Launch

NASA has announced that it will be using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the first elements of its future Moon-orbiting space station. The initial outpost modules are currently expected to launch no earlier than May 2024.

SpaceX's has set a new record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket at one time, deploying 143 CubeSats and microsats, including another 10 Starlink communication satellites, during the first of its SmallSat Rideshare Program missions.

It was the second time's a charm as Virgin Orbit's airdropped LauncherOne rocket put 10 NASA payloads into orbit on the second attempt in less than eight months, sending 10 NASA CubeSat payloads into low-Earth orbit under the Launch Services Program.

Virgin Orbit is preparing its pilots, Cosmic Girl mothership and LauncherOne rocket for a second attempt at orbital flight, today announcing that its Launch Demo 2 mission will take place a week before Christmas.

A booster failure in early July threatened to derail Rocket Lab's momentum, but the company appears to have taken the setback in its stride with a successful return to the launchpad today that saw it deliver a 100-kg satellite into orbit.

SpaceX’s rocket landings have now become so routine that it’s easy to forget such a thing had never been accomplished five years ago. Today, it sent up and welcomed back the same refurbished Falcon 9 rocket for a record sixth time.

Rocket Lab experienced a notable hiccup in early July, when one of its Electron boosters was lost on its way to orbit, along with the seven satellites onboard. The company now claims to have pinpointed the source of the problem.

The United Arab Emirates has successfully launched its first interplanetary mission. This morning, Al Amal, or the Hope Probe, took off from Japan at 6:58 am Monday 20th July (local time), and is currently headed towards Mars.

NASA and ESA have announced that the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope has been delayed to October 2021. A recently-completed schedule risk assessment recommended the delay, due to challenges raised by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A review team has concluded its investigation of NASA and Boeing’s failed Starliner launch last year. Some 80 recommendations for future missions were put forward across several categories. Both organizations also conducted internal investigations.

Rocket Lab has made some impressive gains lately as a relatively young space startup focused on launching small satellites to orbit, but the latest outing of its Electron booster hasn’t quite gone to plan, ending in the "safe loss" of the vehicle.

Virgin Orbit has come up short on its first attempt to reach orbit today after the mission was terminated soon after ignition of its LauncherOne rocket, with the team now working through the data and gearing up for its next attempt.