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Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

USSF moves GPS III-9 onto SpaceX Falcon 9 after switch from ULA Vulcan

The U.S. Space Force will launch its ninth GPS III navigation satellite into medium Earth orbit Monday night aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 after reassigning the mission from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The transfer highlights schedule pressure and procurement flexibility in national GPS sustainment.

2026-01-25T17:12:43.968394-08:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into polar LEO from Vandenberg

2026-01-24T19:43:21.288781-08:00

European Spaceflight

ESA awards Rocket Factory Augsburg two RFA One launches under Flight Ticket Initiative

2026-01-23T21:11:29.526862-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on NG‑3 carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird

2026-01-22T15:37:12.595782-08:00

News Timeline

SpaceWatch Global

U.S. launch infrastructure under strain as orbital cadence spikes A sharp rise in U.S. orbital launch activity is straining launch pads, range and recovery infrastructure, creating scheduling bottlenecks and prompting concerns about an emerging low‑Earth‑orbit “traffic jam.” Range operators and industry face harder trade‑offs between sustaining cadence, safety and capacity.

2026-01-26T03:18:12.352003-08:00

U.S. launch infrastructure under strain as orbital cadence spikes

Spaceflight Now

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USSF moves GPS III-9 onto SpaceX Falcon 9 after switch from ULA Vulcan The U.S. Space Force will launch its ninth GPS III navigation satellite into medium Earth orbit Monday night aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 after reassigning the mission from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The transfer highlights schedule pressure and procurement flexibility in national GPS sustainment.

2026-01-25T17:12:43.968394-08:00

USSF moves GPS III-9 onto SpaceX Falcon 9 after switch from ULA Vulcan

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into polar LEO from Vandenberg SpaceX will launch 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, inserting the batch into a polar low Earth orbit. Falcon 9 will depart on a southerly trajectory to place the broadband payload into polar LEO.

2026-01-24T19:43:21.288781-08:00

SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into polar LEO from Vandenberg

European Spaceflight

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ESA awards Rocket Factory Augsburg two RFA One launches under Flight Ticket Initiative The European Space Agency has awarded Rocket Factory Augsburg a Flight Ticket Initiative contract to launch two missions aboard its RFA One rocket. The deal secures two dedicated flights for the German small-launch developer under ESA's commercial procurement scheme, supporting future orbital missions.

2026-01-23T21:11:29.526862-08:00

ESA awards Rocket Factory Augsburg two RFA One launches under Flight Ticket Initiative

SpaceNews.com

Startups book 2027 Falcon 9 rideshares to offer low‑cost memorial 'ashes in orbit' services Two startups are turning funerary services into rideshare payloads: Space Beyond has booked a slot on SpaceX's October 2027 Falcon 9 rideshare and will begin building its first memorial cubesat next week, while AstroRemains plans to place the ashes of 1,000 people into orbit in 2027 for $2,500 each.

2026-01-23T10:01:47.000520-08:00

Startups book 2027 Falcon 9 rideshares to offer low‑cost memorial 'ashes in orbit' services

SpaceNews.com

Launch operators are the rocket fuel required to galvanize spaceports in Europe Europe's nascent spaceports need committed launch operators to convert facilities into sustainable hubs. Consistent launch cadence, commercial customers and operator-led operational expertise are the catalysts that will attract investment, accelerate regulatory approvals and turn dispersed launch infrastructure into functioning access-to-orbit ecosystems.

2026-01-23T05:15:59.377468-08:00

Launch operators are the rocket fuel required to galvanize spaceports in Europe

European Spaceflight

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ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025 The European Space Agency has issued a call for tender for a technical study into the breakup and uncontrolled re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage forecast to descend over Poland in early 2025. The work will model fragmentation, debris footprint and re-entry risks to inform mitigation and response planning.

2026-01-23T00:32:40.903556-08:00

ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025

SpaceWatch Global

WSW 2026: SSC's Armelle Frenea Schmidt on science and suborbital flights At WSW 2026, Daniela Jovic sits down with Armelle Frenea Schmidt, Business Development Director for Science Services at Swedish Space Corporation, to discuss SSC's role in science and suborbital flight services. The interview focuses on SSC's capabilities and market approach for research-focused suborbital missions.

2026-01-22T22:53:30.226021-08:00

WSW 2026: SSC's Armelle Frenea Schmidt on science and suborbital flights

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

USSF moves GPS III-9 onto SpaceX Falcon 9 after switch from ULA Vulcan

SpaceX to launch 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into polar LEO from Vandenberg

ESA awards Rocket Factory Augsburg two RFA One launches under Flight Ticket Initiative

Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on NG‑3 carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird

News Timeline