A regularly updated listing of planned orbital missions from spaceports around the globe. Dates and times are given in Greenwich Mean Time. “NET” stands for no earlier than. “TBD” means to be determined. Recent updates appear in red type. Please send any corrections, additions or updates by e-mail to: sclark@spaceflightnow.com.
See our Launch Log for a listing of completed space missions since 2004.
Latest changes:
Feb. 23: Adding Long March 4C/Yaogan 31; Adding date for Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L17 delayed; Adding Soyuz/Arktika-M 1; Minotaur 1/NROL-111 delayed; Adding Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L20; Adding Soyuz/CAS500 1; Vega/Pléiades Neo 1 delayed; Atlas 5/CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2 delayed; Adding Long March 5B/Tianhe 1; Adding month for Atlas 5/SBIRS GEO 5; Falcon Heavy/USSF 44 delayed; Adding Long March 7/Tianzhou 1; Adding date for Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 22; Adding Long March 2F/Shenzhou 12; Adding Falcon 9/GPS 3 SV05; Atlas 5/CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test delayed; Adding Antares/NG-16; Soyuz/Galileo 27 & 28 delayed; Adding Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 23; Adding Soyuz/Progress 79P; Adding Falcon 9/Crew-3; Adding Soyuz 65S; Adding Falcon Heavy/USSF 52; Adding Atlas 5/Lucy; Adding Ariane 5/James Webb Space Telescope; Adding Falcon 9/IXPE; Adding Falcon 9/DART; Adding Atlas 5/GOES-T
Feb. 16: Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L17 delayed; Soyuz/OneWeb 5 delayed; Adding date and time for PSLV/Amazônia 1; Adding time for Atlas 5/CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2; Atlas 5/USSF 8 (GSSAP 5 & 6) delayed; Falcon 9/Crew-2 delayed
Feb. 14: Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L19 scrubbed
Feb. 12: Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L19 delayed
Feb. 11: Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L19 delayed; Adding date and time for Falcon 9/Starlink V1.0-L17
Feb. 23/24Long March 4C • Yaogan 31
Launch time: Approx. 0215 GMT on 24th (9:15 p.m. EST on 23rd)
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
A Chinese Long March 4C rocket is expected to launch three Yaogan 31 military reconnaissance satellites. [Feb. 23]
Feb. 27/28PSLV • Amazônia 1
Launch time: 0453 GMT on 28th (11:53 p.m. EST on 27th)
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C51, will launch the Amazônia 1 Earth observation satellite for Brazil. The Brazilian-built spacecraft carries an optical camera to monitor environmental conditions, such as deforestation, in the Amazon region. Multiple secondary payloads from private Indian companies will also be on this launch. [Feb. 16]
Feb. 28Soyuz • Arktika-M 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch the first Arktika-M 1 satellite for the Russian government. Flying in highly elliptical orbits, the Arktika-M satellites provide meteorological observations and emergency communications over Earth’s polar regions. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. [Feb. 23]
Feb. 28/March 1Falcon 9 • Starlink V1.0-L17
Launch time: 0137 GMT on 1st (8:37 p.m. EST on 28th)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 20th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L17. Delayed from Jan. 29, Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 1, Feb. 2, Feb. 4, Feb. 5, Feb. 7, and Feb. 17. [Feb. 23]
March 7/8Falcon 9 • Starlink V1.0-L20
Launch time: 0341 GMT on 8th (10:41 p.m. EST on 7th)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 21st batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink V1.0-L20. [Feb. 23]
March 20Soyuz • CAS500 1
Launch time: 0607 GMT (2:07 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch on a rideshare mission managed by GK Launch Services. The payloads on this mission include the CAS500 1 Earth observation satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Astroscale’s ELSA-d active debris removal demonstration mission, and four Earth-imaging microsatellites built by Axelspace of Japan. The Soyuz-2.1a rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. [Feb. 23]
Early 2021SSLV • Demonstration Launch
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch on its first orbital test flight. Consisting of three solid-fueled stages and a liquid-fueled upper stage, the SSLV is a new Indian launch vehicle designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit. Delayed from September and December 2019. Delayed from January and December 2020. [Dec. 11]
TBDSSLV • BlackSky Global
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch on its first commercial mission with four Earth observation satellites for BlackSky Global, a Seattle-based company. The rideshare mission for BlackSky is being arranged by Spaceflight. Delayed from November, late 2019 and early 2020. [Jan. 25]
NET MarchGSLV Mk.2 • GISAT 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2), designated GSLV-F10, will launch India’s first GEO Imaging Satellite, or GISAT 1. The GISAT 1 spacecraft will provide continuous remote sensing observations over the Indian subcontinent from geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth. Delayed from Jan. 15, February and March 5, 2020. [Dec. 28]
NET March 25Soyuz • OneWeb 5
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch 36 satellites into orbit for OneWeb, which is developing a constellation of hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit for low-latency broadband communications. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from Feb. 25. [Feb. 16]
TBDElectron • STP-27RM
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 2, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, Virginia
Launch site: Launch Complex 2, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch on its first mission from a new launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch customer is the U.S. Air Force, and the mission will launch an experimental mission for the Space Test Program called Monolith with a space weather instrument. The Monolith mission will demonstrate the ability of a small satellite to support large aperture payloads. Delayed from 2nd Quarter of 2019. Delayed from August 2020 and September 2020. Delayed from 4th Quarter of 2020. [Nov. 27]
