2026 – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

Window for 2026 launch debut of Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket ‘is narrowing’ as development continues

August 10, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The announcement came in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of a quarterly investor earnings call on Aug. 10.

SpaceX launches Tuesday noontime Starlink mission following Monday scrub

August 10, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 10-19 mission was set to be SpaceX’s 72nd flight of its broadband internet satellites this year. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 11:58 a.m. EDT (1558 UTC) on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

SpaceX West Coast launch surge continues with Starlink mission

August 8, 2026 Steven Young

Liftoff of the Starlink 17-38 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California happened at 9:35 a.m. PDT (12:35 p.m. EDT / 1635 UTC).

Blue Origin identifies engine issue behind New Glenn explosion

August 6, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Aug. 5 update from Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp offered the first explanation for what caused the company’s 98-meter-tall (320 ft.) to explode at the pad on May 28.

NASA, Northrop Grumman repurpose Gateway elements for Moon Base demo missions

August 6, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The shift amplifies the agency’s marked shift from crewed operations in lunar orbit to focus on surface-based missions.

SpaceX launches 3 AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

August 5, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The BlueBird 11-13 mission was the third time SpaceX flew satellites to orbit supporting AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-device constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 3:49 a.m. EDT (0749 UTC).

SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

August 4, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 17-53 mission is the 90th Falcon 9 rocket launch of the year. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 10:05 a.m. PDT (1:05 p.m. EDT / 1705 UTC).

SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

July 31, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 17-52 mission is SpaceX’s 90th orbital launch of the year so far. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 8:08 p.m. PDT (11:08 p.m. EDT / 0308 UTC).

SpaceX launches classified payload for National Reconnaissance Office

July 29, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The NROL-95 mission was the third payload for the National Reconnaissance Office launched under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 procurement. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 3:10 a.m. EDT (0710 UTC).

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from West Coast

July 25, 2026 Steven Young

Liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California occurred at 8:51 a.m. PDT (11:51 a.m. EDT / 1551 UTC). The Falcon 9 placed 24 Starlink satellites into orbit.