Spaceflight Daily Report, Monday 29th June 2026

Image credit: LandSpace

Launch of SXM-11

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0225 UTC, or 2225 Sunday evening local time (EDT). This was carrying SXM-11, a geosynchronous radio broadcasting satellite built by Lanteris Space Systems, a subsidiary of Intuitive Machines, for satellite radio company SiriusXM. It was the 659th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 17th flight of booster B1085, which successfully landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

Zhuque-3 Static Fire Test

LandSpace carried out a static fire test of their reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, bringing it closer to its planned second flight. LandSpace are competing with Galactic Energy and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology to become the first Chinese organisation (and first non-American organisation) to recover and reuse an orbital first stage. During the first flight of Zhuque-3 back in December 2025 it successfully made it to orbit, but the recovery of the first stage failed explosively. [Source: LandSpace]

Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium Communications

Rocket Lab have announced they will be acquiring Iridium Communications for $8 billion USD, whose satellite constellation was the first to provide global satellite phone coverage back in 1998. This move puts Rocket Lab into the satellite communications market, and means that the company will inherit not just Iridium's material assets but also its valuable L-band spectrum usage rights. [Source: Rocket Lab]

International Space Station Activities

NASA published their daily blog post on the crew's activities aboard the International Space Station. The NASA and ESA astronauts have completed preparations for tomorrow's spacewalk. The Russian cosmonauts carried out routine research and maintenance. [Source: NASA]