January 2026 – Spaceflight Now

Cold weather delays earliest Artemis 2 launch opportunity

January 30, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The agency is looking at Feb. 11 as the earliest date for launching the SpaceX Crew-12 mission. However, it hinges entirely on the status of Artemis 2 and whether or not it has launched.

SpaceX launches overnight Starlink flight as it unveils new ‘Stargaze’ space situational awareness system

January 30, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 6-101 mission was SpaceX’s 13th and final launch of the month. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 2:22 a.m. EST (0722 UTC).

SpaceX launches 11,000th Starlink satellite to date on Thursday

January 29, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX currently has more than 9,500 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit. Liftoff of the Starlink 17-19 mission from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 9:53:20 a.m. PST (12:53:20 p.m. EST / 1753:20 UTC).

SpaceX launches GPS 3 satellite following switch from ULA Vulcan rocket

January 26, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

This was the third launch of a GPS satellite in as many years. Liftoff of the GPS 3-9 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launched at 11:53:16 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 27 (0453:16 UTC on Jan. 28).

SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites to polar, low Earth orbit

January 25, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 17-20 mission was the seventh Starlink mission this year. Liftoff from pad 4E happened at 9:30 a.m. PST (12:30 p.m. EST / 1730 UTC).

Eastern Range ready for same day fueling of Space Launch System, Vulcan rockets

January 23, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

Florida’s Space Coast is preparing for a future that could see in excess of 350 launches annually.

SpaceX launches first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026

January 21, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 17-30 mission sent the batch of satellites into a polar low Earth orbit. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 9:47:29 p.m. PST (12:47:29 a.m. EST / 0547:29 UTC).

SpaceX launches Sunday sunset Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral

January 18, 2026 Steven Young

SpaceX continued the expansion of its Starlink internet network with the launch of 29 new satellites. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral in Florida happened 6:31:40 p.m. EST (2331:40 UTC) Sunday.

NRO, SpaceX launch reconnaissance satellites from Vandenberg

January 16, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The NROL-105 mission is the first of about a dozen missions planned for 2026 that support the NRO’s so-called proliferated architecture satellite constellation. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 8:39:51 p.m. PST (11:39:51 p.m. EST / 0439:51 UTC).

Crew 11 safely splashes down after shortened mission

January 15, 2026 William Harwood

Four space station crewmates undocked and plunged back to Earth Thursday, safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast six days after NASA ordered them home early because of a medical issue.