Breaking Defense reports, “China has been abandoning used launcher rocket stages in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an ever-increasing pace, putting both military and commercial satellites in that crowded orbital regime at greater risk of serious debris-creating collisions, according to a new report.”
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Tag: Astronautics
SpaceX Tests Next-Generation Orbital Cargo Return Capability
Aviation Week reports, “A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket dispatched a new spacecraft designed to return science samples and items manufactured in microgravity back to Earth, a service the company intends to sell to researchers and entrepreneurs.”
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SpaceX Continues Starlink Expansion with California Launch
SPACE reports a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Launch took place “at 12:39 p.m. EDT (1639 GMT or 9:39 a.m. PDT local time) from Space Launch Complex 4 East … SpaceX confirmed deployment of the Starlink batch (Group 17-28) about an hour after their launch.”
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Video
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 24 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base (Launch occurs at the 0:07 mark)
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
SpaceX Conducts Latest National Security Launch for NRO
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched its third mission this year supporting the National Reconnaissance Office’s constellation of intelligence-gathering satellites.The mission, dubbed NROL-179, launched an undisclosed number of satellites into orbit as part of what the NRO calls its proliferated architecture constellation.”
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Video
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from California with satellites for NRO (Launch occurs at the 29:46 mark).
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
Arianespace Sends Heaviest-Ever Payload to Orbit on Amazon Leo Mission
Spaceflight Now reports, “Arianespace launched its largest and heaviest payload to date on a version of its Ariane 6 rocket that incorporated new solid rocket boosters Wednesday morning. The mission was designated VA269 by Arianespace and Leo Europe 03 (LE-03) by Amazon. It sent 36 Amazon Leo broadband internet satellites into low Earth orbit.”
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Video
An Ariane 6 rocket launches 36 Amazon Leo satellites from Kourou, French Guiana (Launch occurs at the 58:55 mark).
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
Call for Papers for Modeling for Space Sustainability Virtual Collection
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets invites submissions for its Modeling for Space Sustainability virtual collection. This collection seeks papers that advance space environment modeling or demonstrate model-driven decision support for managing and preserving the space environment, particularly in Low Earth Orbit. Manuscript submissions are due by 31 August 2026.
SpaceX Launches First Block 2 BlueBird Satellites for AST SpaceMobile
Spaceflight Now reports, “AST SpaceMobile bounced back from the loss of its BlueBird 7 satellite last month with the launch of three more in the predawn hours of Wednesday morning. The company launched BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.”
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Video
SpaceX Launches First Block 2 BlueBird Satellites for AST SpaceMobile (Launch occurs at the 1:00:28 mark)
Spaceflight Now; YouTube; Framegrab
SpaceX Cargo Capsule Heads Home After ISS Resupply Mission
SPACE reports, “A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is headed back to Earth. The robotic Dragon undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) today at 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT), about 20 minutes later than originally planned. The departure occurred while the two spacecraft were flying about 260 miles (418 kilometers) above the northern Pacific Ocean, NASA officials said during today’s undocking livestream.”
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Canadarm2 Malfunction Prompts Upcoming ISS Spacewalk
SPACE reports a part of Canadarm2 robotic arm on the ISS broke in May, requiring repairs by spacewalking astronauts no earlier than June 30. A spare is already on the…
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Space Force Advances Plans for New Vandenberg Launch Pad
Spaceflight Now reports, “The U.S. Space Force is seeking potential users of a new launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base reserved for smaller rockets. The Space Force released a request for information June 8 seeking interest from launch vehicle operators in Space Launch Complex (SLC) 9, a proposed launch site at Vandenberg that would be used for small- and medium-class launch vehicles. Responses to the RFI are due July 8.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)