Launches & Spacecraft

Blue Origin starts rebuilding launch pad damaged by New Glenn rocket explosion — and it will look very different when it's done 

By Mike Wall Published 30 June 26

Blue Origin has started rebuilding the launch pad damaged by the explosion of its New Glenn rocket last month, but the company is working from a very different blueprint this time around.

'The start of a new era': Rocket Lab buying satellite-communications company Iridium for $8 billion

By Josh Dinner Published 29 June 26

California-based launch company Rocket Lab has inked a landmark $8 billion deal to acquire long-time satellite communications giant Iridium.

SpaceX launches 15,000-pound SiriusXM satellite to orbit from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated 29 June 26

SpaceX launched a big SiriusXM radio satellite to orbit from Florida's Space Coast tonight (June 28).

SpaceX sends 24 Starlink satellites into Earth orbit on Falcon 9 launch from California (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman Published 28 June 26

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

Blue Origin plans to fly New Glenn rocket again this year despite massive rocket explosion (video)

By Josh Dinner Published 27 June 26

After its rocket explosion, Blue Origin wants to complete repairs and put another New Glenn on the launch pad before the end of 2026, according to CEO Dave Limp. That's very ambitious.

NASA is paying $30 million for a 1st-of-its-kind rescue mission to the aging Swift telescope before it falls from space. Is it worth it?

By Tariq Malik Last updated 26 June 26

NASA's daring Swift Boost mission launches June 27 to save the nearly 22-year-old Swift observatory , which is being dragged out of space by Earth's atmosphere.

SpaceX's next Starship breathes fire for 1st time in prelaunch test (video)

By Josh Dinner Published 26 June 26

About a month has passed since the first launch of SpaceX's "Version 3" Starship rocket, and the spaceflight company has already begun testing on its next such vehicle.

China plans to double the size of its Tiangong space station while the ISS nears its end

By Andrew Jones Published 26 June 26

China plans to add three new modules to Tiangong along with a co-orbiting space telescope, as the ISS heads for a Pacific splashdown.

Rocket Lab launches 'Ten Owl of Ten' mission, sending up Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite (video)

By Josh Dinner Last updated 26 June 26

Rocket Lab launched the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission from New Zealand today (June 26), adding to Japanese company Synspective's imaging constellation.

Another 'Star' is born: SpaceX names AI megaconstellation 'Starmind'

By Mike Wall Published 25 June 26

SpaceX will call its planned AI megaconstellation "Starmind," continuing the company's stellar naming theme.