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NASA Spaceflight • Eleanor Day

Launch preview: Pegasus XL returns after 2021 hiatus amid Falcon 9 Starlink cadence and multiple Chinese missions

This week’s orbital launch manifest spans six missions worldwide, including the first Pegasus XL launch since 2021. SpaceX is driving three Falcon 9 flights for Starlink plus the Starfall demonstration and the SXM-11 mission, while China adds additional launch activity to the global schedule.

2026-06-23T15:56:16.748582-07:00

SpaceNews.com

China’s 7-meter reusable rocket development signals scale-up toward larger reentry hardware

2026-06-23T03:25:35.682728-07:00

SpaceNews.com

US Africa space strategy at risk of ceding emerging market leadership to China

2026-06-22T06:09:38.481180-07:00

SpaceNews.com

China spaceplane: LeoLabs reports orbital object release during 4th mission

2026-06-22T10:47:40.197588-07:00

Hype Analysis

China's Aviation Industry in September 2024: Key Developments and Trends

October 3, 2024 - China's aviation industry in September 2024 expanded international routes, advanced the COMAC C919, and navigated competitive pressures. Read More.

News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

Launch preview: Pegasus XL returns after 2021 hiatus amid Falcon 9 Starlink cadence and multiple Chinese missions This week’s orbital launch manifest spans six missions worldwide, including the first Pegasus XL launch since 2021. SpaceX is driving three Falcon 9 flights for Starlink plus the Starfall demonstration and the SXM-11 mission, while China adds additional launch activity to the global schedule.

2026-06-23T15:56:16.748582-07:00

Launch preview: Pegasus XL returns after 2021 hiatus amid Falcon 9 Starlink cadence and multiple Chinese missions

Associated Press

China’s Fujian carrier transits the Taiwan Strait, drawing renewed cross-strait military signaling China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, has sailed through the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The movement follows earlier reports that the carrier is nearing full operational capability, adding another major platform to Beijing’s near-term cross-strait presence.

2026-06-23T07:56:20.961277-07:00

China’s Fujian carrier transits the Taiwan Strait, drawing renewed cross-strait military signaling

SpaceNews.com

China’s 7-meter reusable rocket development signals scale-up toward larger reentry hardware A state-funded tender for tank tooling, a delivered stainless-steel forging, and launch pad planning point to China developing reusable rockets with a ~7-meter-diameter class. The industrial and ground-infrastructure steps suggest Beijing is moving from components toward a larger reusable launch system.

2026-06-23T03:25:35.682728-07:00

China’s 7-meter reusable rocket development signals scale-up toward larger reentry hardware

SpaceNews.com

China spaceplane: LeoLabs reports orbital object release during 4th mission China’s secretive spaceplane has released an object into orbit during its fourth mission, according to commercial space surveillance firm LeoLabs. The observation reinforces the program’s ongoing testing cadence and provides externally observed performance data for a vehicle that has limited public transparency.

2026-06-22T10:47:40.197588-07:00

China spaceplane: LeoLabs reports orbital object release during 4th mission

SpaceNews.com

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US Africa space strategy at risk of ceding emerging market leadership to China A commentary argues the Trump administration’s “America First in Africa” approach is insufficiently focused on space, a fast-growing sector where the US still holds decisive advantages—yet faces the risk of ceding Africa’s emerging space industry to China.

2026-06-22T06:09:38.481180-07:00

US Africa space strategy at risk of ceding emerging market leadership to China

Reuters

China’s Liaoning carrier completes 40+ days of South China Sea and Western Pacific drills, returns to port China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning and its escort vessels returned to a Chinese port after more than 40 days of drills in the South China Sea and the western Pacific, according to CCTV. The deployment length and geography underscore sustained carrier aviation and expeditionary naval operations.

2026-06-22T02:24:44.726370-07:00

China’s Liaoning carrier completes 40+ days of South China Sea and Western Pacific drills, returns to port

Air Data News

COMAC begins taxi tests of C919-600 high-altitude variant for plateau airport operations COMAC has started taxi testing of the shortened C919-600, a new narrowbody configuration intended to support operations from high-altitude airports such as those on the Tibetan Plateau. The ground-test step signals the program’s move toward proving suitability for challenging airport conditions.

2026-06-21T10:46:32.509803-07:00

COMAC begins taxi tests of C919-600 high-altitude variant for plateau airport operations

SpaceNews.com

Tsinghua University spacecraft to join international Apophis study mission during 2029 Earth close approach A spacecraft developed by Tsinghua University is set to join an international mission to study asteroid Apophis during its 2029 close approach to Earth. The contribution underscores growing academic and national participation in near-Earth object science during the key encounter window.

2026-06-19T03:51:12.914536-07:00

Tsinghua University spacecraft to join international Apophis study mission during 2029 Earth close approach

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China News

Launch preview: Pegasus XL returns after 2021 hiatus amid Falcon 9 Starlink cadence and multiple Chinese missions

China’s 7-meter reusable rocket development signals scale-up toward larger reentry hardware

US Africa space strategy at risk of ceding emerging market leadership to China

China spaceplane: LeoLabs reports orbital object release during 4th mission

Hype Analysis

China's Aviation Industry in September 2024: Key Developments and Trends

News Timeline