Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launches EUMETSAT’s MTG-S1 weather and Sentinel-4 air quality satellite, lands Falcon 9 at sea

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched July 1 at 5:04 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral, placing EUMETSAT’s Meteosat Third Generation Sounder (MTG-S1) into geostationary transfer orbit with the Copernicus Sentinel-4 air quality payload. The first-stage booster successfully landed on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas.

2025-07-01T09:45:45.498646-07:00

Associated Press

Japan’s H-IIA Rocket Retires after 50th Launch with GOSAT-GW Climate Satellite

2025-06-28T10:03:00.053295-07:00

Space.com

ULA Launches Second Batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper Satellites on Atlas V

2025-06-23T04:38:05.195961-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink smallsats from Cape Canaveral after Axiom crew flight

2025-06-25T09:35:37.101954-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

China advances lunar ambitions with back-to-back EVAs and reusable rocket milestones In the past two months, China’s Tiangong crew has completed two EVAs to bolster station systems, while domestic launchers achieved key reusable engine tests. These developments underscore Beijing’s accelerating timeline toward lunar exploration and in-orbit operations.

2025-07-05T11:55:23.876122-07:00

China advances lunar ambitions with back-to-back EVAs and reusable rocket milestones

European Spaceflight

Sounding Rocket Launches From Norway to Sample Meteoric Smoke in Upper Atmosphere An Andøya Space sounding rocket launched on July 5 from Norway to collect meteoric smoke particles in the upper atmosphere, aiming to refine models of mesospheric chemistry and micrometeoroid influx. The suborbital flight highlights Norway’s expanding role in scientific rocket launches and space research infrastructure.

2025-07-05T05:32:00.907460-07:00

Sounding Rocket Launches From Norway to Sample Meteoric Smoke in Upper Atmosphere

The Telegraph

Unst Spaceport Clears CAA Approval as Seven Firms Target Autumn Orbital Launches The UK Civil Aviation Authority has granted approval for the Unst Spaceport in Scotland’s Shetland Islands to begin operations, paving the way for a possible full orbital launch this autumn. Seven rocket developers have expressed interest in the facility, marking a boost for the country’s nascent commercial launch sector.

2025-07-04T11:10:46.351517-07:00

Unst Spaceport Clears CAA Approval as Seven Firms Target Autumn Orbital Launches

European Spaceflight

Orbex to Challenge SpaceX Pricing with Medium-Lift Proxima Rocket Orbex CEO Phil Chambers said on June 23 that its upcoming Proxima medium-lift rocket will allow the UK launch provider to compete directly with SpaceX on price. Proxima’s streamlined design and scalable operations aim to narrow the cost gap in dedicated small- to medium-satellite missions.

2025-07-04T07:56:35.331107-07:00

Orbex to Challenge SpaceX Pricing with Medium-Lift Proxima Rocket

al.com

GAO: Space Force Should Raise Launch Fees to Recoup Indirect Costs A new GAO report finds that current legislation prevents the U.S. Space Force from fully recovering indirect support and range operations costs from commercial launch providers, recommending the Pentagon boost fees charged to contractors to avoid shifting billions in expenses to taxpayers.

2025-07-04T04:11:28.336066-07:00

GAO: Space Force Should Raise Launch Fees to Recoup Indirect Costs

NASA Spaceflight

Progress MS-31 Poised for Launch as ISS Hosts Private Crew Ahead of Crew-11 Rotation Russia’s Progress MS-31 resupply spacecraft is set to launch to the International Space Station, which is currently hosting its first private astronaut team and preparing for NASA’s upcoming Crew-11 Crew Dragon handover. The overlapping cargo and crew activities underscore growing schedule complexity in low Earth orbit.

2025-07-03T10:19:09.775365-07:00

Progress MS-31 Poised for Launch as ISS Hosts Private Crew Ahead of Crew-11 Rotation

muscatdaily.com

Oman's Etlaq Spaceport to open in Duqm with end-to-end launch services by 2027 Oman plans to bring its Etlaq Spaceport in Duqm online by 2027, aiming to provide end-to-end logistical and technical support for both satellite and suborbital vehicle launches. The facility will encompass integration, payload processing, range operations and ground support, positioning Oman as a strategic launch hub in the Middle East.

2025-07-03T00:21:09.145785-07:00

Oman's Etlaq Spaceport to open in Duqm with end-to-end launch services by 2027

Via Satellite

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Orbex, Exolaunch Partner to Offer End-to-End Smallsat Launches on Prime and Proxima Orbex has struck a strategic agreement with Germany’s Exolaunch to provide end-to-end services for small satellites on its Prime and upcoming Proxima rockets. The partnership covers satellite integration, rideshare management and mission assurance, aiming to broaden Europe’s dedicated small launch offerings.

2025-07-01T14:22:39.848263-07:00

Orbex, Exolaunch Partner to Offer End-to-End Smallsat Launches on Prime and Proxima

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