April 2Atlas 5 • CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-082, will launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on second unpiloted test flight to the International Space Station. This mission was added after Boeing’s decision to refly the Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test before proceeding with the Crew Flight Test. The rocket will fly in a vehicle configuration with two solid rocket boosters and a dual-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from 3rd Quarter. Delayed from Jan. 4. Moved forward from March 29. [Feb. 23]
April 10Soyuz • ISS 64S
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the residents. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. [Jan. 13]
April 16Vega • Pléiades Neo 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV18, will launch the Pléiades Neo 1 Earth observation satellite for Airbus. Pléiades-Neo 1 is the first of four Pléiades-Neo high-resolution Earth observation satellites built, owned, and operated by Airbus. The Vega rocket will also launch multiple rideshare payloads. Delayed from February after VV17 launch failure. Delayed from late March. [Feb. 23]
April 20Falcon 9 • Crew 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft on its second operational flight with astronauts on-board to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet will launch on the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The Crew Dragon will return to a splashdown at sea. Delayed from March 30. [Feb. 16]
AprilLong March 5B • Tianhe 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 5B will launch Tianhe 1, the core module for a Chinese space station low Earth orbit. [Feb. 23]
MayAtlas 5 • SBIRS GEO Flight 5
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the U.S. Space Force’s fifth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 5, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 421 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Feb. 23]
2nd QuarterDelta 4-Heavy • NROL-82
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-6, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launch site: SLC-6, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from September. [Dec. 28]
MayAriane 5 • Star One D2 & Eutelsat Quantum
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA254, to launch Star One D2 and Eutelsat Quantum communications satellites. Owned by the Brazilian operator Embratel Star One, the Star One D2 was built by Maxar and will deliver telecommunications, direct-to-home television services, and fast broadband to customers in South America, Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The Eutelsat Quantum satellite was built by SSTL and Airbus Defense and Space under the auspices of a public-private research and development project between the European Space Agency, Eutelsat and Airbus. Designed for coverage over the Middle East and North Africa, the software-defined satellite can be reprogrammed for new communications missions in orbit. Delayed from January, February, and March 4. [Feb. 23]
May 20Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 22
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Dragon 2 spacecraft on its second cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The flight is the 22nd mission by SpaceX conducted under a Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from March. [Feb. 23]
2nd QuarterLong March 7 • Tianzhou 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 7 will launch the Tianzhou 2 resupply ship to dock with the Chinese space station. The automated cargo craft will be the first resupply freighter for the Chinese space station. [Feb. 23]
JuneFalcon 9 • Turksat 5B
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Turksat 5B communications satellite for Turksat, a Turkish satellite operator. Built by Airbus Defense and Space with significant Turkish contributions, the Turksat 5B satellite will provide broadband services over a wide coverage area, including Turkey, the Middle East and large regions of Africa. [Jan. 12]
JuneMinotaur 1 • NROL-111
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Virginia
Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Virginia
A U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Delayed from December 2018, 2nd Quarter 2019, late 2019, and March 2021. [Feb. 23]
Mid-2021Long March 2F • Shenzhou 12
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
A Chinese Long March 2F rocket will launch the Shenzhou 12 spacecraft with multiple Chinese astronauts to rendezvous and dock with the Chinese space station in low Earth orbit. This will be China’s seventh crewed space mission, and the first to the Chinese space station. [Feb. 23]
JulyFalcon 9 • GPS 3 SV05
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will the U.S. Space Force’s fifth third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin. [Feb. 23]
JulyFalcon Heavy • USSF 44
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the USSF 44 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The mission is expected to deploy two spacecraft payloads directly into geosynchronous orbit, one of which is the military’s TETRA 1 microsatellite. Delayed from late 2020 and 2nd quarter of 2021. [Feb. 23]
JulyAntares • NG-16
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 17th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 16th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-16. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230+ configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. [Feb. 23]
Mid-2021Atlas 5 • STP-3
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the STP-3 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The STP-3 rideshare mission will launch the STPSat 6 satellite and several small satellites. STPSat 6 hosts several payloads and experiments, including the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System-3 (SABRS-3) payload, and NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) experiment. The rocket will fly in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Feb. 26. [Jan. 26]
Mid-2021Soyuz • Progress 78P
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 78th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. Delayed from March 19. [Dec. 1]
