Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

NASA Spaceflight • Haygen Warren

Launch roundup: Shenzhou-21 crew heads to Tiangong; India to launch CMS-03 as SpaceX sustains LEO tempo

Six missions comprise this week’s global launch manifest, led by China’s crewed Shenzhou-21 flight to Tiangong for a crew rotation that will relieve Shenzhou-20’s six-month incumbents. India plans a CMS-03 naval/communications launch, while multiple SpaceX missions maintain high LEO launch cadence.

2025-10-27T16:06:01.900943-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

JAXA to launch HTV‑X1 cargo ship to the ISS on H3 rocket

2025-10-25T15:13:30.189901-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

SpaceX shifts Starbase Pad 1 from booster test stand to operational launch mount

2025-10-24T09:57:09.970075-07:00

Space Intel Report

ESA finalises €22bn ministerial package, advances FutureEO and welcomes Cyprus at Council 337

2025-10-23T11:56:41.035408-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

❗️

Launch roundup: Shenzhou-21 crew heads to Tiangong; India to launch CMS-03 as SpaceX sustains LEO tempo Six missions comprise this week’s global launch manifest, led by China’s crewed Shenzhou-21 flight to Tiangong for a crew rotation that will relieve Shenzhou-20’s six-month incumbents. India plans a CMS-03 naval/communications launch, while multiple SpaceX missions maintain high LEO launch cadence.

2025-10-27T16:06:01.900943-07:00

Launch roundup: Shenzhou-21 crew heads to Tiangong; India to launch CMS-03 as SpaceX sustains LEO tempo

European Spaceflight

ArianeGroup and DLR to assemble and acceptance‑test Vinci engines at Lampoldshausen for Ariane 6 series production ArianeGroup and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will integrate, assemble and perform acceptance testing of complete Vinci upper‑stage engines at DLR’s Lampoldshausen test centre, implementing a 24 October 2025 agreement backed by ESA to support series production for Ariane 6.

2025-10-27T07:51:46.537608-07:00

ArianeGroup and DLR to assemble and acceptance‑test Vinci engines at Lampoldshausen for Ariane 6 series production

European Spaceflight

❗️

ArianeGroup to move Vinci engine assembly and testing to Germany; new Lampoldshausen facility planned ArianeGroup will transfer responsibility for assembly and testing of the Vinci engine from its French operations to its German subsidiary, and will build a new facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany. The move shifts responsibility and establishes a dedicated German site for Vinci assembly and testing.

2025-10-27T07:51:46.537608-07:00

ArianeGroup to move Vinci engine assembly and testing to Germany; new Lampoldshausen facility planned

Payload

❗️

Canadian spaceport receives $7M boost to advance orbital launches, citing sovereign defense aims A Canadian spaceport received C$7 million to accelerate development of orbital launch capabilities, with officials citing sovereign defense aims and the need to bolster national access to space. The funds are intended to advance operational readiness and regulatory approvals for orbital launches.

2025-10-27T05:39:19.607531-07:00

Canadian spaceport receives $7M boost to advance orbital launches, citing sovereign defense aims

Space.com

ESA lunar lander completes full-scale simulation as Europe advances sustained Moon plans The European Space Agency's lunar lander has completed a full‑scale simulation as Europe pushes toward a sustained presence on the Moon. The exercise replicated mission-like conditions to exercise the lander and advance hardware and operations readiness ahead of upcoming programme milestones.

2025-10-27T05:18:56.017243-07:00

ESA lunar lander completes full-scale simulation as Europe advances sustained Moon plans

SpaceNews.com

Astrobotic pushes Griffin‑1 lunar lander to no earlier than mid‑2026, delaying commercial rover deployment Astrobotic says it will not launch its large Griffin‑1 lunar lander carrying a commercial rover before mid‑2026. The slip delays the rover's surface deployment and pushes a significant commercial lunar‑lander flight — part of broader CLPS activity — into the second half of 2026.

2025-10-26T07:31:34.158916-07:00

Astrobotic pushes Griffin‑1 lunar lander to no earlier than mid‑2026, delaying commercial rover deployment

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch tomorrow from Cape Canaveral SLC‑40 carrying 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on the Starlink 10‑21 mission — the 230th V2 Mini launch — continuing rapid constellation deployment to boost capacity and network resilience in LEO.

2025-10-25T15:16:50.252028-07:00

SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral

NASA Spaceflight

❗️

JAXA to launch HTV‑X1 cargo ship to the ISS on H3 rocket JAXA will launch its HTV‑X1 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station aboard an H3 rocket, delivering supplies and equipment to support station operations. The flight will exercise HTV‑X systems and the H3 vehicle's orbital performance, reinforcing Japan's role in ISS logistics.

2025-10-25T15:13:30.189901-07:00

JAXA to launch HTV‑X1 cargo ship to the ISS on H3 rocket

Create a free account to see more recent Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation stories.