October 5, 2025
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Breaking News
  • [ October 4, 2025 ] SpaceX to launch 4 Falcon Heavy rockets as part of newest U.S. national security missions award News
  • [ October 2, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 3rd consecutive Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB, uninterrupted by a Cape mission Falcon 9
  • [ October 1, 2025 ] ViaSat-3 F2 satellite arrives in Florida ahead of late October launch Atlas 5
  • [ October 1, 2025 ] Report argues NASA is illegally using President’s Budget Request to circumvent Congress’ budgeting process News
  • [ September 30, 2025 ] Axiom Space taps Portuguese physiologist as first ‘Project Astronaut’ News

Another One Leaves the Crust

Mission Reports

Rocket Lab launches communications satellite for OHB

January 20, 2021 Stephen Clark

A mysterious small satellite built by the German company OHB, purported to be a pathfinder for a Chinese-owned communications constellation, took off from New Zealand Wednesday and soared into orbit on top of a Rocket Lab Electron launcher.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches from New Zealand on its first mission of 2021

January 16, 2021 Stephen Clark

After scrubbing a countdown Saturday to review sensor data, Rocket Lab launched its first mission of 2021 from New Zealand at 2:26 a.m. EST (0726 GMT) Wednesday. The company’s light-class Electron rocket carried a super-secret payload for OHB, a German-headquartered satellite manufacturer.

Mission Reports

Rocket Lab set to launch super-secret satellite for German company

January 15, 2021 Stephen Clark

A small communications satellite built by the German company OHB — a payload so secret that no one has officially disclosed its name or end user — is set to ride a Rocket Lab Electron launcher into orbit Saturday from New Zealand.

Mission Reports

Smallsat launch providers readying for first missions of 2021

January 10, 2021 Stephen Clark

Virgin Orbit and Rocket Lab teams are gearing up for their first missions of the year in the coming days, with Virgin’s air-launched rocket set for its second demonstration flight and Rocket Lab’s Electron booster poised to launch a small German-owned communications satellite.

News Headlines

  • SpaceX to launch 4 Falcon Heavy rockets as part of newest U.S. national security missions award
    October 4, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 3rd consecutive Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB, uninterrupted by a Cape mission
    October 2, 2025
  • ViaSat-3 F2 satellite arrives in Florida ahead of late October launch
    October 1, 2025
  • Report argues NASA is illegally using President’s Budget Request to circumvent Congress’ budgeting process
    October 1, 2025
  • Axiom Space taps Portuguese physiologist as first ‘Project Astronaut’
    September 30, 2025
  • Ground testing anomaly destroys Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha booster intended for next flight
    September 30, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    September 28, 2025
  • Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser debut mission delayed again, no longer docking to station
    September 26, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
    September 25, 2025
  • ULA launches third batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites from Cape Canaveral
    September 25, 2025
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  • Live
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