Mid-2021Vega C • LARES 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega C rocket will launch the LARES 2 satellite for ASI, the Italian space agency. The spherical LARES 2 satellite is covered in laser mirrors to enable precise tracking from the ground, enabling research into geoodynamics and general relativity. This will mark the inaugural flight of Europe’s new Vega C rocket, featuring a more powerful first stage motor, an enlarged second stage, an improved liquid-fueled upper stage, and a new payload fairing design. Delayed from mid-2020 by coronavirus impacts. Delayed from December and early 2021. [Nov. 9]
AugustAtlas 5 • USSF 8 (GSSAP 5 & 6)
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the USSF 8 mission with the fifth and sixth satellites for the Space Force’s Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, or GSSAP, designed to help the military track and observe objects in geosynchronous orbit. The rocket will fly in the 511 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, one solid rocket booster and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from 4th Quarter of 2020 and March. [Feb. 16]
Aug. 18Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 23
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Dragon 2 spacecraft on its third cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The flight is the 23rd mission by SpaceX conducted under a Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. [Feb. 23]
Aug. 21Soyuz • Progress 79P
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 79th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. [Feb. 34]
SeptemberSoyuz • Galileo 27 & 28
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry two Galileo full operational capability satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz-2.1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from mid-2021. [Feb. 23]
SeptemberAtlas 5 • CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on its first mission with astronauts, known as the Crew Test Flight, to the International Space Station. The capsule will dock with the space station, then return to Earth to landing in the Western United States. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Mike Fincke and Nicole Mann will fly on the Crew Flight Test. The rocket will fly in a vehicle configuration with two solid rocket boosters and a dual-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from August and 1st Quarter of 2020. Delayed from mid-2020 after Boeing decision to refly the Orbital Flight Test. Delayed from early 2021 and June 2021. [Feb. 23]
Sept. 13Falcon 9 • Crew 3
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft on its third operational flight with astronauts on-board to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn, and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer will launch on the Crew Dragon spacecraft. A fourth crew member will be assigned at a later date. The Crew Dragon will return to a splashdown at sea. [Feb. 23]
SeptemberFalcon 9 • WorldView Legion 1 & 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the first two WorldView Legion Earth observation satellites for Maxar Technologies. Maxar plans to deploy six commercial WorldView Legion high-resolution remote sensing satellites into a mix of sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits on two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. Delayed from January. [Nov. 27]
Sept. 22Soyuz • ISS 65S
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the residents. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. [Feb. 23]
OctoberFalcon Heavy • USSF 52
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the USSF 52 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The mission will launch an unspecified military payload on this mission. [Feb. 23]
Oct. 16Atlas 5 • Lucy
Launch time: 0935 GMT (5:35 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch NASA’s Lucy spacecraft. Built by Lockheed Martin and led by the Southwest Research Institute, Lucy will fly by seven Trojan asteroids, a unique family of asteroids that orbit the sun in front of and behind Jupiter. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Feb. 23]
Oct. 31Ariane 5 • James Webb Space Telescope
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA256, to launch the James Webb Space Telescope, a flagship observatory developed by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. JWST is the largest space telescope ever built, with a deployable mirror measuring 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) in diameter and four scientific instruments to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths. The mission will study the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets. The Ariane 5 ECA rocket will launch JWST on a trajectory toward its operating position at the L2 Lagrange point nearly a million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth. [Feb. 23]
Nov. 17Falcon 9 • IXPE
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. IXPE exploits the polarization state of light from astrophysical sources to provide insight into our understanding of X-ray production in objects such as neutron stars and pulsar wind nebulae, as well as stellar and supermassive black holes. [Feb. 23]
Nov. 24Falcon 9 • DART
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, mission. DART is NASA’s first flight demonstration for planetary defense. The mission seeks to test and validate a method to protect Earth in case of an asteroid impact threat. The mission aims to shift an asteroid’s orbit through kinetic impact — specifically, by impacting a spacecraft into the smaller member of the binary asteroid system Didymos to change its orbital speed. Delayed from July. [Feb. 23]
Dec. 7Atlas 5 • GOES-T
Launch time: 2140 GMT (4:40 p.m. EST)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch GOES-T, the third next-generation geostationary weather satellite for NASA and NOAA. GOES-T will orbit 22,300 miles above the equator to monitor weather conditions across the United States. The rocket will fly in the 541 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, four solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Feb. 23]