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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

Latest Updates

An artist's illustration of NASA's Landsat 9 Earth observation satellite in orbit.

Landsat 9, NASA's most powerful Landsat satellite ever, is 'go' for launch on Monday

By Tariq Malik

NASA has cleared its newest powerful Earth observation satellite for a launch into orbit on Monday (Sept. 27) from the California coast.

NASA’s Landsat 9 is mounted atop its ride to space, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, in preparation for launch at Space Launch Complex-3 (SLC-3) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Watch live Monday: Atlas V rocket to launch NASA's Landsat 9 Earth observation satellite

By Space.com Staff

Landsat is scheduled to launch Monday (Sept. 27) at 2:12 p.m. EDT (1812 GMT).

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launches on its debut mission from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 6, 2018.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch internet satellite to serve Alaska in 2022

By Mike Wall

Falcon Heavy is now scheduled to loft Astranis' first commercial communications satellite to orbit next spring, the San Francisco-based company announced Thursday (Sept. 23).

A nearly full moon rises above the Statue of Liberty in New York on Sept. 18. 2021.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

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

Space calendar 2021: Rocket launches, sky events, missions & more!

By Hanneke Weitering

Here's a guide to all the rocket launches and astronomical events in 2021, as well as milestones for space missions, anniversaries and conferences.

A Chinese Long March 7 rocket launches the Tianzhou 3 automated cargo ship to the country's Tiangong space station module Tianhe on Sept. 20, 2021 from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island.

China launches Tianzhou 3 cargo ship to new space station

By Mike Wall

China has launched a cargo mission to its new space station, just days after astronauts departed the orbiting outpost.

SpaceX's all-private Inspiration4 mission lifted off successfully on Sept. 15, 2021.

Relive SpaceX's historic Inspiration4 launch with these amazing photos

By Mike Wall

There's nothing quite like a night launch — and this one was extra-special.

A Long March 7 rocket topped with China's Tianzhou 3 cargo spacecraft rolls out to its launch pad in this photo released by the China Manned Space Engineering Office on Sept. 15, 2021.

China rolls out rocket for Tianzhou 3 cargo mission ahead of Monday launch (photos)

By Mike Wall

A Long March 7 rocket topped with the robotic Tianzhou 3 cargo spacecraft rolled out to its pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Chinese space officials announced Wednesday (Sept. 15).

Jeff Bezos at the Blue Origin launch pad with a New Shepard rocket in the background.

Jeff Bezos congratulates Elon Musk on SpaceX's private Inspiration4 launch

By Tariq Malik

It was congratulations all around the billionaires' table today as Jeff Bezos hailed Elon Musk's SpaceX for the private Inspiration4 launch.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Inspiration4 mission on a Crew Dragon spacecraft, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX launches four civilians into orbit on historic Inspiration4 flight

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX made history tonight as it launched a crew of private citizens on a jaunt around Earth.

The Inspiration4 crew pose with their Crew Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX's Inspiration4 all-civilian spaceflight: When to watch and what to know

By Elizabeth Howell

Here's everything you need to know about the private Inspiration4 mission on SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

The four civilian astronauts of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission sit inside their Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft for a dress rehearsal of their planned launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on Sept. 15, 2021.

How to watch SpaceX's private all-civilian Inspiration4 launch online today

By Elizabeth Howell

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission is ready to launch to Earth orbit on Wednesday (Sept. 15), and you can watch the historic liftoff live.

The Inspiration4 crewmembers — Chris Sembroski, Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux and Sian Proctor — seen at the rollout of the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule that will carry them to orbit.

The Inspiration4 astronauts are stoked to launch on their history-making SpaceX mission

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX's private Inspiration4 mission is cleared for launch and the flight's four crewmembers are excited to blast off today (Sept. 15) to embark on a three-day journey around Earth.

The four civilian astronauts of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission pose for a group portrait during a dress rehearsal of their planned launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on Sept. 15, 2021.

No launch day jitters for SpaceX's civilian Inspiration4 astronauts

By Tereza Pultarova

Participants of the Inspiration4 space mission feel no fear prior to the milestone launch, just a bit of stage fright as some of them prepare to sing and play ukulele during the flight.

The Inspiration4 crew, from left: Chris Sembroski, Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman and Hayley Arceneaux.

Inspiration4's call signs: The crew of SpaceX's all-civilian mission have special nicknames

By Amy Thompson

Each member of the four-person crew has a unique call sign, a type of nickname that astronauts and military pilots are given during their training.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon that will launch the private orbital spaceflight dubbed Inspiration4, as seen during launch preparations.

SpaceX's all-civilian Inspiration4 mission launches today. Here's what to expect.

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX will launch its first all-civilian crew on a three-day journey around the Earth and you can watch the action live online.

On September 15, Netflix is hosting a livestream to celebrate the Inspiration4 launch.

Watch Netflix's SpaceX Inspiration4 launch webcast with this celebrity-packed countdown event

By Chelsea Gohd

Are you counting down to SpaceX's Inspiration4 launch? Join celebrity guests and the mission's four soon-to-be astronauts for a livestream, hosted by Netflix.

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket topped with 34 OneWeb broadband satellites begins the launch sequence on Sept. 14, 2021.

Arianespace Soyuz rocket launches 34 more OneWeb internet satellites to orbit

By Mike Wall

Nearly three dozen OneWeb internet satellites took flight today (Sept. 14), continuing to build out the company's broadband constellation.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" after conducting its 10th launch and landing, on Sept. 13, 2021.

SpaceX launches 51 Starlink internet satellites in the constellation's 1st West Coast launch

By Amy Thompson

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon that will launch the private orbital spaceflight dubbed Inspiration4, as seen during launch preparations.

SpaceX test-fires rocket for Inspiration4, the 1st private orbital mission

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX just test-fired the rocket that will take the private Inspiration4 mission on a three-day journey around Earth.