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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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Artist's concept of the JAXA Laser Utilizing Communication System (LUCAS) payload relaying information to other satellites using laser technology.

Japan launches advanced relay satellite with laser communications tech into orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

Earth observation data will flow more quickly using laser technology instead of radio, according to JAXA

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Nov. 24, 2020. It was the 100th Falcon 9 launch overall and the seventh mission for this particular rocket's first stage.

SpaceX rocket launches for record 7th time, nails landing at sea in 100th Falcon 9 mission

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX just launched one of its Falcon 9 rockets for a record seventh time. The booster carried a stack of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit and then nailed a landing at sea.

SpaceX's SN8 Starship prototype performs a static fire test at the company's South Texas facility on Nov. 24, 2020.

SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype fires engines ahead of major test flight

By Mike Wall

SpaceX's latest Starship prototype fired its engines for the fourth time on Tuesday evening (Nov. 24), keeping the vehicle on track for a landmark test flight next week.

Astroscale's ELSA-d mission will launch in March 2021 to test space junk-removal tech.

Astroscale to test space junk cleanup tech with 'ELSA-d' launch in 2021

By Mike Wall

Technology that could help humanity get a handle on the growing space-junk problem will get an orbital test early next year.

Rocket Lab recovered the first stage of its Electron booster for the first time ever during the “Return to Sender” mission, which launched on Nov. 19, 2020.

Rocket Lab on road to reusability after successful booster recovery

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab is now confident that its reusability dreams can come true.

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

Space calendar 2020: Rocket launches, sky events, missions & more!

By Hanneke Weitering

Here's a guide to all the rocket launches and astronomical events in 2020, as well as milestones for space missions, anniversaries and conferences.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket makes its sixth flight to launch a fleet of Starlink internet satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on Aug. 18, 2020. The same rocket booster will launch another Starlink mission on Nov. 23, 2020.

SpaceX scrubs Starlink satellite launch on record 7th flight of a Falcon 9 rocket

By Tariq Malik

SpaceX called off the launch of its next Starlink satellite fleet late Sunday (Nov. 22), delaying a potentially record-setting flight for the mission's Falcon 9 rocket.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean-mapping satellite sits atop Space Launch Complex 4E at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of a Nov. 21, 2020 launch.

SpaceX could launch back-to-back rocket missions from two coasts this weekend. Here's how to watch.

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX is gearing up for a potential launch double header this weekend. Here's how to watch them live.

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is pictured before being encapsulated in its Falcon 9 rocket fairing, on Nov. 3, 2020.

SpaceX will launch the Sentinel-6 ocean-mapping satellite Saturday. Watch it live!

By Elizabeth Howell

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, on Saturday (Nov. 21) at 12:17 p.m. EST (1717 GMT). Watch it live!

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean-mapping satellite launches into space from the SLC-4E launchpad at Vandenberg Air Force Station, California on Nov. 21, 2020.

SpaceX launches advanced ocean-mapping satellite for NASA and Europe, nails rocket landing

By Amy Thompson

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the advanced Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean-mapping satellite for NASA Saturday (Nov. 21)

The faint galaxy UGC 12588 looks kind of like a cosmic cinnamon bun in this image snapped by the Hubble Space Telescope. The spiral galaxy, which appears circular with some white accents (adding to its dessert-like appearance), can be found in the constellation Andromeda. Now, while UGC 12588 is a spiral galaxy, its "arms" of stars and gas are fairly faint and closely swirled in its center, making it slightly different from a "classic" spiral galaxy.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

See the best photos on Space.com this week.

A Rocket Lab Electron booster launches the "Return to Sender" mission from New Zealand on Nov. 19, 2020.

Rocket Lab launches 30 satellites, recovers booster in reusability milestone

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab just delivered a passel of satellites to orbit and took a big step toward booster reusability.

NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi will fly on SpaceX's Crew-1 mission.

SpaceX's Crew-1 astronaut launch for NASA: Live updates

By Space.com Staff

SpaceX plans to launch the first operational flight of its Crew Dragon astronaut taxi to the International Space Station on Nov. 14, 2020.

A Chinese Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e 5 moon sample-return spacecraft rolls out to the launch pad at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Site on Hainan Island on Nov. 17, 2020.

China rolls out Long March 5 rocket for Chang'e 5 moon sample-return mission launch

By Mike Wall

A heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket topped with the robotic Chang'e 5 lunar sample-return mission rolled out to its pad at Wenchang Space Launch Center in China's Hainan province on Tuesday (Nov. 17).

The Rocket Lab Electron booster that will launch the "Return to Sender" mission, which is scheduled to lift off on Nov. 19, 2020 from New Zealand.

Rocket Lab will launch 30 satellites and attempt a booster recovery today: Watch live

By Mike Wall

Rocket Lab will launch an ambitious mission on Thursday (Nov. 19), and you can watch the action live.

Liftoff of the Long March 3B rocket from Xichang carrying the Chinese Tiantong-1 (02) satellite on Nov. 12, 2020.

China notches 34th launch of the year with communications satellite

By Andrew Jones

China conducted its 34th launch of the year on Nov. 12, sending the Tiantong-1 (02) mobile communications satellite into an orbit high above Earth.

An Arianespace Vega rocket carrying two satellites for Spain and France lifts off from a pad at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on Nov. 16, 2020. The rocket failed eight minutes into flight, leading to the loss of both satellites.

European Vega rocket suffers major launch failure, satellites for Spain and France lost

By Tariq Malik

An Arianespace Vega rocket suffered a major failure shortly after launch on Monday (Nov. 16), leading to loss of satellites for Spain and France.

A small plush toy of "The Child" or "Baby Yoda" from the Disney Plus Star Wars series "The Mandalorian" is seen floating on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Resilience" as the zero-g indicator for the four Crew-1 astronauts on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020.

'Baby Yoda' revealed as astronauts' zero-g indicator on SpaceX Crew-1 mission

By Robert Z. Pearlman

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft lift off for the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceX Crew Dragon launches 4 astronauts to space station in 1st operational flight for NASA

By Amy Thompson

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule launched its first operational space taxi flight for NASA Sunday (Nov. 15).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew-1 Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience stands atop Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida one day before a planned Nov. 15, 2020 launch.

SpaceX will launch 4 astronauts into space for NASA today. Here's how to watch live.

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX will launch a crew of four astronauts today (Nov. 15) on its first operational flight for NASA and you can watch the historic flight online.