Launch

Welcome to 2024, a year hopefully of many firsts. India started the year off with a launch just a few hours into New Years Day but here in the Western Hemisphere, SpaceX will kick things off with you guessed it, a Starlink launch.

Also, special guest this week since it’s launching so early Monday morning, ULA plans to debut its Vulcan rocket after years of delays.

Starship: 2023 rocket of the year as voted by you

Seth Kurkowski Dec 31 2023 - 7:20 pm PT

With this week’s poll now closed, the results for the rocket of year as voted by all of you are now in. Unshockingly to almost anyone, it came down to two rockets, both by SpaceX. Below are your most voted pick and the pick by us.

SpaceX rounds out 2023 with 98 total launches

Seth Kurkowski Dec 29 2023 - 2:26 pm PT

Last night SpaceX rounded out the year with a double header, launching a classified mission on the Falcon Heavy for the US Air Force and Space Force and then about three hours later, 23 Starlink satellites. This completed another record breaking year with 98 total rocket launches from the company and many other milestones.

How many rockets did SpaceX launch in 2023?

Seth Kurkowski Dec 29 2023 - 7:19 am PT

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SpaceX is aiming to launch 100 rockets this year, another big increase from what the company did in 2022. That will mean they will have to launch on average every three to four days. Will SpaceX be able to pull it off? Keep track below of all of SpaceX’s 2023 launches.

Firefly’s second stage failed to deliver payload to correct orbit

Seth Kurkowski Dec 27 2023 - 9:55 am PT

Just before the Christmas weekend Firefly launched its fourth Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. While the booster and first burn of the second stage perform normally, the second burn failed to place Lockheed Martin‘s tech demonstrator into its intended orbit.

This Week in Launch: The final launches of 2023

Seth Kurkowski Dec 26 2023 - 8:04 am PT

With New Years coming up at the end of the week, we now know what will end up being the final rocket launches of 2023. SpaceX‘s Falcon Heavy is also set to return this week after a lengthly delay. Meanwhile, China is back with a flurry of more launches, but India looks to be taking the crown as the final launch of 2023.

SpaceX launches first rocket in over a week

Seth Kurkowski Dec 19 2023 - 11:04 am PT

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SpaceX launched a batch of its “Gen 2 mini” Starlink satellites from Florida last night, breaking a week long drought of launches from the company. While usually Starlink missions aren’t something to talk about, the long lull means the company will likely miss its 100 launch goal.

This Week in Launch: Firefly back in the loop

Seth Kurkowski Dec 18 2023 - 5:02 pm PT

After an abnormal lull in SpaceX launches last week due to weather and technical delays, that could change this week with a handful of Falcon 9 missions before the Christmas weekend. Firefly is back with another launch of its Alpha rocket this week, following the success of its VICTUS NOX mission in September.

Rocket Lab returns to flight with Japanese observation satellite

Seth Kurkowski Dec 17 2023 - 5:59 pm PT

Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket late Thursday evening after a couple months break after suffering a failure in September. The successful launch deployed a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, iQPS.

How many rockets did Rocket Lab launch in 2023?

Seth Kurkowski Dec 16 2023 - 10:25 pm PT

Unlike SpaceX, Rocket Lab doesn’t have a public goal set for the number of launches this year, but a clear one has emerged. For the first time Rocket Lab, with its Electron rocket, could reach double-digit launches in 2023; here’s a list of all of them to help you keep track.

SpaceX plans rapid increase in West Coast launch cadence

Seth Kurkowski Dec 13 2023 - 10:51 am PT

SpaceX plans to launch about 50 rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2024 with a chance of 100 launches in the year 2025. This comes to a spaceport that has historically seem launches in the single digits. Now, it could soon see a launch for SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket in the next few years.

Blue Origin plans to return to New Shepard flights next week

Seth Kurkowski Dec 12 2023 - 11:10 am PT

With a post on social media, Blue Origin announced its return to flight for the New Shepard rocket. Flying science equipment and postcards from its charity Club for the Future, launch is set for no earlier than December 18.

