Launches & Spacecraft

Latest about Launches & Spacecraft

a timelapse exposure of a daytime rocket launch results in a bright beam of light climbing into the overcast sky

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from California

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, June 21, 2026.

Launches & Spacecraft
A split image of NASA's Swift observatory in orbit and the Katalyst spacecraft that will save it from falling out of space.

'No one thought it was going to be possible.' A space telescope is falling out of space. This is NASA's daring plan to save it.

By Tariq Malik published

NASA's Swift space observatory is falling out of orbit. Can a commercial company build a spacecraft in nine months to save it?

10 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
an uncrewed orbital class rocket lifts off into the pitch black sky of an early morning launch

SpaceX launches new batch of US spy satellites from California (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched the latest batch of spy satellites for the U.S. government early Friday morning (June 19).

Launches & Spacecraft
An Ariane 6 rocket launches 34 Amazon Leo satellites to orbit from French Guiana on June 17, 2026.

European rocket launches record-breaking mission with Amazon internet satellites (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

An Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket launched a record-breaking load to orbit early Wednesday morning (June 17), carrying a batch of Amazon Leo satellites to orbit.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the BlueBird 8-10 mission for AST SpaceMobile on June 17, 2026.

SpaceX launches 3 huge BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites from Florida (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched three of AST SpaceMobile's giant BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites early Wednesday morning (June 17).

Launches & Spacecraft
a white and black rocket lifts off into overcast cloudy skies

SpaceX sends 24 Starlink satellites to orbit on 1st launch as a public company (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday, June 15, 2026.

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Launches & Spacecraft
A time lapse photo of a daytime rocket launch shows the rocket's fiery plume as a single orange and white beam heading skyward off the launch pad into the blue sky.

SpaceX's stock wasn't the company's only launch today — It also put 29 Starlink satellites in orbit

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket occurred at 8:27 a.m. ET, just over an hour before SpaceX went public on the NASDAQ stock market.

Launches & Spacecraft
A Japanese H3 rocket launches in side-by-side images at the launchpad and in flight.

Japan's H3 rocket bounces back from failure with successful return to flight launch carrying 6 satellites

By Josh Dinner published

Japan successfully completed its first mission with its H3 rocket since a launch failure last year resulted in the loss of a payload.

4 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
a long white rocket sits horizontal inside a hanger with its nose cone open, exposing a satellite with many components and actuators folded up into a dense rectangular shape

Satellite-boosting spacecraft inside air-launched rocket | Space photo of the day for June 12, 2026

By Brett Tingley published

A spacecraft was recently prepped for encapsulation inside of its rocket at one of NASA's launch facilities ahead of its launch to save another satellite.

2 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
A white, black and gray rocket lifts off into a blue sky from an oceanfront launch pad.

SpaceX sends 24 Starlink satellites into orbit as market awaits IPO launch (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 was at 11:05 a.m. EDT on Thursday (June 11) as anticipation soared for SpaceX to debut on the NASDAQ.

Launches & Spacecraft
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