Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

AST SpaceMobile pushes Direct-to-Device commercial launch to early 2027; raises $1B via share sale and flags potential vertical

AST SpaceMobile has rescheduled its commercial Direct-to-Device (D2D) service launch to early 2027, moving it from a prior late-2026 timeline. The company also launched a share sale to raise $1 billion and said it may consider vertical integration in its launch efforts.

2 Sources

2026-07-16T13:50:47.084854-07:00

Via Satellite

Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign with 21 satellites; alongside rising global (and European) space econ

7 Sources

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00

European Spaceflight

ESA selects Ariane 6 for HENON CubeSat launch to demonstrate future solar storm monitoring

3 Sources

2026-07-16T08:16:12.287228-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3

4 Sources

2026-07-16T03:17:02.860166-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Via Satellite

2 sources

AST SpaceMobile pushes Direct-to-Device commercial launch to early 2027; raises $1B via share sale and flags potential vertical AST SpaceMobile has rescheduled its commercial Direct-to-Device (D2D) service launch to early 2027, moving it from a prior late-2026 timeline. The company also launched a share sale to raise $1 billion and said it may consider vertical integration in its launch efforts.

2026-07-16T13:50:47.084854-07:00

AST SpaceMobile pushes Direct-to-Device commercial launch to early 2027; raises $1B via share sale and flags potential vertical

Via Satellite

7 sources

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Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign with 21 satellites; alongside rising global (and European) space econ SpaceX’s Falcon 9 returned to service for the Space Force’s Space Development Agency with a July 16 launch of 21 satellites, resuming the first operational low-Earth-orbit military data network after a months-long pause tied to on-orbit software and hardware issues. The wider context: record global launches, accelerating defense spend, and Europe rebuilding sovereign launch capacity—while Earth Observation data access shifts toward more frequent imagery and lower costs, supported by managed EO services.

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00

Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign with 21 satellites; alongside rising global (and European) space econ

SpaceNews.com

2 sources

DIU seeks commercial proposals for space-based power-beaming demonstration within two years The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is soliciting commercial proposals for space-based “utility” power solutions—producing electricity in space and beaming it to spacecraft and, potentially, from orbit to Earth. DIU aims for a demonstration within two years and an operationally relevant transition by the end of the decade.

2026-07-16T08:44:48.269276-07:00

DIU seeks commercial proposals for space-based power-beaming demonstration within two years

European Spaceflight

3 sources

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ESA selects Ariane 6 for HENON CubeSat launch to demonstrate future solar storm monitoring ESA has chosen Ariane 6 to launch its HENON CubeSat mission, aimed at demonstrating a future capability to monitor solar storms. The launch will carry a deep-space smallsat payload designed to validate space-weather observation concepts.

2026-07-16T08:16:12.287228-07:00

ESA selects Ariane 6 for HENON CubeSat launch to demonstrate future solar storm monitoring

Space.com

4 sources

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SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3 SpaceX carried out a Starship Flight 13 mission launching 21 U.S. military “Tranche 1 Transport Layer” satellites from California and said it would deploy the first Starlink V3 satellites for the first time. The mission also comes as SpaceX approaches 10,839 working satellites across its Starlink fleet.

2026-07-16T03:17:02.860166-07:00

SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3

Space.com

None source

SpaceX will launch Starship, the world's largest rocket, on critical Flight 13 test today. Here's what to expect.

2026-07-16T03:17:02.860166-07:00

SpaceX will launch Starship, t

Inflight Online

1 source

Atlas V completes Amazon Leo’s final mission as constellation grows to 396 satellites Amazon’s Project Leo constellation expanded to 396 satellites following a 29-satellite Atlas V launch, which marked the completion of Atlas V’s final Leo mission. The deployment sequence is positioned to transition toward Vulcan-powered high-rate rollout and initial service operations.

2026-07-16T02:46:41.654651-07:00

Atlas V completes Amazon Leo’s final mission as constellation grows to 396 satellites

Space.com

1 source

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS NASA is ramping up preparations for Artemis III, targeting a 2027 launch of its next crewed moon mission. The flight is planned to ride atop the Space Launch System (SLS), and the agency is stepping up work ahead of the astronaut launch next year.

2026-07-15T15:17:08.358902-07:00

NASA accelerates Artemis III preparations for 2027 crewed lunar launch on SLS

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