Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

News.CN

Shenzhou-20 crew to return Friday aboard Shenzhou-21; landing set for Dongfeng

China's Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie are due to return Friday aboard Shenzhou-21, the vehicle that delivered their replacements. The capsule is scheduled to land at the Dongfeng site in Inner Mongolia; officials say the crew and landing zone are in good condition.

2025-11-13T16:37:50.252755-08:00

Ars Technica

A ‘simplified’ Starship lunar plan may not satisfy both SpaceX and NASA

2025-11-13T07:24:33.705912-08:00

Space.com

Ariane 6 successfully launches on Nov. 13, 2025 — major milestone for European launch capability

2025-11-13T05:16:35.054906-08:00

TechCrunch

Solar storms delay Blue Origin's New Glenn launch of NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes

2025-11-12T07:39:51.616555-08:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Via Satellite

❗️

ULA Atlas V launches ViaSat‑3 Flight 2, sending Viasat’s highest‑capacity satellite to orbit to double network capacity United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V 551 lifted off from Cape Canaveral late Thursday carrying Viasat’s ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 — the operator’s highest‑capacity geostationary satellite — after an earlier scrub for a liquid‑oxygen vent‑valve issue. The mission will put the satellite on its way to orbit and double Viasat’s network capacity.

2025-11-13T19:53:22.917284-08:00

ULA Atlas V launches ViaSat‑3 Flight 2, sending Viasat’s highest‑capacity satellite to orbit to double network capacity

News.CN

❗️

Shenzhou-20 crew to return Friday aboard Shenzhou-21; landing set for Dongfeng China's Shenzhou-20 astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie are due to return Friday aboard Shenzhou-21, the vehicle that delivered their replacements. The capsule is scheduled to land at the Dongfeng site in Inner Mongolia; officials say the crew and landing zone are in good condition.

2025-11-13T16:37:50.252755-08:00

Shenzhou-20 crew to return Friday aboard Shenzhou-21; landing set for Dongfeng

Space.com

Intense solar flare and ~1,500 km/s CME spark global auroras, force ISS crew shelter and delay launches An intense solar flare on 11 November 2025, followed by a fast coronal mass ejection (~1,500 km/s), has sparked geomagnetic storms, widespread auroras and warnings of GNSS, HF and satellite disruptions. The ISS's three Russian cosmonauts sheltered overnight and at least one commercial launch was delayed.

2025-11-13T13:16:29.241014-08:00

Intense solar flare and ~1,500 km/s CME spark global auroras, force ISS crew shelter and delay launches

SpaceNews.com

Firefly completes SciTec buy to accelerate push into defense and space‑defense services Firefly Aerospace has closed its acquisition of SciTec and is stepping up its push into the defense market, combining software and analytics with its launch and mission services. The move positions the company to target national‑security contracts and on‑orbit mission work while integrating full‑stack data capabilities.

2025-11-13T08:51:45.817659-08:00

Firefly completes SciTec buy to accelerate push into defense and space‑defense services

NASA Spaceflight

❗️

Dream Chaser clears critical pre‑flight tests at Kennedy as programme advances amid uncertain future Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane has completed a series of critical pre‑flight tests at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, marking technical progress for the reusable cargo vehicle. The milestones arrive even as schedule slippage and NASA contract changes leave the programme's operational debut and broader future unresolved.

2025-11-13T08:13:59.241880-08:00

Dream Chaser clears critical pre‑flight tests at Kennedy as programme advances amid uncertain future

Ars Technica

❗️

A ‘simplified’ Starship lunar plan may not satisfy both SpaceX and NASA SpaceX has pitched a "simplified" Starship approach for lunar landings intended to accelerate Artemis objectives. The core problem: options that meet NASA's safety, schedule and mission constraints while remaining acceptable to SpaceX may be hard to identify, leaving the HLS pathway uncertain.

2025-11-13T07:24:33.705912-08:00

A ‘simplified’ Starship lunar plan may not satisfy both SpaceX and NASA

Spaceflight Now

❗️

ULA to launch ViaSat‑3 F2 on Atlas V 551 Nov. 13 after LOX vent‑valve replacement United Launch Alliance will attempt to launch a ULA Atlas V 551 carrying Viasat's ViaSat‑3 F2 on Nov. 13, 2025, at 10:04 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral's SLC‑41. The mission was rescheduled after replacement of a faulty liquid‑oxygen tank vent valve; liftoff opens a 44‑minute window.

2025-11-13T05:49:52.263041-08:00

ULA to launch ViaSat‑3 F2 on Atlas V 551 Nov. 13 after LOX vent‑valve replacement

Space.com

❗️

Ariane 6 successfully launches on Nov. 13, 2025 — major milestone for European launch capability Ariane 6 lifted off successfully on Nov. 13, 2025, marking a major milestone for Europe’s independent access to space and its operational launch capability. The flight advances Arianespace’s push toward a regular commercial cadence after a string of recent missions and supplier contracts supporting the operational ramp-up.

2025-11-13T05:16:35.054906-08:00

Ariane 6 successfully launches on Nov. 13, 2025 — major milestone for European launch capability

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