Launches & Spacecraft

Latest about Launches & Spacecraft

An illustration of two satellites with opposing solar panels on either side floating above the glowing blue atmosphere of Earth

US Space Force awards 1st-of-its-kind $52 million contract to deorbit its satellites

By Mike Wall published

"This contract reflects both the value of affordable servicing missions and the technical readiness of the Otter."

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off into the night sky, its bright yellow-white plume lighting its launch pad below.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the NROL-105 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Jan. 16, 2026.

SpaceX launches its 1st national security mission of 2026, sending US spy satellites to orbit

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX will launch its first national security mission of the year tonight (Jan. 16), and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a close-up of a payload fairing atop a rocket as it lifs off from its ocean-side launch pad

Starlink satellites lift off on SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
A black and white photo shows a small rocket launching from the ground

Blast from the past: A rocket history quiz

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Test how well you know the breakthroughs, pioneers, and turning points that shaped modern rocketry.

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off from its launch pad, leaving a large white plume

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites into orbit from Florida (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
An Indian PSLV rocket launches the EOS-N1 military satellite and 15 other payloads on Jan. 11, 2025. It was the first PSLV flight since a failure in May 2025.

Indian PSLV rocket apparently fails for 2nd launch in a row (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

India's PSLV rocket apparently failed Sunday night (Jan. 11) while trying to launch 16 payloads to space. It was the PSLV's first liftoff since a May 2025 failure.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches NASA's Pandora exoplanet mission and about three dozen other payloads from California on Jan. 11, 2025, on a rideshare flight called "Twilight."

SpaceX launches NASA's Pandora exoplanet mission, 3 dozen other satellites (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched NASA's Pandora exoplanet mission and about three dozen other payloads early Sunday morning (Jan. 11) on a rideshare flight called "Twilight."

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Jan. 9, 2026.

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on its 3rd mission of 2026 (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched 29 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast on Friday (Jan. 9), acing its third mission of 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
a tall silver rocket upright in a hangar

SpaceX stacks Super Heavy booster ahead of Starship megarocket's 12th test flight

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX recently stacked the giant Super Heavy booster that will help launch the upcoming 12th test flight of the company's Starship megarocket.

Launches & Spacecraft
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