March 25, 2023
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
  • Shop
Breaking News
  • [ March 24, 2023 ] Falcon 9 deploys 56 Starlink satellites on SpaceX’s 20th launch of the year Falcon 9
  • [ March 24, 2023 ] Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches BlackSky satellites from New Zealand Mission Reports
  • [ March 24, 2023 ] Live coverage: SpaceX launches 56 more Starlink internet satellites Falcon 9
  • [ March 23, 2023 ] SpaceX pausing launches of new-generation Starlink satellites Falcon 9
  • [ March 22, 2023 ] Relativity’s 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket reaches space, but falls short of orbit Mission Reports
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

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.

Mission Reports

Boeing subsidiary ready to launch satellite deorbiting experiment

November 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing subsidiary, built two small satellites awaiting launch Thursday night on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket on a mission to test the effectiveness of a drag-inducing device that could help remove spacecraft from orbit.

Posts navigation

1 2 … 5 »

News Headlines

  • Falcon 9 deploys 56 Starlink satellites on SpaceX’s 20th launch of the year
    March 24, 2023
  • Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches BlackSky satellites from New Zealand
    March 24, 2023
  • Live coverage: SpaceX launches 56 more Starlink internet satellites
    March 24, 2023
  • SpaceX pausing launches of new-generation Starlink satellites
    March 23, 2023
  • Relativity’s 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket reaches space, but falls short of orbit
    March 22, 2023
  • 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
  • Shop

© 1999-2023 Spaceflight Now Inc

Spaceflight Now