News

SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China to debut cargo-optimized reusable Long March 10–derived rocket in first half of 2026

China plans to launch in the first half of 2026 a reusable, cargo‑optimized variant derived from its new crew Long March 10 launch vehicle. The flight would mark the debut of a recoverable, logistics‑focused rocket based on the Long March 10 design.

2025-12-31T03:09:34.158352-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

Global launch manifest quiet as 2026 begins — only four launches scheduled

2025-12-30T15:35:00.552168-08:00

Wall Street Journal

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby

2025-12-30T12:22:19.492757-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force offers new Vandenberg launch site that could enable SpaceX Starship flights

2025-12-30T15:07:52.244625-08:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

China to debut cargo-optimized reusable Long March 10–derived rocket in first half of 2026 China plans to launch in the first half of 2026 a reusable, cargo‑optimized variant derived from its new crew Long March 10 launch vehicle. The flight would mark the debut of a recoverable, logistics‑focused rocket based on the Long March 10 design.

2025-12-31T03:09:34.158352-08:00

China to debut cargo-optimized reusable Long March 10–derived rocket in first half of 2026

NASA Spaceflight

❗️

Global launch manifest quiet as 2026 begins — only four launches scheduled As 2025 turns to 2026, the worldwide launch manifest is quieting down, with only four launches scheduled in the opening days of the year. The sparse start to 2026 leaves a thin near-term orbital schedule while providers and customers await the season's fuller manifests.

2025-12-30T15:35:00.552168-08:00

Global launch manifest quiet as 2026 begins — only four launches scheduled

SpaceNews.com

Space Force offers new Vandenberg launch site that could enable SpaceX Starship flights The U.S. Space Force is offering a new launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base to commercial providers under conditions that could permit SpaceX to fly its Starship from the Western Range. The move increases range flexibility as Starship operations and multi‑site planning evolve.

2025-12-30T15:07:52.244625-08:00

Space Force offers new Vandenberg launch site that could enable SpaceX Starship flights

Wall Street Journal

❗️

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby NASA will subject the Orion crew capsule's heat shield to a critical test this month as teams prepare for Artemis II, the four‑astronaut lunar flyby targeted for early next year; engineers aim to validate thermal protection and reentry performance to ensure crew survival through extreme heating.

2025-12-30T12:22:19.492757-08:00

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby

Space Intel Report

❗️

Innospace HANBIT‑Nano inaugural commercial launch explodes after liftoff from Brazil's Alcântara South Korean launcher Innospace's HANBIT‑Nano failed on its inaugural commercial flight from Brazil's Alcântara Space Center, exploding and destroying all payloads shortly after liftoff. The company says it will investigate the anomaly and aims for a return-to-flight campaign with a second launch next year.

2025-12-30T09:47:55.558875-08:00

Innospace HANBIT‑Nano inaugural commercial launch explodes after liftoff from Brazil's Alcântara

SpaceWatch Global

Montenegro launches Luča, the country's first satellite, into low Earth orbit Montenegro Space Research (MSR) has successfully placed Luča, Montenegro's first satellite, into low Earth orbit, marking the country's inaugural on‑orbit asset. The launch establishes Montenegro on the global space map and opens a national programme for space‑based activity.

2025-12-30T00:10:15.392975-08:00

Montenegro launches Luča, the country's first satellite, into low Earth orbit

New York Times

❗️

Artemis II crew completes launch‑day dress rehearsal as Space Coast braces for busy 2026 NASA's Artemis II crew completed a full launch‑day dress rehearsal in Florida, advancing the agency's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years toward liftoff. The test underscores a crowded 2026 Space Coast manifest that could also include Blue Origin's lunar lander and the arrival of SpaceX's Starship.

2025-12-29T23:48:45.192416-08:00

Artemis II crew completes launch‑day dress rehearsal as Space Coast braces for busy 2026

talkoftitusville.com

Cape Canaveral logs record 109 launches in 2025; SpaceX flew 101 Cape Canaveral logged a record 109 orbital launches in 2025, as global launch activity surged; SpaceX alone accounted for 101 missions. By Christmas, providers had broken previous annual orbital-launch records, marking an unprecedented operational cadence for the year, driven largely by commercial operators.

2025-12-29T21:04:55.616370-08:00

Cape Canaveral logs record 109 launches in 2025; SpaceX flew 101

Menu

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

China to debut cargo-optimized reusable Long March 10–derived rocket in first half of 2026

Global launch manifest quiet as 2026 begins — only four launches scheduled

NASA to Test Orion Heat Shield Ahead of Artemis II Four‑Crew Lunar Flyby

Space Force offers new Vandenberg launch site that could enable SpaceX Starship flights

News Timeline