Mission Reports – Spaceflight Now

October 12, 2026

Breaking News

[ October 9, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 21 data satellites for the Space Development Agency Falcon 9
[ October 4, 2026 ] SpaceX scrubs launch attempt for 21 data transport satellites for the Space Development Agency Falcon 9
[ October 1, 2026 ] Falcon Heavy flies its first mission for U.S. spy satellite agency Falcon Heavy
[ October 1, 2026 ] Fresh crew takes off for six-month stay aboard space station Falcon 9
[ October 1, 2026 ] Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX launch next crewed mission to the International Space Station Falcon 9

SpaceX scrubs launch attempt for 21 data transport satellites for the Space Development Agency

October 4, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The Tranche 1 Transporter Layer A mission is the fourth flight supporting the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation. The next launch attempt could come as soon as Saturday.

Fresh crew takes off for six-month stay aboard space station

October 1, 2026 William Harwood

Strapped into a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, Crew 13 commander Jessica Watkins, pilot Luke Delaney, Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov and Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk blasted off from pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:10 a.m. EDT.

Launch preview: More than 100 spacecraft hitch a ride to orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-18

October 1, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission carried 130 payloads onboard the Falcon 9 rocket heading to a Sun-synchronous orbit. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 11:32 a.m. PDT (2:32 p.m. EDT / 1832 UTC).

Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX launch next crewed mission to the International Space Station

October 1, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, will become the first agency astronaut to fly for a second time onboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. EDT (1510 UTC).

Starship returns to Earth; rocket splashes down north of Hawaii after three-hour flight

September 28, 2026 William Harwood

The Super Heavy first stage booster, generating some 16 million pounds of thrust — twice the power of NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket — rapidly accelerated as it consumed propellant and lost weight, climbing out of the thick lower atmosphere along a southeasterly trajectory.

Launch preview: SpaceX to launch first Starlink V3 satellites to orbit on Starship

September 28, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The first planned orbital flight of a Starship-Super Heavy rocket aims to send 26 Starlink Version 3 into low Earth orbit. Liftoff from Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, is scheduled during a 75-minute window that opens at 7:15 a.m. CDT (8:15 a.m. EDT / 1215 UTC).

Next crew bound for the space station arrive in Florida

September 26, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The three astronauts and one cosmonaut will spend roughly six months onboard the International Space Station. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than Oct. 1.

SpaceX stack Starship and Super Heavy for first orbital flight

September 23, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The inclusion of the upper stage, tail number Ship 41, comes ahead of a probable fueling demonstration planned in the days leading up to a launch attempt. Starship Flight 14 is scheduled for no earlier than Sept. 28, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

SpaceX’s Super Heavy booster arrives at pad ahead of first orbital Starship launch

September 21, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The first planned orbital Starship mission is scheduled for launch from Starbase in Texas as soon as Sept. 28, pending final approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg

September 19, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 6:47 p.m. PDT (9:47 p.m. EDT / 0147 UTC). It was the 81st Starlink mission of the year.