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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

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Thick clouds of interstellar dust and gas permeate the star forming region RCW 36, also known as Gum 20, in this deep-space image from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. Located about 2,300 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Vela, the Sails, RCW 36 is part of a much larger star formation complex, known as the Vela Molecular Ridge. Astronomers used an instrument on VLT called the Focal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph (FORS) to capture this image of RCW 36, which is in some parts so thick with dust and gas that background light cannot pass through. These dark regions are the richest with star formation.

Space Photos: The Most Amazing Images This Week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

Here are our picks for the most amazing space photos of the week.

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle flew its 50th mission, on Dec. 11, 2019.

Indian Rocket Marks Historic 50th Launch with Spy Satellite

By Elizabeth Howell

India's workhorse rocket celebrated its 50th flight with a successful launch of 10 satellites, including a spy vehicle.

There's a lot going in space in 2019. Check out our up-to-date space launch schedule and calendar here!

Space Launch Calendar 2019: Sky Events, Missions & More

By Hanneke Weitering

Here's a guide to SpaceX's launch schedule, other rocket missions, astronomical events of the next year, as well as milestones for spacecraft already in travel.

A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches the Reusable Space Ship H.G. Wells on its record 6th flight to suborbital space from the company's West Texas launch site on Dec. 11, 2019.

Blue Origin's New Shepard Makes Record 6th Launch to Fly NASA Science, Student Art to Space

By Chelsea Gohd

Blue Origin's reusable New Shepard spacecraft launched on a suborbital mission for NASA and other customers Wednesday (Dec. 11), carrying science and even student art and postcards into space.

A Chinese Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches six satellites into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center just six hours after a different Kuaizhou-1A launched a separate mission.

Two Chinese Kuaizhou-1A Rockets Launch Back-to-Back Flights Just Hours Apart

By Elizabeth Howell

They launched 6 hours apart.

Blue Origin's New Shepard space capsule and rocket on the pad at the company's West Texas Launch Site in January 2019. The same rocket will launch the NS-12 mission on Dec. 11, 2019.

Bad Weather Delays Blue Origin Launch of Reusable New Shepard Spacecraft

By Tariq Malik

Blue Origin will have to wait at least another day to fly its first space mission in seven months after bad weather delayed a launch attempt today (Dec. 10).

Blue Origin's New Shepard space capsule and rocket on the pad at the company's West Texas Launch Site in January 2019. The same rocket will launch the NS-12 mission on Dec. 11, 2019.

Blue Origin Will Launch (and Land) a Reusable Spacecraft Wednesday. Watch It Live

By Tariq Malik

Blue Origin will launch a New Shepard spacecraft filled with science experiments and thousands of postcards from kids on Wednesday (Dec. 11). Here's how to watch live.

The Russian Progress 74 cargo ship is seen moments before docking at the International Space Station on Dec. 9, 2019 to deliver more than 2.7 tons of supplies for the outpost's Expedition 61 crew.

Russian Cargo Ship Docks at Space Station to Cap Back-to-Back Arrivals

By Tariq Malik

A robotic Progress cargo ship docked at the International Space Station early Monday (Dec. 9), just one day after the arrival of a U.S. Dragon supply ship built by SpaceX.

A Russian Soyuz rocket launches a robotic Progress 74 cargo spacecraft toward the International Space Station from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 6, 2019.

Russian Cargo Craft Launches Toward Space Station

By Mike Wall

The liftoff came less than 24 hours after SpaceX's Dragon freighter began its own journey to the station.

A Rocket Lab Electron booster prepares to rise off the pad on Dec. 6, 2019, kicking off the company's 10th mission, which is called "Running Out of Fingers."

Rocket Lab Launches 7 Satellites, Guides Booster Down toward Earth

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab just launched seven satellites to orbit, and learned a thing or two about bringing boosters back down to Earth for reuse.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a used Dragon cargo ship on its third NASA cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40 of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2019.

SpaceX Launches Dragon Cargo Ship to Space Station for NASA, Sticks Rocket Landing

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX successfully launched an uncrewed Dragon spacecraft for NASA today (Dec. 5) on the company's final cargo mission of the year. They aced a rocket landing, too!

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the CRS-18 mission to the International Space Station at 6:01 p.m. EDT on July 25, 2019.

SpaceX to Launch Beer Experiment, 'Mighty Mice' and More for NASA Today. How to Watch

By Chelsea Gohd

SpaceX is about to launch beer, "mighty mice" and much, much more to the International Space Station.

China launched another satellite into orbit on Thanksgiving (Nov. 28, 2019).

China Just launched a New Earth-Watching Satellite Into Orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

On Thanksgiving (Nov. 28), China launched yet another satellite into Earth's orbit, capping off a very busy month for the country.

Rocket Lab's Electron rocket stands ready for launch at the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand, but it will have to wait a few more days to fly while the company conducts additional ground tests.

Rocket Lab Delays Planned Rocket Launch for More Ground Tests

By Elizabeth Howell

China's first heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket launched on Nov. 3, 2016.

China's Big Ambitions for Space Are Riding on a December Launch

By Andrew Jones

China recently staged a show test of its Mars lander looking ahead to the program's launch next summer. But an equally crucial mission component faces a different kind of test in December.

Rocket Lab plans to use a helicopter to retrieve the first stage of its Electron booster shortly after launches. During the Nov. 28 liftoff of the "Running Out of Fingers" mission, the company will gather key data to see how far it is from attempting these dramatic recoveries.

Rocket Lab to Take Big Step Toward Reusability with Launch Friday

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab will have a lot to be thankful for this Friday (Nov. 29), if all goes according to plan.

An Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches the Cartosat-3 satellite and 13 U.S. nanosatellites into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Nov. 26, 2019.

India Launches Advanced Earth-Mapping Satellite and 13 US Cubesats

By Mike Wall

An Indian rocket delivered 14 satellites to orbit tonight (Nov. 26), including 12 for U.S. Earth imaging company Planet and a prototype for Analytical Space.

Ariane 5 Rocket Launches Satellites into Orbit for Egypt, Inmarsat

By Elizabeth Howell

Two communications satellites launched into orbit aboard Arianespace's workhorse rocket today (Nov. 26) in a bid to increase connectivity for mobile, civil and government customers.

A Russian Soyuz 2.1v rocket launches a classified military satellite into orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russian on Nov. 25, 2019. The satellite can apparently track other satellites in orbit.

Russian Military Launches Secret Surveillance Satellite Into Orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched a top-secret military satellite designed to scope out other satellites in space on Monday (Nov. 25), according to government reports.

An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying the Cartosat 3 Earth observation satellite rolls out to its Satish Dhawan Space Centre launch site for a Nov. 27, 2019 liftoff.

Indian Rocket Launching Earth-Observation Satellite, 13 Cubesats Tonight: Watch Live

By Mike Wall

An Indian rocket will deliver 14 satellites to orbit tonight (Nov. 26), and you can watch the liftoff live.