June 16, 2025
Spaceflight Now
  • Home
  • News Archive
  • Launch Schedule
  • Mission Reports
    • Antares Launcher
    • Ariane 5
    • Atlas 5
    • Delta 4
    • Falcon 9
    • Falcon Heavy
    • H-2A
    • Soyuz
    • Space Station
  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
    • Account
  • Live
  • Shop
Breaking News
  • [ June 15, 2025 ] Live coverage: ULA to launch Atlas 5 rocket with 2nd batch of Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon Atlas 5
  • [ June 13, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
  • [ June 12, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
  • [ June 10, 2025 ] SpaceX to debut its fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft on Axiom Mission 4 Falcon 9
  • [ June 10, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Space Debris

News

Swiss company selects Arianespace to launch first space debris removal mission

May 27, 2023 Clive Simpson

Swiss-based in-orbit servicing startup ClearSpace has contracted Arianespace to launch its first debris removal mission to capture and deorbit a piece of space debris.

Mission Reports

NASA chief criticizes China for uncontrolled rocket re-entry

May 10, 2021 Stephen Clark

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Saturday that China is failing to meet “responsible standards” on space debris after a massive Long March rocket stage fell back to Earth over the Indian Ocean in an uncontrolled re-entry that is likely to be repeated with additional launches next year.

Mission Reports

Large Chinese rocket tumbling toward toward unguided re-entry this weekend

May 7, 2021 Stephen Clark

For the second time in a year, a large spent Chinese rocket stage intentionally left in orbit is heading for an unguided plunge back into Earth’s atmosphere Saturday or Sunday somewhere between 41.5 degrees north and south latitude.

Mission Reports

Chinese Long March 6 rocket delivers nine small satellites to space

April 30, 2021 Stephen Clark

Nine small Chinese satellites, including a technology experiment to test out ways to capture space debris, rode a Long March 6 rocket into orbit April 27 on a rideshare mission managed by China Great Wall Industry Corp., the government-owned enterprise charged with selling Chinese launch services on the commercial market.

Mission Reports

Privately-funded mission takes off to begin space debris cleanup trials

March 22, 2021 Stephen Clark

A commercial mission developed by the Japanese company Astroscale rocketed into space on a Russian Soyuz launcher Monday with 37 other payloads, ready to kick off an orbital “dance” with two small spacecraft demonstrating how satellite sweepers might one day drag junk out of orbit.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Soyuz launches with 38 satellites

March 19, 2021 Stephen Clark

A Russian Soyuz rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 2:07 a.m. EDT (0607 GMT) Monday with 38 small and medium-size satellites for customers in 18 countries.

Mission Reports

Soyuz rocket with special paint scheme rolls out to Baikonur launch pad

March 18, 2021 Stephen Clark

Sporting a new blue and white paint scheme to mark the upcoming 60th anniversary of the first human spaceflight, a Russian Soyuz rocket loaded with 38 international satellites has rolled out to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan ahead of a planned liftoff Saturday.

Mission Reports

Garbage pallet jettisoned from space station will stay in orbit two-to-four years

March 12, 2021 Stephen Clark

NASA ground controllers sent commands to the International Space Station on Thursday for release of a 2.9-ton cargo pallet loaded with old batteries, the most massive object ever jettisoned from the orbiting outpost. The garbage carrier is expected to remain in orbit for two-to-four years before re-entering the atmosphere.

Mission Reports

Rocket Lab recovers booster after launch with 30 small satellites

November 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab says the first stage of its Electron launcher splashed down under parachute in the Pacific Ocean off New Zealand after firing into space with 30 small satellites Thursday, becoming only the second private company to return an orbital-class booster to Earth intact.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches Electron, booster parachutes into sea

November 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket from New Zealand at 9:20 p.m. EST Thursday (0220 GMT Friday) carrying 30 small payloads into low Earth orbit. The company said the first stage of the Electron rocket splashed down in the Pacific Ocean under a parachute, a major step in Rocket Lab’s rocket reuse program.

Posts navigation

1 2 … 5 »

News Headlines

  • Live coverage: ULA to launch Atlas 5 rocket with 2nd batch of Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon
    June 15, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    June 13, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
    June 12, 2025
  • SpaceX to debut its fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft on Axiom Mission 4
    June 10, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
    June 10, 2025
  • Home
  • News Archive
  • Launch Schedule
  • Mission Reports
    • Antares Launcher
    • Ariane 5
    • Atlas 5
    • Delta 4
    • Falcon 9
    • Falcon Heavy
    • H-2A
    • Soyuz
    • Space Station
  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
    • Account
  • Live
  • Shop

© 1999-2025 Spaceflight Now Inc

Spaceflight Now