Spaceflight Daily Report, Sunday 25th October 2026

Long March 8A lifts off. Image credit: CACL.

Launch of SatNet LEO Group 28

CALT, a subsidiary of China Aerospace (CASC), launched a Long March 8A (Chang Zheng 8A) from Wenchang in Hainan at 0203 UTC, or 1003 local time (CST). This was carrying SatNet LEO (Guowang) Group 28, the latest batch of 9 satellites for the state-owned China SatNet's internet constellation. This was the 12th flight of the Long March 8A, and the 19th flight of the Long March 8 family. Incidentally, CASC recently established a new subsidiary named China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group, or CACL for short, who are now handling the marketing of some SAST and CALT launches. [Source: CACL]

Tiangong Activities

CMSA released their weekly video on what the taikonauts aboard the Tiangong space station have been up to. This week Zhang Zhiyuan, Zhu Yangzhu, and Lai Ka-Ying performed VR research and deployed another set of experiments from the Mengtian module's airlock to be exposed to the vacuum of space. They also maintained life supports systems, checked the water dispenser for microbes, carried out routine cleaning, performed ultrasound exams, and underwent their usual schedule of exercise and other treatments to counter the health effects of low gravity. [Source: CMSA]

(Missed) Poker Flat Sounding Rockets

On 20th October, NASA launched a Magellan Aerospace-built Black Brant IX (Terrier Black Brant) sounding rocket from Poker Flat in Alaska at 0707 UTC, or 2307 on the evening of the 19th local time (AKDT). This was carrying INFUSE 2, a suborbital mission from the University of Colorado with an ultraviolet spectroscopy instrument for studying stellar remnants.

On 22nd October, NASA launched another Black Brant IX from Poker Flat at 0530 UTC, or 2130 on the evening of the 21st local time (AKDT). This was carrying DUST III, a suborbital mission from the Goddard Space Flight Center containing dust particles for researching how planets form. [Source: University of Alaska Fairbanks]

Other notes

• SpaceX have conducted an all-engines static fire test of booster B22, the Super Heavy booster that will launch Starship Flight 15, currently aiming for November. [Source: SpaceX]
• Further payloads have been deployed from tugs launched with Transporter-18. See 1st October for an updated list of payloads. The deployments on each day have been edited into previous blog posts. [Source: Jonathan McDowell's GCAT]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Friday 9th October 2026

NG-24 departs the ISS. Image credit: NASA.

Launch of SatNet LEO Group 27

SAST, a subsidiary of China Aerospace (CASC), launched a Long March 12 (Chang Zheng 12) from Wenchang in Hainan at 1927 UTC, or 0327 Saturday morning local time (CST). This was carrying SatNet LEO (Guowang) Group 27, the latest batch of nine satellites for China SatNet's internet constellation. This was the 9th flight of the Long March 12, which is settling into a monthly launch cadence, and the 11th flight of the Long March 12 family. [Source: SAST]

Departure of Cygnus NG-24

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL S.S. Steven R. Nagel spacecraft, serving the NG-24 cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, was unberthed from the nadir port of the station's Unity module at 1644 UTC with the help of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. It has spent six months berthed to the station. It is scheduled to de-orbit and be destroyed in the atmosphere on Monday. As well as waste from the station, it is carrying twelve small re-entry capsules each with experimental heat shields to test new designs and materials. [Source: NASA]

NASA Formally Requests Proposals for Private Space Stations

NASA have issued a final request for proposals for "low Earth orbit destinations" for American astronauts following the decommissioning of the International Space Station, which is currently planned for the early 2030s. Proposals are due by early December, with contracts set to be awarded in spring 2027. This follows a draft proposal issued back in July. Several companies are already designing or building commercial space stations that could potentially replace the ISS. [Source: NASA]

Other notes

• During the final day of the International Aeronautical Congress in Antalya, Turkey the convention space was opened to the public. [Source: IAF]
• Voyager Technologies are retiring the Astrobotic brand name following their acquisition of the company. Missions like the upcoming Griffin-1 Moon lander will now be carried out under the Voyager brand. [Source: Astrobotic]
• UPDATE: The US Air Force launched a Minotaur I missile that reached space on this day. See 13th October 2026 for details.
• UPDATE: ION SCV Absolute Andreas, launched on Transporter-18, deployed Planet Labs' Flock 4J-7 Earth observation satellite today. [Source: Jonathan McDowell's GCAT]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Wednesday 23rd September 2026

