SpaceNews reports that Blue Origin is seeking permission to significantly increase the launch rate of its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral as it continues recovering from a May pad explosion. The FAA released a draft environmental assessment Sept. 29 examining a proposal to boost launches from Launch Complex 36 “from 12 to 50 per year.” The increase would support a substantially higher flight cadence for New Glenn from Florida.
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Tag: launch
SpaceX Launches 27 Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg
An early-evening Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base added another 27 satellites to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. The rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at 6:47 p.m. PDT Saturday, marking the 81st Starlink mission of the year. Spaceflight Now reported that the Falcon 9 “hugged the Californian coast line” as it flew on a southeasterly trajectory after liftoff and “would have been visible to millions” along the way.
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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from California with 27 Starlink satellites (Launch occurs at the 30:46 mark).
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
SpaceX Launches Classified U.S. Space Force Mission from Vandenberg
SpaceX successfully launched its latest national security mission for the U.S. Space Force on Thursday, sending the classified USSF-153 payload into low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Spaceflight Now reports the mission carried “an undisclosed number of satellites” from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Because of the classified nature of the flight, SpaceX provided few details about the payload or its post-launch activities. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster successfully landed about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches September 2, 2026, from California (Launch occurs at the 30:12 mark).
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
Space Force Launch Plans Grow by 91 Missions and Nearly $17 Billion
Air & Space Forces Magazine reports the U.S. Space Force is preparing for a significant expansion of its launch program as demand for national security space capabilities grows. The service expects the scope of its main launch program to “grow by 91 missions and nearly $17 billion by fiscal 2032,” according to the latest National Security Space Launch selected acquisition report. The update puts NSSL’s total expected procurement at $76 billion for 337 launches between fiscal 2004 and 2032.
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Completes 35th Flight in Starlink Launch
SPACE reports a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 27 Starlink satellites from California early this morning (Sept. 2). It was the 35th flight for the rocket’s first stage, Booster 1063, “just two shy of the SpaceX reuse record,” Space.com reports.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches September 2, 2026, from California (Launch occurs at the 30:12 mark).
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
Ariane 6 Carries Next-Generation European Weather Satellite to Orbit
SPACE reports “Europe’s most powerful rocket flew again today (Aug. 27). An Ariane 6 launched the MTG-I2 weather satellite from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana today (Aug. 27) at 4:10 p.m. EDT (2010 GMT; 5:10 p.m. local time in Kourou), right at the beginning of a 2.5-hour window.”
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Ariane 6 rocket launches weather satellite August 27, 2026 from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. (Launch occurs at the 0:12 mark)
VideoFromSpace; YouTube
Roman Space Telescope Set for Aug. 30 Launch After 16-Year Journey
Space News reports, “A NASA space telescope that promises to revolutionize cosmology and exoplanet science is ready for launch after a 16-year journey.”
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SpaceX Caps Starlink Double Header With 24-Satellite California Launch
SPACE reports SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink global internet satellite constellation to orbit from “from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Aug. 12, at 12:46 p.m. EDT (0346 GMT; 9:46 p.m. local time). The mission, Starlink Group 17-49, carried 24 of the broadband spacecraft to low Earth orbit (LEO) to join SpaceX’s growing constellation of more than 10,000 satellites.”
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Video
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from California
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
SpaceX Marks 90th Orbital Mission of the Year with Starlink Launch
The Starlink 17-52 mission is SpaceX’s 90th orbital launch of the year so far. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 8:08 p.m….
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SpaceX to Launch First Starlink V3 Satellites on Starship Test Flight
Spaceflight Now reports the mission will also test out a series of improvements to the launcher to help push it closer to full reusability. “Liftoff from Pad 2 at SpaceX’s Starbase facilities in southern Texas is scheduled during a 90-minute window that opens at 5:45 p.m. CDT (6:45 p.m. EDT / 2245 UTC).”
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