News – Page 447 – Spaceflight Now

March 21, 2026

Breaking News

[ March 20, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
[ March 19, 2026 ] NASA returns its SLS rocket back to the launch pad ahead of planned April flight of Artemis 2 Artemis
[ March 18, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
[ March 16, 2026 ] Space launches 29 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket on St. Patrick’s Day morning Falcon 9
[ March 16, 2026 ] SpaceX reaches 10,000 simultaneous Starlink satellites in orbit following Falcon 9 launch from California Falcon 9

Electron countdown aborted at engine start, next launch attempt Wednesday

December 12, 2017 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab counted down to the second test flight of its commercial Electron satellite launcher Monday, U.S. time, but a dramatic computer-commanded abort triggered moments after its engines ignited kept the light-class booster on its New Zealand launch pad for at least two more days.

Photos: Ariane 5 rocket arrives at launch pad in French Guiana

December 11, 2017 Stephen Clark

Mounted on a mobile platform, a European Ariane 5 rocket followed dual rail tracks across the Guiana Space Center in South America on the way to its jungle launch complex Monday, a day before its scheduled blastoff with four satellites to expand Europe’s independent navigation network.

Live coverage: SpaceX cargo ship arrives at space station

December 11, 2017 Stephen Clark

Two days after lifting off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Complex 40 launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a commercial Dragon supply ship loaded with more than 4,800 pounds of supplies and experiments arrived Sunday at the International Space Station. Capture of the robotic cargo craft occurred at 5:57 a.m. EST (1057 GMT).

SpaceX to restore upgraded launch pad to service with Wednesday cargo flight

December 11, 2017 Stephen Clark

Ready to double its Florida launch capacity with two pads, SpaceX is preparing to loft a reused robotic cargo ship toward the International Space Station Wednesday with a recycled Falcon 9 booster, debuting a rebuilt launch complex knocked offline more than a year ago in a fiery blast during pre-flight testing.

President Trump makes moon missions NASA’s near-term goal

December 11, 2017 William Harwood

In a brief White House ceremony Monday, President Trump formally directed NASA to set its sights on sending astronauts back to the moon followed by eventual flights to Mars as part of a new national space policy intended to make sure America “once again leads and inspires all of humanity” on the high frontier.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab’s second Electron launch delayed to early 2018

December 10, 2017 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab announced Saturday it will hold off launching an Electron rocket on an orbital test flight until early 2018 as officials face the end of a 10-day pre-approved launch window, after a series of scrubs to ensure the booster is ready for liftoff and wait for ideal weather conditions.

Launch timeline for the Electron rocket’s second test flight

December 10, 2017 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab’s light-class Electron launcher is set to take off on its second orbital test flight from New Zealand, aiming to deliver three small shoebox-sized CubeSats into low Earth orbit for Planet and Spire.

Chinese rocket launches with first Algerian communications satellite

December 10, 2017 Stephen Clark

A Chinese-built telecom satellite for Algeria successfully launched Sunday aboard a Long March 3B rocket, heading toward a perch more than 22,000 miles over the equator to provide television broadcasts, broadband Internet, remote education and emergency communications services.

Blue Origin could fly new suborbital vehicle this week

December 10, 2017 Stephen Clark

An airspace restriction over West Texas posted on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website and filed by Blue Origin suggests the company founded by Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos could launch its upgraded reusable New Shepard suborbital booster for the first time this week.

Galileo navigation satellites buttoned up for launch on Ariane 5 rocket

December 8, 2017 Stephen Clark

Technicians working in the jungle of French Guiana have installed four new European Galileo navigation satellites on top of their Ariane 5 launcher, and filled the rocket’s upper stage with storable liquid propellants for liftoff Tuesday.