News – Page 171 – Spaceflight Now

January 22, 2026

Breaking News

[ January 21, 2026 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9
[ January 18, 2026 ] SpaceX launches Sunday sunset Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
[ January 16, 2026 ] NRO, SpaceX launch reconnaissance satellites from Vandenberg Falcon 9
[ January 15, 2026 ] Crew 11 safely splashes down after shortened mission Mission Reports
[ January 14, 2026 ] NASA, SpaceX conduct ‘medical evacuation’ Crew-11 return to Earth Mission Reports

Blue Origin transfers ‘pathfinder’ rocket to Cape Canaveral launch pad

November 21, 2021 Stephen Clark

Blue Origin transferred a full-size mock-up of its reusable New Glenn booster through Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 11 from the company’s factory to its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Cygnus cargo freighter ends mission at International Space Station

November 20, 2021 Stephen Clark

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply ship departed the International Space Station Saturday after a three-month stay, heading off on the final phase of its mission to deploy a U.S. military tech demo payload and re-enter the atmosphere to dispose of 7,500 pounds of trash.

Rocket Lab recovers booster after successful launch with BlackSky satellites

November 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

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.

Station resumes normal operations, but risk from Russian ASAT test continues

November 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

The seven-person crew living on the International Space Station resumed normal operations Wednesday, two days after closing off parts of the complex as precaution following a widely-condemned Russian anti-satellite test that created a new cloud of space debris.

SpaceX targets January or February for first launch of world’s largest rocket

November 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

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.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches two BlackSky satellites

November 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

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.

SpaceX is about to break its own annual launch record

November 17, 2021 Stephen Clark

After a lull in launch activity the last few months, SpaceX plans to close out 2021 with a spurt of missions from all three of the company’s active launch pads in Florida and California, with five or more Falcon 9 flights planned before the end of the year.

French military intelligence satellites launch on Vega rocket

November 16, 2021 Stephen Clark

A European Vega rocket fired into space from French Guiana Tuesday and deployed three French military satellites to locate sources of radio and radar transmissions around the world, clearing the way for final modifications on the Vega launch pad for an uprated version of the booster set to debut next year.

Live coverage: Europe’s 20th Vega rocket launches from French Guiana

November 16, 2021 Stephen Clark

A Vega launcher with three French military reconnaissance satellites lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana, at 4:27 a.m. EST (0927 GMT) Tuesday.

U.S. officials: Space station at risk from ‘reckless’ Russian anti-satellite test

November 15, 2021 Stephen Clark

Russia shot down an old Soviet-era military spacecraft Monday in a test of an anti-satellite weapon, scattering hundreds of thousands of debris fragments that will remain in orbit for years or decades, U.S. government officials said. The crew on the International Space Station sheltered in their lifeboats Monday as the complex flew through the debris field.