Will Robinson-Smith – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches 100th Starlink flight of 2025

October 31, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launched more than 2,500 of its satellites so far this year. It executed liftoff of its Falcon 9 rocket from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday at 1:41 p.m. PDT (4:41 p.m. EDT / 2041 UTC).

Blue Origin completes New Glenn static fire test, preparing for NASA’s EscaPADE mission launch

October 31, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin lit up a pocket of Florida’s Space Coast Thursday night when it hot fired its New Glenn rocket for an engine test lasting roughly 40 seconds in duration.

Former NASA Administrators urge space agency to rethink plans for Artemis Moon lander

October 30, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The comments came during a fireside chat featuring former NASA administrators, Charlie Bolden and Jim Bridenstine, at the conclusion of the American Astronautical Society’s 2025 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama.

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

October 28, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This was just the second time that SpaceX opted to launch 29 of its Starlink V2 Mini satellites in one batch, the current limit for the Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-37 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 12:35 p.m. EDT (1635 UTC).

Blue Origin details lunar exploration progress amid Artemis 3 contract shakeup

October 28, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin’s senior director of civil space shared an update on the company’s progress developing the Blue Moon crew and cargo landers during the American Astronautical Society’s 2025 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium.

Astrobotic delays Griffin-1 Moon mission to NET July 2026

October 28, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will carry a pair of commercial, robotic rovers to the lunar surface. It was most recently scheduled to launch by the end 2025.

SpaceX breaks its California pad turnaround record with sunset Starlink launch

October 26, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This was the 98th launch of Starlink satellites in 2025. SpaceX executed liftoff of the Starlink 11-21 mission from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 5:43 p.m. PDT (8:43 p.m. EDT / 0043 UTC).

SpaceX marks 5th anniversary of first Starlink customer with Sunday satellite launch

October 25, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This was the 230th launch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites to date. SpaceX accomplished liftoff of the Starlink 10-21 mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC).

SpaceX surpasses 2024 orbital launch record with Saturday Starlink mission

October 24, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission featured the 160th landing of a booster on the drone ship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You’. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 7:20 a.m. PDT (10:20 a.m. EDT / 1420 UTC).

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales agree to form new European company

October 24, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This new entity would potentially come online in 2027, pending regulatory approval and other logistics. A name for this combination hasn’t been announced.