Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Space.com • Mike Wall

Chinese-launched spacecraft came within ~200 m of Starlink‑6079 at 560 km, SpaceX says

SpaceX says a Chinese‑launched spacecraft passed within about 200 metres of its Starlink‑6079 satellite at roughly 560 km altitude after an apparent lack of coordination, prompting SpaceX to call for improved operator deconfliction while the Chinese launch provider CAS Space investigates.

2025-12-12T21:14:12.257374-08:00

Bloomberg

SpaceX targets $1.5tn IPO in 2026, aims to raise $25–30B+ as Starlink and launch tempo scale

2025-12-09T20:09:26.274344-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Blue Origin targets four‑flight New Glenn campaign to win Space Force certification

2025-12-10T15:46:20.766163-08:00

Space.com

Shenzhou‑21 crew conducts eight‑hour EVA to inspect debris‑damaged Shenzhou‑20; vehicle judged unfit for reentry

2025-12-09T11:05:35.834228-08:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Space.com

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Chinese-launched spacecraft came within ~200 m of Starlink‑6079 at 560 km, SpaceX says SpaceX says a Chinese‑launched spacecraft passed within about 200 metres of its Starlink‑6079 satellite at roughly 560 km altitude after an apparent lack of coordination, prompting SpaceX to call for improved operator deconfliction while the Chinese launch provider CAS Space investigates.

2025-12-12T21:14:12.257374-08:00

Chinese-launched spacecraft came within ~200 m of Starlink‑6079 at 560 km, SpaceX says

NASA Spaceflight

SpaceX’s Roberts Road becomes focal hub for East Coast Starship preparations SpaceX's Roberts Road facility — the company's primary hub for Starship operations on Florida's Space Coast — has become the focal point for East Coast Starship preparations, concentrating program activity, infrastructure work and logistical staging as the firm transitions program effort beyond its Texas test site.

2025-12-12T19:23:49.378767-08:00

SpaceX’s Roberts Road becomes focal hub for East Coast Starship preparations

decode39.com

Leonardo accelerates European space alignment with Airbus–Thales satellite tie‑up and signals autonomous launch ambitions Europe’s fragmented space sector is edging toward industrial realignment after Leonardo unveiled a satellite alliance with Airbus and Thales; the Italian group is now signalling ambitions that could extend into closing Europe’s autonomous launch capability gap, reshaping supplier roles and sovereign access to space.

2025-12-12T10:06:38.980407-08:00

Leonardo accelerates European space alignment with Airbus–Thales satellite tie‑up and signals autonomous launch ambitions

SpaceNews.com

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China plans 2026 debut of Long March 10 for crewed lunar and LEO missions China is targeting a 2026 inaugural launch of the new Long March 10 heavy launcher, a key test for Beijing’s crewed lunar landing architecture and expanded low‑Earth orbit operations. The flight will validate vehicle systems and lift capability central to future Chinese human lunar and LEO missions.

2025-12-12T09:51:57.289178-08:00

China plans 2026 debut of Long March 10 for crewed lunar and LEO missions

SpaceNews.com

China launches 16th batch of Guowang LEO satellites; Long March 12A landing attempt set China launched the 16th batch of Guowang low‑Earth‑orbit broadband satellites Dec. 11–12, with the payloads reported entering their planned orbits, while Beijing prepares a Long March 12A flight that will attempt a first‑stage landing as part of operational testing.

2025-12-12T00:30:06.764899-08:00

China launches 16th batch of Guowang LEO satellites; Long March 12A landing attempt set

European Spaceflight

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Avio selects Virginia for $500M U.S. solid rocket motor plant Italian rocket-maker Avio has selected Virginia for a new $500 million U.S. production facility to manufacture solid rocket motors. The plant will create domestic SRM manufacturing capacity for Avio and expand its industrial footprint in the U.S. aerospace and defense sector.

2025-12-11T22:07:59.205102-08:00

Avio selects Virginia for $500M U.S. solid rocket motor plant

NASA Spaceflight

All eight ISS docking ports occupied for first time as Soyuz MS-28 arrives; Expedition 74 begins Soyuz MS-28 arrived at the International Space Station on Nov. 27, occupying the final open berthing node and marking the first time all eight ISS docking ports were simultaneously in use. The handover also coincided with the start of Expedition 74 aboard the station.

2025-12-11T16:25:37.032743-08:00

All eight ISS docking ports occupied for first time as Soyuz MS-28 arrives; Expedition 74 begins

Space.com

Blue Origin targets Dec. 18 for NS-37 suborbital flight carrying a wheelchair user Blue Origin plans to launch the suborbital NS-37 mission at 9:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 18, carrying a passenger who uses a wheelchair — a flight the company calls historic. The mission is another crewed New Shepard outing in Blue Origin's suborbital program.

2025-12-11T15:09:49.307623-08:00

Blue Origin targets Dec. 18 for NS-37 suborbital flight carrying a wheelchair user

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