return to flight – Spaceflight Now

September 16, 2026

Breaking News

[ September 15, 2026 ] SpaceX scrubs Vandenberg launch of national security payload, targets backup window on Wednesday Falcon 9
[ September 15, 2026 ] Avio launches pair of climate monitoring European spacecraft to study plants, oceans and atmospheric changes News
[ September 13, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES Falcon 9
[ September 9, 2026 ] SpaceX launches classified payload for the U.S. Space Force Falcon 9
[ September 5, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 80th Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9

SpaceX launches return to flight Falcon 9 mission following brief stand down

February 7, 2026 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX halted launches for less than a week following an in-flight anomaly. Liftoff of the Starlink 17-33 mission happened at 12:58:09 p.m. PST (3:58:09 p.m. EST / 2058:09 UTC).

SpaceX completes Falcon 9 static fire test amid return to flight campaign

July 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

An upper stage anomaly during the Starlink 9-3 mission on July 11 grounded the Falcon 9 rocket. The FAA is evaluating SpaceX’s request for a public safety determination to resume launches.

Rocket Lab successfully completes return-to-flight Electron launch

December 14, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Rocket Lab launched its first flight of the Electron rocket since a failure on Sept. 19. The 42nd mission for the small-satellite launcher lifted off on Dec. 15 from New Zealand 1705 NZDT (0405 UTC or 11:05 p.m. EST).