Tag: Falcon 9
-
SpaceX launches Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane to demo laser communications, quantum navigation
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaks away from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to begin the USSF-36 mission with the X-37B spaceplane onboard. More than eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster, tail number 1092, landed with a sonic boom at Landing Zone 2. Image: John Pisani/Spaceflight Now Update Aug. 22,…
-
X-37B launches USSF-36 mission aboard Falcon 9
The U.S. Department of Defense’s reusable X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) has embarked on its eighth overall flight into orbit. Vehicle 1, the first X-37B to fly, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 11:50 PM EDT (03:50 UTC on Friday, Aug. 22).…
-
Launch preview: SpaceX to launch X-37B military spaceplane on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center
The X-37B on the runway at Vandenberg Space Force Base following its landing there on March 7, 2025. Image: U.S. Space Force. Update Aug. 20, 12:56 p.m. EDT: Added additional information from the 45th Weather Squadron. The U.S. Space Force and SpaceX are preparing to launch the Boeing-built X-37B spaceplane on its eighth mission shortly…
-
Launch Roundup: SpaceX, Chinese, and Russian missions make up busy week
Two Chinese rockets, a pair of Russian missions, a trio of Falcon 9 launches, a New Shepard, an Electron, and the long-awaited tenth flight of Starship were scheduled to fly this week. In Russia, a Soyuz rocket launched a modernized version of the Vostok capsule that flew crewed missions in the 1960s from Baikonur, while…
-
SpaceX flies 24 Starlink satellites on its 100th Falcon 9 rocket launch of 2025
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base to begin the Starlink 17-5 mission on Aug. 18, 2025. Image: SpaceX Update Aug. 18, 2:36 p.m. EDT: SpaceX confirmed deployment of its 24 Starlink satellites. SpaceX launched its 100th Falcon 9 rocket of the year Monday morning.…
-
B1091 “A Heavy Core in Falcon 9 Clothing”
SpaceX’s recent launch involved another successful landing of its Falcon 9 booster, but this time marked a Falcon Heavy center core booster launching and landing as a single-stick Falcon 9 rocket. The booster, designated B1091, powered the KF-02 mission, deploying 24 satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband constellation into low Earth orbit. This event marks…
-
Launch Roundup: Vulcan and Ariane launch ahead of Starlink missions
After a week of weather delays across the U.S, launch cadence increases as providers strive to catch up with the backlog. An Ariane 6 carrying a weather satellite launched ahead of a navigational technology satellite and a classified payload launched atop Vulcan. A Chinese Chang Zheng 5B rocket also launched on Wednesday. Three Falcon 9…
-
SpaceX launches Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites on fifth scheduled attempt
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 broadband internet satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper low Earth orbit constellation lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update Aug. 11, 9:15 a.m. EDT: SpaceX landed the booster on its droneship. After four…
-
SpaceX launches first Falcon 9 rocket from West Coast in two weeks
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flies away from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base on the Starlink 17-4 mission on Aug. 13, 2025. Image: SpaceX Update Aug. 14, 1:27 p.m. EDT: SpaceX pushed back the T-0 liftoff time. After a two-week launch hiatus from California, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket…
-
Poor weather scrubs SpaceX’s second launch attempt to launch 24 Amazon Project Kuiper satellites from Cape Canaveral
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands vertical at the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of the launch of the KF-02 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband internet satellite constellation. Image: SpaceX Update Aug. 7, 10:18 a.m. EDT: SpaceX scrubbed the launch attempt; updating weather information.…