rocket for the first time ever on Monday (June 1), sending it up without issuing airspace closure notices ahead of time.

Unlocking 'the true space age': Impulse Space raises $500 million to build out fleet of ultra-mobile spacecraft

By Mike Wall published 2 June 26

Impulse Space — which was founded by Tom Mueller, SpaceX's first-ever employee — just raised $500 million to build out the ultra-mobile spacecraft that it believes will transform the space economy.

Rocket goes boom, satellite cameras zoom: Explosive Blue Origin damage is visible from space

By Josh Dinner published 1 June 26

Satellites zoomed-in on the aftermath of the New Glenn rocket explosion at Blue Origin's LC-36 launchpad, and the extent of the damage is visible from orbit.

'A pretty significant setback': How Blue Origin's rocket explosion affects NASA's moon plans

By Josh Dinner published 1 June 26

The explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is a big setback for the spaceflight company and will have implications for NASA's plans to return astronauts to the surface of the moon.

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

By Josh Dinner last updated 30 May 26

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched 29 Amazon Leo internet satellites to orbit on Friday night (May 28).

China's Shenzhou 21 astronauts return to Earth after being briefly 'stranded', wrapping up record-breaking mission (video)

By Mike Wall published 29 May 26

China's Shenzhou 21 astronauts returned to Earth on Friday (May 29), wrapping up a record-breaking, and very eventful, space mission.

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites from Florida just hours after Blue Origin rocket explosion (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman last updated 29 May 26

SpaceX launched 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday (May 29), about 12 hours after Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded on a different pad at the site.

Incredible videos show Blue Origin rocket explosion could be seen from hundreds of miles away

By Josh Dinner published 29 May 26

Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket exploded during testing Thursday night, May 28, blasting flames and debris high into the sky in a display visible across wide swaths of Florida.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during prelaunch test

By Mike Wall last updated 29 May 26

Blue Origin's fourth New Glenn rocket exploded during a prelaunch engine test on Thursday night (May 28). It could be a big setback for the company and for NASA's moon ambitions.

What's next for SpaceX's Starship V3 megarocket after its historic debut flight?

By Mike Wall published 28 May 26

SpaceX's "V3" Starship megarocket did pretty well on its debut flight last week. What's next for the powerful next-gen vehicle?