Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX aborts Falcon 9 Starlink launch at the last second for second straight day

SpaceX experienced its second consecutive last-second abort on July 20, halting an attempted Falcon 9 launch carrying Starlink broadband satellites. The event marks a back-to-back disruption to scheduled launch activity tied to the ongoing Starlink deployment campaign.

1 Source

2026-07-20T09:22:15.943442-07:00

Space.com

Study finds space launch costs down 96% since 1960; projects another steep drop by 2040

1 Source

2026-07-20T06:07:25.812781-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Skyroot Aerospace reaches orbit on maiden Vikram-1 flight, making India the third nation to field private orbital launch capabil

3 Sources

2026-07-20T01:09:53.926616-07:00

Payload

DoD expands National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract ceiling by $11.4B, tripling available awards to $17B

1 Source

2026-07-20T05:39:47.036273-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

1 source

Relativity Space, Rocket Lab and PLD Space advance next-gen orbital rocket testing ahead of 2026 debuts Relativity Space, Rocket Lab and PLD Space each announced key testing milestones for their new orbital launch vehicles—Terran R, Neutron and Miura 5. The companies say the progress is aimed at supporting first debut flights later in 2026, underscoring the push to mature new rocket programs through near-term test campaigns.

2026-07-20T12:23:11.172032-07:00

Relativity Space, Rocket Lab and PLD Space advance next-gen orbital rocket testing ahead of 2026 debuts

Space.com

1 source

SpaceX aborts Falcon 9 Starlink launch at the last second for second straight day SpaceX experienced its second consecutive last-second abort on July 20, halting an attempted Falcon 9 launch carrying Starlink broadband satellites. The event marks a back-to-back disruption to scheduled launch activity tied to the ongoing Starlink deployment campaign.

2026-07-20T09:22:15.943442-07:00

SpaceX aborts Falcon 9 Starlink launch at the last second for second straight day

Space.com

1 source

Study finds space launch costs down 96% since 1960; projects another steep drop by 2040 A new study says rocket launch costs have fallen 96% over the past six decades and could drop by nearly as much by 2040. The findings highlight how continued progress in launch technology, operations, and market structure may further compress unit economics for accessing space.

2026-07-20T06:07:25.812781-07:00

Study finds space launch costs down 96% since 1960; projects another steep drop by 2040

Payload

1 source

DoD expands National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract ceiling by $11.4B, tripling available awards to $17B The U.S. Department of Defense increased the ceiling for its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program by $11.4 billion, raising the total pool of launch contracts from $5.6 billion to $17 billion. The move more than triples the amount available for national security space launch procurement.

2026-07-20T05:39:47.036273-07:00

DoD expands National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract ceiling by $11.4B, tripling available awards to $17B

SpaceWatch Global

3 sources

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Skyroot Aerospace reaches orbit on maiden Vikram-1 flight, making India the third nation to field private orbital launch capabil Skyroot Aerospace said its Vikram-1 rocket achieved a 453 km orbit on its first flight, marking India’s third private-orbital-launch capability milestone. The successful test follows preparations for a maiden attempt after multiple delays.

2026-07-20T01:09:53.926616-07:00

Skyroot Aerospace reaches orbit on maiden Vikram-1 flight, making India the third nation to field private orbital launch capabil

Reuters

9 sources

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SpaceX targets July 23–25 for Starship test flight attempts, following last week’s hold after an engine-start issue SpaceX says it is targeting a Starship launch attempt on Thursday, July 23, after pausing the previous effort to investigate an issue detected during the Raptor engine ignition sequence. The company is also pointing to a near-term window for a 13th test flight, with an updated booster re-light approach and a first deployment of V3 Starlink satellites.

2026-07-19T15:38:22.954885-07:00

SpaceX targets July 23–25 for Starship test flight attempts, following last week’s hold after an engine-start issue

Reuters

None source

SpaceX shifts Starship launch attempt to Thursday as it readies 13th test flight of Starship and Super Heavy v3 SpaceX has moved its Starship launch attempt to Thursday, with employees gathering to watch Booster 20 roll out of the production facility to the launch pad at Starbase, Texas. The effort is aimed at the 13th test flight of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy v3 booster.

2026-07-19T15:38:22.954885-07:00

SpaceX shifts Starship launch attempt to Thursday as it readies 13th test flight of Starship and Super Heavy v3

Ars Technica

1 source

India’s first privately developed rocket reaches orbit on dramatic debut India’s first privately developed rocket achieved orbit on its debut launch, reaching the milestone on its first attempt. The event marks a significant step for domestic commercial launch capability, demonstrating progress in end-to-end launch reliability and access to space.

2026-07-19T15:23:14.199942-07:00

India’s first privately developed rocket reaches orbit on dramatic debut

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