News

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA reveals ~€51.65M launch bill for Sentinel-1C on Vega C return-to-flight

ESA contract disclosures show the agency paid €51.65 million to place the Sentinel-1C Earth-observation satellite into orbit aboard a Vega C rocket, highlighting the cost and procurement specifics behind Europe’s Earth-imaging mission cadence and launch-service requalification efforts.

2026-04-26T23:20:36.846526-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Report finds former Spaceport America director violated New Mexico state law and launch-site policies

2026-04-26T21:20:28.583805-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

2026-04-26T09:20:22.706970-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX counts down Falcon 9’s 50th 2026 launch: 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg

2026-04-26T06:49:39.318256-07:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

ESA reveals ~€51.65M launch bill for Sentinel-1C on Vega C return-to-flight ESA contract disclosures show the agency paid €51.65 million to place the Sentinel-1C Earth-observation satellite into orbit aboard a Vega C rocket, highlighting the cost and procurement specifics behind Europe’s Earth-imaging mission cadence and launch-service requalification efforts.

2026-04-26T23:20:36.846526-07:00

ESA reveals ~€51.65M launch bill for Sentinel-1C on Vega C return-to-flight

SpaceNews.com

Report finds former Spaceport America director violated New Mexico state law and launch-site policies A report concludes the former director of Spaceport America in New Mexico repeatedly violated state law and applicable policies while managing the commercial spaceport. The finding follows the director’s removal from leadership of the facility responsible for supporting commercial launch operations.

2026-04-26T21:20:28.583805-07:00

Report finds former Spaceport America director violated New Mexico state law and launch-site policies

Space.com

❗️

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus SpaceX is targeting an April 27 launch of Falcon Heavy from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, marking a return to flight after more than 18 months. The mission is scheduled to place Viasat-3.3 into geosynchronous transfer orbit, with both side boosters slated for landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

2026-04-26T09:20:22.706970-07:00

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

Spaceflight Now

❗️

SpaceX counts down Falcon 9’s 50th 2026 launch: 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, marking the company’s 50th flight of the year. The mission is set to deploy 25 Starlink satellites, underscoring continued high-tempo Starlink cadence from its West Coast launch site.

2026-04-26T06:49:39.318256-07:00

SpaceX counts down Falcon 9’s 50th 2026 launch: 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg

SpaceNews.com

China launches Pakistan’s PRSC-EO3 on Long March 6 from Taiyuan, deploying remote-sensing and Earth-environment payloads China launched Pakistan’s PRSC-EO3 (optoelectronic remote-sensing and monitoring) into orbit aboard a Long March 6 from the Taiyuan satellite launch center. Media reports say the mission marks Pakistan’s third nationally built satellite launched via Chinese space transportation in the past 18 months, with PRSC-EO3 the fifth Pakistani satellite on a Chinese rocket there.

2026-04-26T03:20:08.970505-07:00

China launches Pakistan’s PRSC-EO3 on Long March 6 from Taiyuan, deploying remote-sensing and Earth-environment payloads

NASA Spaceflight

❗️

Progress MS-34 cargo ship docks with ISS after Progress 95 launch to resupply crew Roscosmos’ unpiloted Progress MS-34/“Progress 95” cargo spacecraft launched on a Soyuz from Baikonur at 6:21 p.m. EDT (April 26) and is scheduled to reach the ISS in about 49.5 hours. Separate reports track the mission’s safe orbit insertion and its eventual docking for ISS resupply.

2026-04-25T09:37:34.785826-07:00

Progress MS-34 cargo ship docks with ISS after Progress 95 launch to resupply crew

SpaceNews.com

Space Force demand surge pressures heavy-lift launch market as certified providers remain limited The U.S. Space Force is sharply increasing its demand for the most capable rocket launches, intensifying pressure on a heavy-lift market that currently has just two certified providers. The shift raises the stakes for launch capacity, assured access, and schedule certainty across defense-relevant payloads.

2026-04-25T09:24:28.047738-07:00

Space Force demand surge pressures heavy-lift launch market as certified providers remain limited

DefenseNews.com

Air Force: “Disappointed” SpaceX not certified for military launches by end-2014, but confident it will meet USSF requirements The secretary of the U.S. Air Force said he is “disappointed” SpaceX was not certified for military space launch by the end of 2014, but remains confident the company can meet service-set requirements. The statement underscores how certification timing shapes Pentagon launch assurance and program risk.

2026-04-25T00:50:54.605642-07:00

Air Force: “Disappointed” SpaceX not certified for military launches by end-2014, but confident it will meet USSF requirements

Menu

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

ESA reveals ~€51.65M launch bill for Sentinel-1C on Vega C return-to-flight

Report finds former Spaceport America director violated New Mexico state law and launch-site policies

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

SpaceX counts down Falcon 9’s 50th 2026 launch: 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg

News Timeline