Mission Reports

Astra launched its first rocket into orbit from Alaska early Saturday after falling short on three previous tries, an achievement company officials said will unlock “tremendous demand” for its small satellite launch service. The company’s next mission will carry six small CubeSat payloads into orbit for NASA, and could take off before the end of the year.

Rocket Lab launched two small BlackSky optical Earth-imaging satellites Wednesday from New Zealand, the first of three straight Electron rocket flights for the U.S. remote sensing company. Teams retrieved the launch vehicle’s first stage booster after parachuting into the sea.

SpaceX’s team in South Texas is gearing up to be ready for the first combined launch of the Super Heavy booster and Starship mega-rocket as soon as January, assuming the company completes launch pad construction, ground testing, and secures regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, founder Elon Musk said Wednesday.

A week after scrubbing a launch attempt to evaluate a technical issue, Rocket Lab sent two small BlackSky Earth-imaging satellites into orbit from New Zealand at 8:38 p.m. EST Wednesday (0138 GMT Thursday). Rocket Lab recovered the Electron rocket’s first stage booster from the Pacific Ocean.