Spaceflight Daily Report, Thursday 2nd July 2026

Image credit: ULA

Launch of Starlink Group 17-46

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg in California at 0258 UTC, or 1958 Wednesday evening local time (PDT). This was carrying Starlink Group 17-46, a batch of 24 satellites for the constellation. It was the 660th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 7th flight of booster B1100, which successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

Launch of Amazon Leo Group LA-08

United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0430 UTC, or 0030 local time (EDT). This was carrying Amazon Leo Group LA-08, a batch of 29 satellites for the constellation. It was the 110th flight of the Atlas V, the planned final launch of the rocket's 551 configuration, and possibly the final launch of the Atlas V overall, which is being retired in favour of ULA's Vulcan Centaur. The Atlas V could fly again in its N22 configuration if Starliner ever gets re-approved for flight. [Source: ULA]

Scrub of Swift Boost

The launch of the Swift Boost mission has been delayed again. Stargazer took off from Kwajalein Atoll as planned, but an issue with the Pegasus XL rocket meant the plane's crew returned to the ground without launching it. The mission has already been delayed twice by bad weather. [Source: NASA]

International Space Station Activities

NASA published their daily blog post on the crew's activities aboard the International Space Station. Yesterday at 2039 UTC, the Progress MS-34 cargo spacecraft, docked to the station's Zvezda module, fired its thrusters for 9 minutes 28 seconds to raise the station's perigee. The crew carried out routine research and maintenance, including setting up extra crew quarters in preparation for the arrival of Soyuz MS-29. [Source: NASA]

UPDATE: Six small satellites were deployed from the ISS on this day, which was not mentioned in NASA's blog post. See 7th July for more details.