All articles tagged with #satellite launch
SpaceX launched 24 Starlink broadband satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a Falcon 9, placing them into low Earth orbit and expanding a constellation already exceeding 10,000 spacecraft; booster B1081, on its 24th flight, was set to land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You about eight minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX launched 25 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base on a Falcon 9 (first stage B1071). Liftoff occurred at 6:57:59 a.m. PDT; the booster landed on the drone ship OCISLY about 8.5 minutes later, marking another drone‑ship and booster landing milestone. Satellite deployment followed roughly an hour after liftoff, bringing SpaceX’s 2026 Starlink deployments to 674 satellites and making this the year’s 25th Starlink mission.
AST SpaceMobile launched its largest satellite, BlueBird 6, from India, aiming to compete with SpaceX's Starlink by enabling direct mobile phone connectivity via space-based networks. The successful launch boosts ASTS's potential in the satellite communications market, with plans to deploy up to 60 satellites by 2026 and partnerships with major telecom providers. Despite positive developments, Wall Street analysts give ASTS a moderate buy rating with a target suggesting potential downside.
India's space agency successfully launched its heaviest-ever satellite, BlueBird Block-2, weighing 6,100 kg, using the LVM-3 rocket, marking a significant milestone in India's space capabilities and its ambitions in the commercial satellite market and future space missions.
AST SpaceMobile's stock rose over 14% as it prepares to launch its BlueBird 6 satellite, the sixth in a series aimed at providing global cellular coverage from space, with the launch scheduled for December 24, marking a significant step in its satellite deployment plans.
Innospace's first commercial rocket launch from Brazil's Alcantara Space Center ended in failure when the rocket crashed two minutes after liftoff, causing shares to tumble by 24%. The launch faced delays due to technical issues and weather, and the crash is under investigation.
AST SpaceMobile is preparing to launch its BlueBird 6 satellite, which features a large phased array and increased data capacity, as a key step toward scaling its direct-to-smartphone broadband network. The success of this launch could significantly impact the company's growth prospects and investor confidence, but execution risks and funding concerns remain. The stock's fair value estimates vary widely, highlighting the high uncertainty surrounding its future.
The ULA Atlas 5 rocket's launch of the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite was scrubbed due to a valve issue, delaying the deployment of a high-capacity broadband satellite intended to enhance Viasat's network capabilities over the Americas, with a new launch window scheduled for the following day.
Sentinel-1D, the last of the first-generation Sentinel-1 satellites, was successfully launched into orbit aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana, completing the Copernicus Earth observation mission that provides critical radar data for environmental monitoring and disaster response.
India successfully launched the CMS-03 military communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit using its most powerful rocket, LVM3, enhancing secure communication capabilities for the Indian Navy.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 will launch its 21st and final expendable mission to deploy the SpainSat NG 2 communications satellite, which will operate at 29 degrees East and provide secure communications for Spain, the EU, and NATO. The rocket will not be recovered this time to maximize payload capacity, and the launch is scheduled from Cape Canaveral with favorable weather conditions.
SpaceX is planning an overnight launch from Cape Canaveral to deploy 28 new Starlink V2 Mini satellites, boosting the constellation to over 8,600 satellites. The launch, scheduled for early Thursday morning, is part of SpaceX's ongoing efforts to expand its satellite network, with weather conditions currently favorable for a successful mission.
SpaceX is set to launch 24 Amazon Project Kuiper broadband satellites from Florida on October 13, after a delay, as part of its ongoing effort to build a large satellite constellation for global internet coverage, with this being the third launch for Project Kuiper and part of a broader plan involving multiple rockets and companies.
NOAA's first dedicated space weather observatory, SWFO-L1, was successfully launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and will travel to Lagrange point 1 to provide early warnings of solar events like CMEs, enhancing protection for critical infrastructure and national security, with operational status expected by mid-2026.
SpaceX successfully launched the Nusantara Lima satellite for Indonesia's PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara using a Falcon 9 rocket, marking its 114th mission of 2025. The satellite will operate in geosynchronous orbit to enhance telecommunications across Indonesia, with operations expected to begin in 2026.