VA261 – Spaceflight Now

January 29, 2026

Breaking News

[ January 29, 2026 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 11,000th Starlink satellite to date on Thursday Falcon 9
[ January 26, 2026 ] SpaceX launches GPS 3 satellite following switch from ULA Vulcan rocket Falcon 9
[ January 25, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites to polar, low Earth orbit Falcon 9
[ January 23, 2026 ] Eastern Range ready for same day fueling of Space Launch System, Vulcan rockets Mission Reports
[ January 21, 2026 ] SpaceX launches first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9

Ending an era, Europe launches its final Ariane 5 rocket

July 6, 2023 William Harwood

Europe’s venerable Ariane 5 rocket blasted off on its 117th and final flight Wednesday, successfully boosting two communications satellites into orbit but leaving the European space program without a large satellite launcher of its own until a delayed successor comes on line.

Final Ariane 5 launch scheduled for July 4 after fixes to booster separation system

June 26, 2023 Spaceflight Now

Europe’s last Ariane 5 rocket is now scheduled to lift off July 4 after being grounded for more than two weeks due to a problem with the pyrotechnic systems required to jettison the launcher’s strap-on solid rocket boosters. Europe’s workhorse rocket is being retired after 27 years of service.