News – Spaceflight Now

October 16, 2026

Breaking News

[ October 15, 2026 ] SpaceX launches a classified payload for U.S. Space Force Falcon 9
[ October 13, 2026 ] SpaceX launches NASA science and cargo to the International Space Station Falcon 9
[ October 13, 2026 ] Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX to launch new solar arrays, 6,300 pounds of cargo to the space station Falcon 9
[ October 12, 2026 ] SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 27 Starlink satellites from California Falcon 9
[ October 9, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 21 data satellites for the Space Development Agency Falcon 9

SpaceX launches a classified payload for U.S. Space Force

October 15, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California happened on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5:01 p.m. PDT (8:01 p.m. EDT / 0001 UTC).

SpaceX launches NASA science and cargo to the International Space Station

October 13, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The sunrise launch on Oct. 13 was the 35th SpaceX flight under the Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract with NASA.

Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX to launch new solar arrays, 6,300 pounds of cargo to the space station

October 13, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 6:33 a.m. EDT (1033 UTC) on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Cargo Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the space station following a two-day flight.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 27 Starlink satellites from California

October 12, 2026 Spaceflight Now

Liftoff off of the Starlink 15-25 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East came at 5:28 p.m. PDT (8:28 p.m. EDT / 0028 UTC).

SpaceX launches 21 data satellites for the Space Development Agency

October 9, 2026 Spaceflight Now

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carrying satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation came at 12:39 a.m. PDT (3:39 EDT / 0739 UTC).

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.

Falcon Heavy flies its first mission for U.S. spy satellite agency

October 1, 2026 Spaceflight Now

The 14th Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled to blast off on a clandestine mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 11:54 p.m. EDT (0354 UTC).

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: 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).

NASA plans unpiloted Starliner test flight at end of year

September 29, 2026 William Harwood

If the unpiloted test flight goes well, NASA and Boeing hope to launch a piloted Starliner flight in mid 2028, officials said Monday, incorporating redesigned propulsion system valves, more robust subsystems and other modifications expected to prevent the sort of failures that occurred in 2024.