Launches - Outer Space Today

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Launches

A collection of 5 posts

DARPA's Robotic Servicer Targets Geosynchronous Orbit for First Satellite Repair Mission

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is preparing to launch a robotic spacecraft this summer designed to inspect, refuel, and repair aging satellites in geosynchronous orbit, 22,000 miles above Earth. If successful, the mission will demonstrate the feasibility of extending the operational lives of multibillion-dollar communications and weather satellites

Blue Origin Clears Path to Resume New Glenn Heavy-Lift Operations

Blue Origin Clears Path to Resume New Glenn Heavy-Lift Operations

Blue Origin has received FAA clearance to return its New Glenn rocket to flight operations following an extended grounding, the agency confirmed on May 25. The regulatory approval removes the final institutional barrier preventing the company from conducting launch missions with its heavy-lift vehicle, though Blue Origin has not yet

SpaceX's Starship V3 Validates Reentry Heat Shield Despite Booster Loss

SpaceX's Starship V3 Validates Reentry Heat Shield Despite Booster Loss

SpaceX completed the first test flight of its redesigned Starship V3 on May 22, achieving its primary objective of validating new reentry systems and heat protection, even though the Super Heavy booster was destroyed shortly after stage separation. The upper stage conducted a controlled atmospheric reentry and splashed down on

SpaceX Sets Sights on 10,000 Annual Launches in IPO Prospectus

SpaceX Sets Sights on 10,000 Annual Launches in IPO Prospectus

SpaceX revealed an extraordinary ambition in its initial public offering filing released May 20, 2026: conducting 10,000 launches per year. The target, confirmed by President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell in the prospectus, represents a roughly 67-fold increase from the company's current operational cadence and underscores

China Reaches Year-Long Spaceflight Milestone With Shenzhou-23 Launch

China Reaches Year-Long Spaceflight Milestone With Shenzhou-23 Launch

China launched its Shenzhou-23 mission on May 25, 2026, carrying three astronauts to the Tiangong space station, including Hong Kong's first astronaut and a crew member scheduled to remain in orbit for a full year. The mission represents a significant step in China's human spaceflight program