Q&A with Joe Anderson of Space Logistics LLC (members only)

The launch of three experimental remote sensing satellites last week signaled the resumption of Chinese space launches following multiple rocket failures since late last year, but a senior Chinese space official has confirmed the Chang’e 5 mission to return samples from the moon remains grounded.

SpaceX launched a Korean communications satellite from Florida on Monday aboard the company’s third Falcon 9 rocket flight of the month. Liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center occurred at 3:34 p.m. EDT (1934 GMT), and the Falcon 9’s first stage landed on a floating barge in the Atlantic Ocean a few minutes later.

The mission, dubbed NG-21, was the second out of three planned launches of a Cygnus spacecraft onboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff happened on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 11:02 a.m. EDT (1502 UTC).