Rocket Launches

Rocket launches used to be the realm of national governments, but with the rise of private spaceflight companies more rockets are launching into space than ever before. While most rockets launch satellites into orbit, some like Russia's Soyuz, carry astronauts on missions into space. SpaceX's Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner will fly Americans into orbit, while Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin will launch space tourists on short suborbital trips. SpaceX and Blue Origin even land their rockets after launch for later reuse. See news, photos and videos of the latest rocket launches from around the world here. 

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, SpaceX, NASA Space Launch System, Space Tourism, International Space Station

Latest Updates

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket on its Virginia launch pad with a blue sky.

Rocket Lab now aims to launch 1st Electron booster from US soil on Dec. 13

By Tariq Malik published

The commercial launch company Rocket Lab will have to wait a few more days for its first-ever launch from U.S. soil due to bad weather.

A Long March 2D rocket carrying China's Gaofen 5 (01A) satellite lifts off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 8, 2022.

China launches hyperspectral Earth-imaging satellite to orbit (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China continued its rapid pace of space launches with a mission to add new capabilities to the country's Earth observation system.

A view of Earth as seen from the Artemis 1 Orion capsule more than 9 hours into flight on Nov. 16, 2022.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission: Live updates

By Tariq Malik, Elizabeth Howell published

See the latest news about NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission here.

Shenzhou 14 astronauts Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe performed a spacewalk outside China's Tiangong space station on Nov. 16-17, 2022.

China may enlarge its Tiangong space station

By Leonard David published

China may end up enlarging its Tiangong space station and perhaps use it to evaluate technologies needed for possible human exploration of the moon.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 40 OneWeb internet satellites lifts off from NASA's Pad 29A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 8, 2022.

SpaceX launches 40 OneWeb satellites into orbit, aces rocket landing

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched a big batch of OneWeb internet satellites into orbit Thursday evening (Dec. 8) in a stunning sunset rocket launch (and landing).

airplane in front of hanger that says "cornwall" on it

Virgin Orbit delays historic launch from United Kingdom over licensing: reports

By Elizabeth Howell published

Virgin Orbit will wait on making its first-ever launch from the United Kingdom due to delays in obtaining licensing for its mission at Cornwall, according to several media reports.

big moon lander in art, against a hill on the moon. an astronaut stands next to it to show the vast size difference

NASA's new moon lander contest heats up with Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman

By Elizabeth Howell published

There are at least two Human Landing Systems vying for future NASA Artemis missions on the moon, adding on to SpaceX Starship lander approved for Artemis 3 and Artemis 4.

Liftoff of the second Kuaizhou 11 rocket from Jiuquan, northwest China, on Dec. 7 local time, 2022.

Private Chinese rocket reaches orbit 2 years after test-flight failure (video)

By Andrew Jones published

The Kuaizhou 11 rocket, which is operated by the Chinese company Expace, has performed its first successful launch, two years after failing its first test flight.

rocket launching on top of orange flame with steam coming underneath. blue sky in background

SpaceX now targeting Dec. 11 for launch of Japanese moon lander after delays

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX is now targeting Dec. 11 for the launch of a private Japanese moon lander after a series of delays with multiple Falcon 9 rockets.

Artist's illustration of Europe's new Vega C rocket in flight.

Europe's new lightweight Vega C rocket gets a big Earth observation opportunity

By Elizabeth Howell published

Arianespace will launch five Earth missions with Vega C between 2024 and 2026 on behalf of the European Union.

A SpaceX Dragon Endurance capsule in the black of space with a blue Earth below after launch on Oct. 5, 2022.

SpaceX astronaut missions for NASA: Crew-5 updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station for NASA.

Photo of a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launching the NS-20 space tourist mission in March 2022.

Blue Origin space tourist launches: Live mission updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

Blue Origin's next space tourist mission hasn't yet been announced yet. Here are live updates of what we know.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the private Japanese Hakuto-R moon lander stands on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket was supposed to launch on Dec. 1, 2022, but SpaceX is standing down to perform more checks on the rocket.

SpaceX delays launch of Japanese moon lander again, citing rocket issues

By Mike Wall published

For the second day in a row, SpaceX stood down from the launch of Japan's Hakuto-R moon lander to address possible rocket issues. A new target date has not yet been announced.

A Soyuz rocket launches a GLONASS-M navigation satellite from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Nov. 28, 2022.

Russia launches final GLONASS-M navigation satellite into orbit

By Mike Wall published

Russia added another piece to its GLONASS satellite-navigation network on Monday (Nov. 28).

SpaceX fired 11 of the 33 Raptor engines on its Booster 7 Starship prototype during a test on Nov. 29, 2022.

SpaceX fires 11 engines of Starship Super Heavy booster ahead of test flight (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX ignited multiple Raptor engines on a Starship prototype called Booster 7 during a test in South Texas on Tuesday (Nov. 29).

China's Shenzhou 15 mission launches on Nov. 29

China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station for 1st crew handover

By Andrew Jones published

A Long March 2F rocket launched the three-person Shenzhou 15 mission toward the Tiangong space station today (Nov. 29) at 10:08 a.m. EST (1508 GMT).

Shenzhou 15 and its Long March 2F rocket on the pad at Jiuquan spaceport on Nov. 21, 2022.

Watch China launch Shenzhou 15 astronauts to Tiangong space station today

By Mike Wall last updated

China is poised to launch three astronauts to its Tiangong space station on Tuesday morning (Nov. 29), and you can watch the action live.

Tokyo-based company ispace's Hakuto-R moon lander is seen here being readied for its liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which is scheduled for Nov. 30, 2022.

SpaceX will launch Japanese moon lander, UAE rover early Thursday. Here's how to watch.

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Japanese lander and UAE rover to the moon early Thursday (Dec. 1), and you can watch the action live.

Commander Fei Junlong (center), Zhang Lu (left) and Deng Qingming (right) at a Shenzhou 15 pre-launch press conference at Jiuquan on Nov. 28, 2022.

China reveals the 3 astronauts flying on Shenzhou 15 space station mission

By Andrew Jones published

China just unveiled the crew that will launch on its Shenzhou 15 mission on Tuesday (Nov. 29) and spend the next six months in space.

launch screenshot of rocket launching

SpaceX Dragon launches science, solar arrays to International Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft launched science and solar arrays to the International Space Station on Saturday.