January 7, 2026
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Breaking News
  • [ January 6, 2026 ] Dept. of the Air Force opens bidding for Space Launch Complex 14 at Vandenberg SFB News
  • [ January 4, 2026 ] SpaceX launches first Starlink deployment mission since problem strikes satellite Falcon 9
  • [ January 2, 2026 ] SpaceX opens 2026 with launch of Cosmo-SkyMed Earth observation satellite for Italy Falcon 9
  • [ December 27, 2025 ] Launch pad issue delays again Falcon 9 launch of Italian Earth observation satellite Falcon 9
  • [ December 26, 2025 ] Former ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno joins Blue Origin News

Italian Ministry of Defense

Falcon 9

SpaceX opens 2026 with launch of Cosmo-SkyMed Earth observation satellite for Italy

January 2, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

The spacecraft was originally slated to launch nearly a week prior, but SpaceX ran into ground systems issues. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 6:09 p.m. PST (9:09 p.m. EST / 0209 UTC).

Falcon 9

Launch pad issue delays again Falcon 9 launch of Italian Earth observation satellite

December 27, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

For the second night running SpaceX scrubbed the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation satellite for Italy.

Mission Reports

Photos: Vega rocket lifts off from French Guiana

August 3, 2017 Stephen Clark

A four-stage Vega rocket streaked into space Tuesday night from French Guiana, hauling two Israeli-made satellites into polar orbit on military surveillance and environmental research missions.

Mission Reports

Vega launcher achieves on-target deployment of Earth-imaging satellites

August 2, 2017 Stephen Clark

Firing off a launch pad on the fringes of the Amazon rainforest, a European Vega rocket climbed into space Tuesday night and deployed a new optical surveillance craft for the Italian military and a French-Israeli environmental satellite to monitor vegetation, snow cover and coastal waterways.

Mission Reports

Timeline for Vega launch with Optsat 3000 and Venµs

August 1, 2017 Stephen Clark

A Vega rocket is set to deliver two satellites into similar but distinct orbits for the Italian military and the French and Israeli space agencies. Follow key events scheduled during the launch with this timeline.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Arianespace launches 10th Vega rocket

August 1, 2017 Stephen Clark

A pair of Earth-imaging satellites for the Italian military and a French-Israeli environmental monitoring project lifted off from French Guiana aboard a European Vega rocket at 0158:33 GMT Wednesday (9:58:33 p.m. EDT Tuesday).

Mission Reports

Two Israeli-built satellites set for launch Tuesday

August 1, 2017 Stephen Clark

A European Vega rocket is scheduled to launch Tuesday from a tropical spaceport in South America carrying two Israeli-built satellites for the Italian military and a French-Israeli environmental observatory.

Mission Reports

Europe’s lightweight Vega launcher nears 10th flight

July 18, 2017 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Vega rocket has been stacked on a launch pad in French Guiana for liftoff Aug. 1 with two Israeli-built satellites — one developed in partnership with the French space agency for environmental research, and another to gather intelligence for the Italian military.

News Headlines

  • Dept. of the Air Force opens bidding for Space Launch Complex 14 at Vandenberg SFB
    January 6, 2026
  • SpaceX launches first Starlink deployment mission since problem strikes satellite
    January 4, 2026
  • SpaceX opens 2026 with launch of Cosmo-SkyMed Earth observation satellite for Italy
    January 2, 2026
  • Launch pad issue delays again Falcon 9 launch of Italian Earth observation satellite
    December 27, 2025
  • Former ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno joins Blue Origin
    December 26, 2025
  • H3 rocket suffers upper stage anomaly, fails to correctly deploy navigation satellite
    December 22, 2025
  • Tory Bruno steps down as President, CEO of ULA
    December 22, 2025
  • Astronauts, launch teams practice Artemis 2 countdown
    December 21, 2025
  • Space Development Agency awards roughly $3.5 billion to 4 companies for 72 missile tracking and warning satellites
    December 20, 2025
  • Rocket Lab launches 4 novel DiskSat satellites for U.S. Space Force, NASA
    December 18, 2025
  • Home
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