January 2025 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to attempt first payload deployment, engine reuse during Starship Flight 7

January 4, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Maritime and aviation warning suggest a launch no earlier than Jan. 10, but SpaceX hasn’t formally announced its target launch date. Flight 7 will also feature the first launch of a Block 2 Starship upper stage.

SpaceX notches first orbital launch of 2025 with mission for UAE-based Space42

January 3, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The satellite will help offset capabilities lost with the loss of Thuraya 3 in April 2024. Liftoff of the Thuraya 4-NGS mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened on Friday, Jan. 3 at 8:27 p.m. EST (0127 UTC).

India launches its first on-orbit docking demonstration in 5th and final launch of 2024

January 3, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The SpaDeX mission will see two spacecraft orbit together before performing a docking demo needed on future missions. Liftoff happened at 10 p.m. IST (11:30 a.m. EST, 1630 UTC).