News – Page 555 – Spaceflight Now

January 12, 2026

Breaking News

[ January 10, 2026 ] SpaceX deploys NASA’s Pandora, other smallsats amid 1st ‘Twilight’ rideshare mission Falcon 9
[ January 9, 2026 ] L3Harris announces $845 million majority sale of Space Propulsion and Power Systems business News
[ January 9, 2026 ] Crew-11 to cut mission short and return to Earth due to medical issue Mission Reports
[ January 8, 2026 ] FCC gives SpaceX “green light” to expand Starlink constellation to 15,000 satellites Falcon 9
[ January 7, 2026 ] NASA weighs an earlier end to the Crew-11 mission after a ‘medical situation’ with an ISS crew member postpones first spacewalk of 2026 Mission Reports

China’s Yutu rover dies on the moon

August 4, 2016 Stephen Clark

A Chinese rover sent to the moon in 2013 has stopped operating, officials announced Wednesday, ending a groundbreaking 31-month mission that made discoveries in lunar geology and catapulted China’s space program to new heights.

First two Iridium Next satellites shipped to Vandenberg

August 3, 2016 Stephen Clark

The first two next-generation Iridium satellites, designed to connect global subscribers with data and voice traffic, arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Tuesday, where they will join eight more message relay craft for launch in September on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Navy looks for Plan B to salvage its newest communications satellite

August 2, 2016 Justin Ray

The U.S. Navy has declared the primary orbit-raising system aboard its new MUOS No. 5 communications satellite failed, leaving controllers scrambling to design a rescue plan.

Russia’s Angara rocket wins first commercial launch contract

August 2, 2016 Stephen Clark

South Korea’s space agency has signed a contract to launch an Earth observation satellite into orbit in 2020 aboard Russia’s Angara rocket, giving the new booster its first commercial customer, International Launch Services announced Monday.

Boeing nears fix for CST-100 Starliner design hitch

August 2, 2016 Stephen Clark

Boeing engineers are close to resolving concerns with the mass and aerodynamic shape of the company’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew carrier, and officials are optimistic the spaceship will be ready to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station in early 2018.

Investigation into upper stage glitch delays next Proton launch

August 1, 2016 Stephen Clark

The launch of an EchoStar communications satellite to cover Europe has been delayed to October to allow Russian engineers to complete an inquiry into a glitch suffered during a Proton rocket flight in June, industry officials said.

Intelsat confident in Ariane 5 to launch two critical satellites

July 31, 2016 Stephen Clark

Two Intelsat communications craft are in French Guiana getting configured for a dual-launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket Aug. 24, the first time the global satellite operator has put two of its payloads on the same booster.

Delta 4 rocket undergoes launch day rehearsal for its next Air Force mission

July 30, 2016 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket went through a practice countdown and fueling exercise this week to prepare for its Aug. 19 liftoff to deliver a pair of orbital surveillance satellites into space.

NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers

July 30, 2016 Spaceflight Now

Sky-watchers with a passion for looking up and tracking satellites with remarkable precision have made quick work of locating the spacecraft launched atop an Atlas 5 rocket on Thursday.

NASA orders second SpaceX crew ferry ship

July 29, 2016 William Harwood

NASA has ordered a second commercial crew ferry ship from SpaceX, NASA announced Friday, as the agency continues its on-going push to develop U.S.-built spacecraft to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, ending sole reliance on Russian Soyuz vehicles.