2026 – Page 6 – Spaceflight Now

Launch preview: NASA to launch Artemis 2, its first Moon-bound mission with astronauts since 1972

April 1, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The four astronauts will spend more than nine days onboard their Orion spacecraft and is poised to pass the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39B is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC).

Falcon 9 booster launches for record 34th time on Starlink delivery mission

March 30, 2026 Spaceflight Now

Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida happened at 5:15 p.m. EDT (2115 UTC).

SpaceX launches 119 payloads on smallsat rideshare mission from California

March 30, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Transporter-16 mission is the 21st mission in the company’s smallsat rideshare program. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 4:02 a.m. PDT (7:02 a.m. EDT / 1102 UTC).

Artemis 2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of April 1 launch attempt

March 27, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The crew is expected to land in Florida around 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 UTC) on Friday. April 1 at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 UTC) is the earliest launch opportunity during a six-day window.

SpaceX launches batch of Starlink satellites from the West Coast

March 26, 2026 Steven Young

Liftoff of the Starlink 17-17 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California occurred at 4:03 p.m. PDT (7:03 p.m. EDT / 2303 UTC).

NASA outlines ambitious $20 billion plan for moon base

March 25, 2026 William Harwood

Along with plans for a moon base, senior NASA managers also outlined work to develop nuclear power systems for use on the moon and Mars to keep astronauts, habitats and other equipment warm while providing the electricity needed for research, construction and daily operations.

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

March 22, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

Liftoff of the Starlink 10-62 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 10:47 a.m. EDT (1447 UTC). The rocket flew on a northeasterly trajectory.

SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

March 20, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 17-30 mission was SpaceX’s 30th mission supporting its broadband internet satellites megaconstellation so far this year. Liftoff from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 2:51:49 p.m. PDT (5:51:49 p.m. EDT / 2151:49 UTC).

NASA returns its SLS rocket back to the launch pad ahead of planned April flight of Artemis 2

March 19, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The rollout of the 322-foot-tall rocket took fewer than 12 hours after first motion, which occurred at about 12:20 a.m. EDT (0420 UTC). NASA hopes to launch the crewed test flight to the Moon no earlier than April 1.

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

March 18, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Starlink 10-33 mission was the 35th mission so far in 2026 supporting SpaceX’s low Earth orbit constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 UTC).