News – Page 196 – Spaceflight Now

October 17, 2025

Breaking News

[ October 15, 2025 ] SpaceX sends 28 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit in predawn launch Falcon 9
[ October 14, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 2nd batch of satellites for Space Development Agency following weather scrub Falcon 9
[ October 14, 2025 ] Rocket Lab launches 7th StriX Earth observation satellites for Japan-based Synspective Electron
[ October 14, 2025 ] SpaceX launches final Version 2 Starship-Super Heavy rocket Mission Reports
[ October 13, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 24 Amazon Kuiper satellites following days of weather delays Falcon 9

NASA assigns fourth astronaut to SpaceX’s next space station crew launch

May 24, 2021 Stephen Clark

NASA has assigned astronaut Kayla Barron to join three crewmates on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft set to launch to the International Space Station in October, rounding out a four-person team after the space agency was unable to secure an agreement to add a Russian cosmonaut to the mission.

Falcon Heavy’s first national security launch slips to October

May 23, 2021 Stephen Clark

The next launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket has been delayed from July to October to await the readiness of its U.S. military payload, and the following Falcon Heavy flight has been rescheduled from late this year to some time in 2022, military officials said.

Virgin Galactic flies to edge of space for first time from New Mexico

May 23, 2021 Stephen Clark

Two pilots flew Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo rocketplane to the edge of space Saturday over New Mexico on the first human spaceflight from the company’s new home base at Spaceport America.

United Launch Alliance nears first fueling test on Vulcan rocket

May 21, 2021 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance could load cryogenic methane and liquid oxygen propellants into a Vulcan rocket test article at Cape Canaveral for the first time in the coming weeks, timing key tests for the next-generation rocket in between flights of Atlas 5 rockets that will share the same launch complex for the next few years.

Photos: ULA’s Atlas 5 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral

May 19, 2021 Stephen Clark

Carrying a sophisticated billion-dollar missile detection satellite for the U.S. military, a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday with 1.6 million pounds of thrust from a Russian RD-180 main engine and twin solid rocket boosters.

Nelson cites China’s growing space prowess, calls for sustained NASA funding

May 19, 2021 William Harwood

Holding up a photo taken by China’s new Mars lander, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson warned Congress Wednesday that his agency faces increasingly stiff competition on the high frontier and that sustained funding for a new moon lander, infrastructure upgrades and other critical programs is vital for America’s space program.

Chinese Long March rocket launches oceanography satellite

May 19, 2021 Stephen Clark

A Long March 4B rocket successfully launched an oceanography satellite Wednesday from northwestern China, hours before officials at a different spaceport scrubbed the planned launch of a cargo ship to deliver supplies to the Chinese space station.

China releases first pictures from Zhurong rover since Mars landing

May 19, 2021 Stephen Clark

China’s space agency released the first pictures from the Zhurong Mars rover rover Wednesday, showing the six-wheel robot ready to drive down a ramp from its landing platform to begin exploring the Red Planet.

Atlas 5 rocket launches infrared missile detection satellite for U.S. Space Force

May 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

An upgraded, cyber-hardened $1 billion satellite to support the U.S. military’s missile defense systems rode into orbit from Cape Canaveral Tuesday at the tip of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.

Tyvak smallsat launched by SpaceX to validate miniature space debris telescope

May 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

Tyvak, a manufacturer of small satellites, disclosed new details Monday about an experimental spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Saturday, revealing plans to validate compact optical telescopes that could offer a new way to monitor space traffic and orbital debris.