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

747 airplane dropping a small rocket with the curve of earth within view

Virgin Orbit eyes options as it works to generate cash flow: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

Launch company Virgin Orbit is engaging companies for discussions after furloughing most of its staff last week, according to media reports.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 52 Starlink satellites lifts off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 17, 2023.

SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX aced its 18th orbital mission of 2023 on Friday (March 17), launching 52 of its Starlink internet satellites and landing a rocket on a ship at sea.

SpaceX's Starship covered in frost during a landmark fueling test on Jan. 23, 2023.

SpaceX now eyeing April for Starship's 1st orbital launch, Elon Musk says

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's huge Starship vehicle could launch on its first-ever orbital test flight next month, if regulatory approvals come through, Elon Musk said.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the SES-18 and SES-19 telecom satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 17, 2023.

SpaceX launches 2 rockets less than 5 hours apart

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX pulled off a St. Patrick's Day doubleheader, acing two Falcon 9 missions on Friday (March 17).

Virgin Orbit's Boeing 747 carrier plane Cosmic Girl photographed releasing the company's LauncherOne rocket during a July 2019 drop test.

Virgin Orbit pauses operations while it looks for funding

By Mike Wall published

Launch company Virgin Orbit has temporarily halted operations and furloughed most of its employees as it looks for funding, according to media reports.

Insulation tiles fall from a Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the Horus 2 satellite as it rises from the launch pad at Jiuquan spaceport on March 13, 2023.

China launches 2nd Horus remote-sensing satellite for Egypt (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China has launched a second remote-sensing satellite for Egypt, just weeks after lofting the first in the series to orbit.

SpaceX's Starship covered in frost during a landmark fueling test on Jan. 23, 2023.

SpaceX's Starship has 50% chance of success on 1st orbital flight, Elon Musk says

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's huge new Starship vehicle has a roughly 50% chance of success on its debut orbital mission, which could lift off in the next month or so, Elon Musk said.

Image of presentation slide at the Space City Leicester launch event at the National Space Centre (UK).

UK launches Space City Leicester to push into the final frontier

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

A UK 'Space City' cluster has been established in Leicester, creating one of the biggest Enterprise Zones for space-related activities in the U.K.

A Long March 4C rocket carrying the Tianhui 6 A and B satellites lifts off from Taiyuan spaceport on March 9 (UTC), 2023.

China launches pair of mysterious Earth-mapping satellites (video)

By Andrew Jones published

China launched a pair of Tianhui cartography satellites on March 9 to boost the country's Earth observation and mapping capabilities.

The SpaceX Crew-5 members are expected to splash down soon. Clockwise from left are Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann from NASA, and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.)

SpaceX Crew-5 and Crew-6 astronaut mission: Live updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-5 and Crew-6 missions to the International Space Station for NASA.

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket is fueled for flight during its second launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 11, 2023.

Relativity Space aborts launch of Terran 1, the world's first 3D-printed rocket, twice in 1 day

By Tariq Malik published

An attempt by startup Relativity Space to launch the world's first 3D-printed rocket was cut short by two aborts in one day on Saturday (March 11).

ULA rolled its first Vulcan Centaur rocket to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex-41 for testing on March 9, 2023.

ULA rolls 1st Vulcan Centaur rocket to launch pad for testing (photos)

By Mike Wall published

On Thursday (March 9), ULA rolled its first Vulcan Centaur rocket to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for testing ahead of the vehicle's debut flight.

A Rocket Lab Electron launcher lifts off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Thursday (March 16), carrying two satellites to orbit for radar-imaging company Capella Space.

Rocket Lab launches 2 satellites to orbit on 2nd Electron mission from US soil

By Mike Wall last updated

Rocket Lab aced its second mission from U.S. soil on Thursday (March 16), delivering two satellites to orbit for radar-imaging company Capella Space.

An artist's illlustration of ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket lifting off. Vulcan's debut launch is targeted for May 4, 2023.

ULA targets May for debut launch of new Vulcan Centaur rocket

By Josh Dinner published

United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket will fly for the first time on May 4, if all goes according to plan.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 40 OneWeb internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 9, 2023.

SpaceX launches 40 OneWeb internet satellites to orbit, lands rocket

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 40 broadband satellites to orbit for the U.K. company OneWeb on Thursday (March 9) and came back to Earth for a pinpoint touchdown.

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket is fueled for flight during its first launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 8, 2023.

Relativity Space scrubs debut launch attempt of world's 1st 3D-printed rocket after abort

By Tariq Malik published

The space startup Relativity Space called off the first-ever flight of its new 3D-printed rocket on Wednesday (March 8) after a last-minute abort and temperature issues during the countdown.

A SpaceX rocket lifts off in the background behind the sign for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

US Space Force grants 4 companies launch pads at Cape Canaveral

By Robert Lea published

Space Force wing Space Launch Delta 45 has allocated three launch pads at the historic Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to four private companies.

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket on the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Watch Relativity Space abort the launch of Terran 1, world's 1st 3D-printed rocket, on second try

By Mike Wall last updated

Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket, the world's first 3D-printed launcher, is scheduled to lift off Saturday (March 11) at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT). Watch it live here.

Dead sunflowers hang their heads as a destroyed Russian tank points towards a former frontline on March 06, 2023 in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.

Russia's war on Ukraine has caused lasting damage to international spaceflight cooperation

By Andrew Jones published

Russia's invasion of Ukraine over a year ago has caused serious damage to Russia's ability to participate in international space ventures.

a orange rocket lifts off during day time as a huge cloud of smoke forms beneath it

Japan's new H3 rocket fails on 1st test flight, advanced Earth observation satellite lost

By Andrew Jones published

Japan's powerful new H3 rocket failed its first test flight, losing an Earth-observing satellite on Monday (March 6).