Launch Systems
34 reportsThe record combines stage separation, range safety, and rocket propulsion. Its limits become clear when asking how rockets reach orbit and what causes launch failures, distinguishing a planned capability from one verified after deployment.
SpaceX to Retire Falcon 9 as Starship Nears Operational Status
SpaceX has announced plans to phase out its Falcon 9 rocket once the Starship launch system achieves reliable, frequent operations. The transition could reshape commercial launch access and mission planning for years ahead
China Delays Chang'e 7 Moon South Pole Launch Amid Severe Weather
China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission, designed to search for water ice near the Moon's south pole, has been postponed due to a tropical depression threatening the Hainan launch site. The new launch window remains uncertain
Japan Prepares MMX Spacecraft for Mars Moon Sample Return Launch
Japan has revealed its MMX spacecraft, scheduled to launch on October 19, aiming to collect and return samples from Mars' moon Phobos. The mission will test new sample-return technology and address key questions about the origins of Mars' moons.
Agila-2 Launch Marks Philippines' Entry Into Satellite Operations
On August 19, 1997, the Philippines launched Agila-2 aboard a Long March 3B rocket, marking the nation's first domestically operated satellite and expanding regional communications coverage
Private Chinese Rocket Zhuque-3 Achieves First Landed Booster Recovery
LandSpace's Zhuque-3 rocket has become the first privately built Chinese orbital-class launcher to successfully land its first stage, marking a significant step for reusable launch technology in China
SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Recovered Intact After Indian Ocean Splashdown
SpaceX's Starship Ship 40, which completed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after its July test flight, has been successfully towed to calmer waters near Christmas Island for engineering analysis
China Resumes Rocket Launches After Long March 7A Failure
China's space program has returned to flight just days after a Long March 7A rocket failure, successfully launching two separate missions with the Long March 12 and Long March 2C vehicles to low Earth orbit
Blue Origin Expands Cape Canaveral Site for New Glenn 9x4 Rocket
Blue Origin is rebuilding its Cape Canaveral launch complex after a New Glenn rocket explosion, while also constructing a second pad and new facilities to support the larger New Glenn 9x4 variant still in development
NASA's M2-F1 Lifting Body Demonstrates Controlled Glide Landing in 1963
NASA's M2-F1 prototype, a wingless lifting body aircraft, completed its first unpowered glide flight on August 16, 1963, providing early evidence that spacecraft could return to Earth with controlled landings rather than ballistic descent
SpaceX Rocket Impact on Moon Raises Safety Questions for Lunar Missions
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage collided with the lunar surface near Einstein Crater, prompting new scrutiny of debris risks as lunar exploration and infrastructure expand
NASA Artemis Launch Team Welcomes New Test Project Engineer
NASA's Artemis program has added Lindsey Waitt as a test project engineer, supporting launch operations for upcoming Moon missions. Her appointment highlights the technical demands and collaborative environment of Artemis launch preparations.
Rocket Lab Reveals GHOST Portable Launch System for Flexible Missions
Rocket Lab has introduced GHOST, a portable launch infrastructure designed to enable rapid deployment of Electron and HASTE rockets from almost any location, aiming to support both orbital and hypersonic test missions with increased flexibility
Japan's H3 Rocket Delivers Michibiki 7 Navigation Satellite to Orbit
Japan's H3 launch vehicle has successfully placed the 10,800-pound Michibiki 7 navigation satellite into geosynchronous orbit, marking a key step in expanding the nation's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System
Long March 7A Rocket Explodes 85 Seconds After Launch in China
A Long March 7A rocket carrying the Zhongxing-4B satellite exploded less than two minutes after liftoff from Wenchang, raising questions about the reliability of China's medium-lift launch vehicles and the impact on future missions
SpaceX Outlines Plan for Robotic Factories on the Moon
SpaceX has detailed its intention to construct automated factories on the lunar surface, aiming to use robots for manufacturing satellites and key components, as discussed during the company's first quarterly earnings call as a public company
Landspace Schedules Second Zhuque-3 Rocket Landing Attempt for August 10
Chinese launch company Landspace plans a renewed attempt to recover its Zhuque-3 orbital rocket booster, targeting liftoff and powered landing from Jiuquan spaceport on August 10 following a previous failed recovery in 2025
NASA Joins Artemis III Orion Crew and Service Modules for Lunar Mission
Technicians at Kennedy Space Center have integrated the Orion crew and service modules for Artemis III, a key milestone ahead of the mission to test lunar landing system rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit
SpaceX Launches Three BlueBird Satellites for Direct-to-Cell Network
A Falcon 9 rocket is set to deploy three AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral, expanding a low Earth orbit constellation designed to deliver broadband directly to standard smartphones.
How a Falcon 9 Upper Stage Ended Up Bound for the Moon
A Falcon 9 upper stage abandoned in a high Earth orbit is expected to hit the Moon on August 5, 2026, after gravity and solar activity gradually altered its trajectory
Stratolaunch's Talon-A passes 10-flight hypersonic milestone
Stratolaunch has completed more than 10 successful flights of its reusable Talon-A test vehicle, giving researchers a repeatable platform for examining materials, sensors and other technologies at speeds above Mach 5
Starship Captured on Video by a Starlink V3 Satellite
A camera-equipped Starlink V3 satellite recorded SpaceX's Starship upper stage after Flight 13, offering an unusual view of the vehicle's engines, thrusters and separation in space
Chinese Long March 3B Rocket Struck by Lightning Survives Launch
A Long March 3B rocket was hit by lightning seconds after liftoff from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, yet continued its ascent and successfully deployed a geostationary relay satellite to support China's Tiangong space station
SpaceX Starship Remains Afloat in Indian Ocean After Test Splashdown
SpaceX's Starship Version 3 upper stage was photographed floating intact in the Indian Ocean five days after its July 24 flight test, offering a rare look at the vehicle's post-splashdown condition and raising questions about rapid reusability
NASA Assigns SunRISE Mission to SpaceX Falcon Heavy After Vulcan Issues
NASA's SunRISE mission, designed to study solar radio bursts, will now launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy after technical concerns paused United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur flights
NASA Moves Artemis IV Hydrogen Tank for Core Stage Testing
A 130-foot liquid hydrogen tank for Artemis IV was transported at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility, marking a key step toward core stage testing for the Space Launch System rocket
Artemis IV Landing Debate: South Pole or Lunar Equator for Crew Safety
NASA's Artemis IV mission faces a critical decision: whether to target the moon's challenging south pole or opt for a safer equatorial landing, as astronaut Victor Glover urges a reassessment of mission priorities and safety constraints
NASA to Equip Artemis III Orion with Starlink Laser Terminals
NASA will install SpaceX Starlink laser communication terminals on the Artemis III Orion spacecraft, aiming to boost high-definition video and data transmission capabilities during the mission scheduled for 2027
Artemis III to Test NASA's Most Complex Multi-Spacecraft Mission Yet
NASA's Artemis III mission will attempt a coordinated two-week operation involving four astronauts and three independently launched spacecraft, aiming to validate critical lunar landing technologies in low Earth orbit
Rocket Launch Costs Plummet but New Barriers Emerge for Space Access
A new analysis of more than 4,400 launches reveals that the average cost to send a kilogram to orbit has dropped by 96% since 1960, but future reductions may be limited by debris, market dominance, and geopolitical shifts
SpaceX Starship Test Aborted as Defense and Science Missions Advance
SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test launch was halted seconds before liftoff, highlighting ongoing technical challenges as the company expands its role in US military and scientific space operations
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