Vulcan launch delayed to 2024, concluding ULA’s year at three launches

Seth Kurkowski Dec 10 2023 - 7:56 pm PT

In a post on social media, ULA CEO Tory Bruno shared that the launch date for the company’s new rocket, Vulcan, has been delayed to NET January 8. This comes after a wet dress rehearsal that wasn’t completed in full due to ground system faults. Another dress rehearsal will be required before launch.

This Week in Launch: Busy week for China and SpaceX

Seth Kurkowski Dec 4 2023 - 8:51 am PT

SpaceX Falcon Heavy lifting off from LC-39A for NASA Psyche mission

This week we are tracking the possibility of seeing seven launches from both the United States and China. On the US side, all of those launches will be coming from SpaceX with three being Starlink and one being a Falcon Heavy for the Space Force.

ESA gives Ariane 6 a launch date after big test

Seth Kurkowski Dec 2 2023 - 8:57 pm PT

ESA has shared a timeline for what is left for Ariane 6 before launching its first mission. The new heavy lift rocket has two more ground tests on the booster and upper stage before a launch window opens up targeting mid-June to July 2024.

Relativity CEO goes into why they’re signing launch contracts for a rocket that’s years away

Seth Kurkowski Dec 2 2023 - 6:46 pm PT

A slight feud played out between Relativity CEO Tim Ellis and Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck about the usefulness of launch contracts for rockets still in development. Ellis explained why they do it and the benefits it gives both them and the customer.

Rocket Lab sets return to flight mission launch date for mid-December

Seth Kurkowski Nov 27 2023 - 10:12 am PT

Rocket Lab completed payload integration of the Japanese iQPS satellite at its facility in New Zealand. The company now has a wet dress rehearsal to complete ahead of a launch, which has a NET date set for December 13.

This Week in Launch: Ireland’s first satellite tags along with South Korean reconnaissance payload

Seth Kurkowski Nov 27 2023 - 8:59 am PT

This week we are only seeing two launches and both are from SpaceX. The obligatory SLC-40 Starlink launch and a fun little RTLS launch out of Vandenberg. By “fun little” I mean a reconnaissance satellite for the South Korean government. That mission however is also launching the first satellite for the nation of Ireland.

ESA completes hot fire of Ariane 6’s booster engine

Seth Kurkowski Nov 26 2023 - 7:00 am PT

On Thanksgiving day here in the US, ESA conducted a simulated launch static fire of the Ariane 6 first stage booster. Powered by a single Vulcain 2.1 engine, the stage burned through almost 150 tons of fuel over a seven minute burn.

NASA still hoping to launch Mars mission on first New Glenn rocket next year

Seth Kurkowski Nov 25 2023 - 4:44 pm PT

A NASA official’s notes during an Advisory Council meeting shares that Blue Origin‘s first New Glenn launch could come no earlier than August 2024. NASA expects its ESCAPADE mission to be on top of that rocket, but is less confident in the launch date.

This Week in Launches: Post Starship lull and Thanksgiving day engine test

Seth Kurkowski Nov 20 2023 - 9:19 am PT

After a rather eventful weekend, SpaceX only has one launch schedule for the week with a private Chinese company making a rare appearance, and Russia’s military launching a Soyuz 2. However, on Thanksgiving day, Arianespace and the ESA are planning a test of its Vulcain 2.1 engine down in French Guiana.

This Week in Launches: Could this be the week for Starship?

Seth Kurkowski Nov 13 2023 - 10:05 am PT

This week is a rather slow one with two launches scheduled for SpaceX‘s Falcon 9, yes they’re for Starlink. However, pending regulatory approval, the week could finish with the second launch of the company’s Starship rocket.

SpaceX nails three launch weekend (ish) featuring two RTLS landings

Seth Kurkowski Nov 12 2023 - 5:39 pm PT

Over the weekend, SpaceX launched three Falcon 9 rockets from all three of its launch pads. The missions were all commercially purchased wither by NASA, SES, or in part of a rideshare program. Two out of the three flights featured RTLS landings at LZ-1 and 4, a rare occurrence.

This Week In Launches: Packed week of SpaceX flights

Seth Kurkowski Nov 6 2023 - 8:59 am PT

This week we have four launches from SpaceX and from both coats. Not just that, but two of the launches this week will feature RTLS landings. That means only one thing, non-Starlink launches!