Launches & Spacecraft

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink internet satellites from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Aug. 19, 2026.
SpaceX launches its 100th mission of the year, sends Starlink satellites to orbit (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated

SpaceX launched its 100th mission of the year early Wednesday morning (Aug. 19), sending 24 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit.

Launches & Spacecraft
The first stage of Landspace's Zhuque-3 rocket rests on its landing pad shortly after its historic touchdown on Aug. 18, 2026.
Touchdown! Private Chinese rocket aces landing on 2nd-ever flight (video)

By Mike Wall Published

The Beijing-based company LandSpace landed its Zhuque-3 rocket this evening (Aug. 18), notching a huge milestone for commercial Chinese spaceflight.

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Launches & Spacecraft
a giant black-tiled rocket lays afloat on the ocean with a boat and an island in the background.
Starship lives! SpaceX craft arrives at Christmas Island after 24-day ocean ordeal

By Josh Dinner Published

Starship has earned its sea legs.

7 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
A white Long March 12 rocket lifts off against the backdrop of a rich blue sea.
China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)

By Josh Dinner Published

China's space program has returned to flight after an Aug. 10 Long March 7A rocket explosion, launching both a Long March 12 and a Long March 2C rocket on Sunday (Aug. 16).

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Launches & Spacecraft
Two rockets stand at neighboring launch towers.
Blue Origin adding second pad to Cape Canaveral launch complex amid rocket explosion repairs

By Josh Dinner Published

When life gives you lemons (exploding rocket), make lemonade (a second launch pad).

8 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the classified USSF-366 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Aug. 15, 2026.
New record! SpaceX launches 2 Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart (video)

By Mike Wall Published

SpaceX launched two of its Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart on Saturday evening (Aug. 15), setting a new spaceflight record.

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Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink internet satellites from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Aug. 11, 2026.
SpaceX wraps Starlink double header day with the launch of 24 Starlink satellites from California

By Josh Dinner Published

SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink global internet satellite constellation to orbit from California on Aug. 11, wrapping the second Starlink launch of the day.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink internet satellites from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 11, 2026.
SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video, photos)

By Mike Wall Published

SpaceX launched 29 more of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast today (Aug. 11).

Launches & Spacecraft
A rendering of one of SpaceX's planned "Starmind" AI satellites in orbit.
SpaceX wants to put 1 million AI satellites in orbit. What would that do to Earth's climate?

By Tereza Pultarova Published

Operating a million or more data centers in space would mean a massive increase in air pollution from rocket launches and concentrations of toxic ash from reentering satellites.

30 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches "The Grain Goddess Provides" mission for the Japanese company iqps from New Zealand on Aug. 6, 2026.
'Launching anywhere, anytime and without compromise': Rocket Lab unveils new 'GHOST' portable spaceport system

By Mike Wall Published

Rocket Lab plans to start launching even more frequently and flexibly, thanks to a new portable spaceport system called "GHOST," which packages everything into standard shipping containers.

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Launches & Spacecraft
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