Spaceflight Daily Report, Thursday 24th September 2026

The crew of SpaceX Crew-14 pose for a group portrait. Image credit: SpaceX

Launch of Yaogan 40 Group 04

SAST, a subsidiary of China Aerospace (CASC), launched a Long March 6A (Chang Zheng 6A) from Taiyuan in Shanxi at 0846 UTC, or 1646 local time (CST). This was carrying Yaogan 40 Group 04, a batch of three military satellites of unclear purpose. Most spacecraft with the Yaogan designation are reconnaissance satellites for the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Forces. This was the 27th flight of the Long March 6A, and the 44th flight of the Long March 6 family. [Source: SAST]

International Space Station Activities

Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway continued practising ultrasound scans. Sophie Adenot carried out exercise research. Anil Menon continued immune system research. Adenot and Menon also continued taking inventory of cargo in the Cygnus cargo vehicle, while Andrey Fedyaev, Pyotr Dubrov, and Anna Kikina continued unpacking the recently arrived Progress MS-35 cargo vehicle, among some other routine maintenance. [Source: NASA]

Crew of SpaceX Crew-14 Announced

NASA have announced the crew for the SpaceX Crew-14 mission to the International Space Station, aiming to launch around March 2027. American astronaut Kayla Barron will be mission commander, on her second spaceflight, while the other three members of the crew will all be on their first spaceflight. American astronaut Chris Birch will be the pilot. Japanese astronaut Makoto Suwa will be one of the two mission specialists. The other mission specialist will be Russian cosmonaut Arutyun Kiviryan, as part of an ongoing arrangement where the United States and Russia swap a crew member with each other to ensure both countries retain access to space in the event that either Dragon or Soyuz is grounded. [Source: NASA]

Starship Flight 14 Wet Dress Rehearsal

SpaceX carried out a wet dress rehearsal for the launch of Starship Flight 14, the first orbital test flight of the company's fully reusable super-heavy rocket, currently aiming to launch on Monday. The company have also posted NOTAMs that optimistically suggest two further Starship launches in October. [Source: NSF]

Côte d’Ivoire Sign Artemis Accords

Côte d’Ivoire have become the 75th country to sign the Artemis Accords, a United States led set of agreements regarding mineral rights and other arrangements for international cooperation in space exploration. The country founded their national space agency in 2025. They have yet to put a satellite in orbit. [Source: NASA]