Launch
2,077 articles
Fresh batteries, experiments on the way to the International Space Station
A Japanese H-2B rocket fired into orbit Tuesday from the Tanegashima Space Center with an automated cargo freighter loaded with more than 4.1 tons of batteries, experiments, spacewalk equipment, water and provisions for the International Space Station.
VideoLive coverage: Japanese cargo freighter launches from Tanegashima
Two weeks after a launch pad fire forced a delay, a Japanese H-2B rocket lifted off Tuesday with an HTV cargo freighter to deliver upgraded batteries, experiments and provisions to the International Space Station. Liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center occurred at 1605 GMT (12:05 p.m. EDT) Tuesday.
VideoSoyuz rocket in position for launch of next station crew
The Russian Soyuz rocket that will carry a three-person crew to the International Space Station Wednesday has arrived on its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Two more satellites launched into China’s Beidou navigation fleet
China added two more satellites to the country's Beidou navigation fleet -- an analog to the U.S. military's GPS network -- with a successful Long March 3B rocket launch Sunday.
Japanese cargo launch reset for Tuesday after fire
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the prime contractor for Japan's H-2B rocket, said Friday that engineers concluded a fire on the launch pad during a countdown earlier this month was most likely sparked by static electricity and stimulated by oxygen. The H-2B rocket launch has been rescheduled for Tuesday to start a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
Five Chinese smallsats launched by Long March 11 rocket
Five commercial Earth-imaging satellites rode a Long March 11 rocket into orbit Thursday from the Jiuquan space base in northwestern China.
Starlink to fill lion’s share of SpaceX near-term launch manifest
SpaceX plans as many as 24 launches next year to build out the company's Starlink network to provide broadband Internet service from space, following up to four more Starlink missions before the end of this year, according to SpaceX's chief operating officer.
SES selects SpaceX for two Falcon 9 launches
Two SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches will loft seven high-throughput broadband satellites for SES's O3b mPower constellation in 2021, SES announced this week.
China launches Earth-observing satellites, solar sail experiment
Two Earth-imaging satellites and an experimental solar sail payload rocketed into orbit Thursday aboard a Chinese Long March 4B launcher, the first flight for China's Long March 4 rocket family since an upper stage failure in May.
VideoSpace station cargo mission grounded by launch pad fire
Japanese officials called off the launch of an H-2B rocket and HTV space station cargo ship Tuesday after a fire broke out on the launch pad at the Tanegashima Space Center.