Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Associated Press • Mari Yamaguchi

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

Japan successfully launched its GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW) greenhouse-gas and water-cycle observation satellite on the H-IIA’s 50th and final mission, capping two decades of service for the workhorse launcher. The retirement paves the way for the more cost-competitive H3 vehicle, set to debut later this year.

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

NASA Spaceflight

Firefly Accelerates Eclipse Production, Readies Blue Ghost 2 and Ocula Lunar Imaging Service

2025-06-27T12:35:38.378368-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA Hot-Fires First $100 Million RS-25 Engine, Clearing Propulsion Hurdle for SLS

2025-06-27T07:00:57.028713-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX Starship Upper Stage Destroyed in Texas Static-Fire Explosion

2025-06-18T23:23:08.167767-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

United Press International

Mexico Opens Probe into Potential Environmental Damage from SpaceX Starship Debris Mexico’s environmental authorities have launched a formal investigation into possible ecological damage after debris from SpaceX’s latest Starship explosion washed up on beaches in northeastern Mexico. SpaceX denies the fragments harmed local wildlife or habitats and has requested cooperation from Mexican agencies to secure and recover the debris.

2025-06-28T16:11:45.630445-07:00

Mexico Opens Probe into Potential Environmental Damage from SpaceX Starship Debris

spacecoastdaily.com

US Air Force Colonel Brian Chatman Named Commander of Space Launch Delta 45 and Eastern Range Director Colonel Brian L. Chatman has been appointed installation commander of Space Launch Delta 45 and Director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. He will oversee launch operations, range safety and support infrastructure for US East Coast launches.

2025-06-28T16:09:50.325223-07:00

US Air Force Colonel Brian Chatman Named Commander of Space Launch Delta 45 and Eastern Range Director

Associated Press

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Japan’s H-IIA Rocket Retires after 50th Launch with GOSAT-GW Climate Satellite Japan successfully launched its GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW) greenhouse-gas and water-cycle observation satellite on the H-IIA’s 50th and final mission, capping two decades of service for the workhorse launcher. The retirement paves the way for the more cost-competitive H3 vehicle, set to debut later this year.

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

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

SpaceNews.com

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Rocket Lab Records Two Electron Launches in Under 48 Hours with HawkEye 360’s 'Symphony In The Stars' Mission Rocket Lab executed two Electron launches from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand within 48 hours, completing its 67th and 68th missions. The June 26 'Get The Hawk Outta Here' flight and June 28's 'Symphony In The Stars' both delivered HawkEye 360’s RF geospatial analytics satellite into a 650 km circular orbit.

2025-06-28T08:15:17.267722-07:00

Rocket Lab Records Two Electron Launches in Under 48 Hours with HawkEye 360’s 'Symphony In The Stars' Mission

SpaceNews.com

SpaceX Secures $81.6 Million Space Force Contract to Launch Weather Satellite in 2027 SpaceX has been awarded an $81.6 million U.S. Space Force contract to launch a critical military weather satellite in 2027, reinforcing its role in national security space missions. The award underscores the Space Force’s continued reliance on commercial launch providers for key defense infrastructure.

2025-06-28T04:46:14.188945-07:00

SpaceX Secures $81.6 Million Space Force Contract to Launch Weather Satellite in 2027

Florida Today

SpaceX Executes Back-to-Back Falcon 9 Launches to Expand Starlink Constellation SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 early Saturday, deploying the Starlink 10-34 shell at 12:26 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral. Later the same day, the company will send 26 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit from Vandenberg SFB at 10:13 a.m. PDT aboard B1088, now on its eighth flight.

2025-06-27T22:58:23.253142-07:00

SpaceX Executes Back-to-Back Falcon 9 Launches to Expand Starlink Constellation

heraldscotland.com

Orbex delays SaxaVord inaugural launch to 2026 Orbex has pushed back the inaugural flight of its Prime rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland to 2026, citing schedule adjustments. The delay defers what was slated as the UK’s first commercial orbital launch and adds pressure to Scotland’s sole vertical-launch site as operators vie for limited pad availability.

2025-06-27T13:09:09.508012-07:00

Orbex delays SaxaVord inaugural launch to 2026

NASA Spaceflight

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Firefly Accelerates Eclipse Production, Readies Blue Ghost 2 and Ocula Lunar Imaging Service Firefly Aerospace is ramping up production of its next-generation Eclipse medium-lift rocket, formerly known as MLV, as it primes Blue Ghost Mission 2 for another lunar landing and readies Ocula, its commercial lunar imaging service, for launch.

2025-06-27T12:35:38.378368-07:00

Firefly Accelerates Eclipse Production, Readies Blue Ghost 2 and Ocula Lunar Imaging Service

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