STP-27RD – Spaceflight Now

May 26, 2026

Breaking News

[ May 26, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
[ May 24, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on Memorial Day Falcon 9
[ May 23, 2026 ] Musk praises “epic” Super Heavy-Starship launch Mission Reports
[ May 21, 2026 ] Launch preview: SpaceX tries again for first launch of its Starship Version 3 rocket Mission Reports
[ May 20, 2026 ] SpaceX’s sunrise Starlink launch adds 29 satellites to low Earth orbit megaconstellation Falcon 9

Rocket Lab deploys experimental U.S. military smallsats on first night launch

May 5, 2019 Stephen Clark

On its first nighttime launch, Rocket Lab’s Electron booster climbed into orbit Sunday from New Zealand with a trio of small U.S. military payloads, demonstrating the privately-developed rocket’s ability to help meet the Air Force’s growing demand for smallsat launches.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches three U.S. military smallsats

May 4, 2019 Stephen Clark

Three experimental satellites sponsored by the U.S. military lifted off on an Electron rocket from Rocket Lab’s commercial spaceport in New Zealand on Sunday at 0600 GMT (2 a.m. EDT).