Spaceflight Daily Report, Tuesday 4th August 2026

Image credit: NASA

Launch of Guowang Group 23

CASC/CALT launched a Long March 8A (Chang Zheng 8A) from Wenchang in Hainan at 0852 UTC, or 1652 local time (CST). It was carrying Guowang Group 23, a batch of 9 communications satellites for the constellation, also known as SatNet LEO and operated by the China Satellite Network Group. This was the 17th flight of the Long March 8 family, and the 10th flight of the 8A variant. [Source: CALT]

Launch of Starlink Group 17-53

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg in California at 1705 UTC, or 1005 local time (PDT). This was carrying Starlink Group 17-53, a batch of 24 satellites for the constellation. It was the 673rd flight of the Falcon 9, and the 34th flight of booster B1063, which successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

International Space Station Activities

The crew of the International Space Station prepared for Thursday's spacewalk and carried out routine research and maintenance. [Source: NASA]

Announcement of Lunar Infrastructure Demos

Northrop Grumman have proposed a series of Moon missions adapting the technology developed for the HALO module, a core component of the now-cancelled Lunar Gateway space station around the Moon. The three missions, called Lunar Infrastructure Demos, or LIDs for short, are in response to NASA's call for companies to propose missions to support the development of the agency's ambitious Moon Base plans. They will demonstrate power generation, communications, and survivability on the Moon's surface. A launch date for these missions has not yet been proposed. [Source: Northrop Grumman]