Launches & Spacecraft

Latest about Launches & Spacecraft

a small white space plane comes down for a landing at a runway in the desert

How SpaceShipOne's historic launch 20 years ago paved the way for a new space tourism era

By Leonard David published

On June 21, 2004, SpaceShipOne reached the final frontier for the first time, notching a huge milestone for private spaceflight and paving the way for space tourism.

Launches & Spacecraft
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

How to watch SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launch NOAA's GOES-U satellite today

By Meredith Garofalo published

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy is scheduled to launch NOAA's GOES-U weather satellite on June 25. Here's how to watch live.

Launches & Spacecraft
three astronauts standing in a row in flight suits, smiling with their hands crossed

Virgin Galactic announces international crew for flight on new Delta class space plane

By Elizabeth Howell published

Virgin Galactic announced a private mission with three researchers, which will fly no earlier than 2026 aboard the new Delta class of aircraft.

Launches & Spacecraft
blistering white flames burst from the two nozels piped on either side of the bottom of a rocket, fixed with two dark metalic engines shining through the smoke, shooting out a faint blue flame like two diamonds toward the ground.

Pentagon picks SpaceX, Blue Origin and ULA for $5.6 billion launch deal

By Andrew Jones published

SpaceX, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance will compete for National Security Space Launch contracts worth up to $5.6 billion across fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Launches & Spacecraft
a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a blue sky.

SpaceX rocket launches European TV satellite, makes 250th droneship landing (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched the SES Astra 1P telecom satellite on June 20, and then achieved its 250th landing on a droneship.

Launches & Spacecraft
a black and white rocket launches into a night sky

Rocket Lab launches 5 IoT satellites on landmark 50th mission (video)

By Andrew Jones published

Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket for the 50th time on Thursday (June 20), reaching the milestone in record time.

Launches & Spacecraft
Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane lights its rocket motor during the Galactic 06 suborbital mission, which launched on Jan. 26, 2024.

Watch an awe-inspiring video from final flight of Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity spaceplane

By Samantha Mathewson published

Virgin Galactic shared an awe-inspiring video from the final flight of its VSS Unity space plane.

Launches & Spacecraft
a black rocket stands on a launch pad beneath cloudy skies

Watch Rocket Lab launch its Electron vehicle for the 50th time today

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab plans to launch its Electron vehicle for the 50th time today (June 20), and you can watch the milestone moment live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.

SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched 20 of its Starlink satellites from California on Tuesday night (June 18), ending a 10-day spaceflight drought for the company.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket aborts its launch during engine ignition billowing spoke from the pad

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket suffers rare last-second abort during Starlink satellite launch (video)

By Tariq Malik published

A SpaceX rocket suffered a last-second abort during the attempted launch of 22 Starlink internet satellites from Florida on Friday (June 14).

Launches & Spacecraft
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