Image credit: CALT

Launch of Guowang Group 26

CALT, a subsidiary of China Aerospace (CASC), launched a Long March 8A (Chang Zheng 8A) from Wenchang in Hainan at 1332 UTC, or 2132 local time (CST). This was carrying SatNet LEO (Guowang) Group 26, the latest batch of nine satellites for the China Satellite Network Group's internet constellation. This was the 11th flight of the Long March 8A, and the 18th flight of the Long March 8 family. [Source: CALT]

International Space Station Activities

The crew of the International Space Station prepared for the upcoming crew swap while carrying out research and maintenance. Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot practised using ultrasound to perform medical examinations. Jack Hathaway took samples from the water dispensers to test them for microbes. The crew of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission (Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev) began packing their personal belongings and practised with emergency respirator masks. They are expected to depart for Earth in early October, once Crew-13 has arrived. Fedyaev also continued testing the negative pressure suit for reacclimatising to Earth's gravity. Meanwhile, the other half of the crew (Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and Anil Menon), who arrived on Soyuz MS-29, practised evacuation procedures. Dubrov also continued unpacking the Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft that arrived on Saturday, and Menon and Kikina both processed body fluid samples for immune system research. [Source: NASA]

NASA Select PRIMA Infrared Telescope Mission

NASA have selected a 1.8m far-infrared space telescope called PRIMA (a characteristically convoluted acronym for "PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics") for Phase B development. It is the first in a new class of "Probe Explorers" missions, which are smaller than the agency's flagship exploration missions but bigger than minor science missions. It was selected over a competing proposal for an x-ray telescope. Pending a confirmation review at the conclusion of Phase B development, PRIMA is aiming to launch in 2033. [Source: NASA]

Croatia Sign Artemis Accords

Croatia have become the 74th 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. Croatia do not have much of a space programme, but they are actively pursuing European Space Agency membership and they operate a single small satellite. [Source: NASA]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Thursday 17th September 2026

Image credit: Roscosmos

Launch of Guowang Group 25

CASC/SAST launched a Long March 12 (Chang Zheng 12) from Wenchang in Hainan at 0032 UTC, or 0832 local time (CST). This was carrying SatNet LEO (Guowang) Group 25, a batch of nine satellites for the China Satellite Network Group's internet constellation. This was the 8th flight of the Long March 12, and the 10th flight of the Long March 12 family. [Source: SAST]

Launch of USSF-259

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg in California at 0107 UTC, or 1807 Wednesday evening local time (PDT), delayed from yesterday. This was carrying USSF-259, a classified mission carrying an unknown number of small satellites for the United States Space Force. More information about the number of satellites should become available in the coming days. This was the 689th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 13th flight of booster B1097, which successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

UPDATE: The number of skipped IDs in the US Space Force's publicly available satellite catelogue indicates there were at most 17 payloads aboard this flight. [Source: Space-Track.org]

Launch of SpaceTY-51 and 52

ExPace, a subsidiary of CASIC, launched a Kuaizhou-11 from Jiuquan in Gansu at 0240 UTC, or 1040 local time (CST). This was carrying Tianyi-51 and 52, a pair of synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellites for the company SpaceTY. This was the 7th flight of the Kuaizhou-11. [Source: ExPace]

Unknown Launch from Plesetsk

Roscosmos launched a rocket from Plesetsk in Arkangelsk at approximately 1650 UTC, or 1950 local time (MSK), according to residents in the Volga district who were able to photograph its exhaust trail. It is likely to be a Soyuz rocket carrying a GLONASS navigation satellite, but there is no official confirmation yet. More details about this launch should become available in the coming days. [Source: afec7032]

UPDATE: Roscosmos have confirmed a Soyuz 2.1b was launched from Plesetsk but haven't provided a launch time or any information about the payload. The US Space Force is tracking a single payload. This was the 210th flight of the Soyuz-2 family of rockets, and the 88th flight of the 2.1b variant. [Source: Roscosmos]

International Space Station Activities

The crew of the International Space Station carried out routine research and maintenance while the Progress cargo resupply spacecraft continues its three day journey to the station. Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway cleaned and inspected spacesuit cooling systems. Andrey Fedyaev serviced laptop computers. Sophie Adenot performed stress, sleep, and exercise research, and assisted Hathaway in preparing the cupola's windows for cleaning. Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina tested the backup remote control system for the incoming Progress spacecraft, performed blood pressure research, and practised operating a simulation of the Teledroid robot that will be delivered to the station soon. Anil Menon continued soldering research aiming to increase the number of electrical repairs that can be conducted in space. [Source: NASA]

VSS Unity Glide Flight

Virgin Galactic carried out a low-altitude glide flight of VSS Unity yesterday to provide their pilots with practice ahead of the debut flight of the company's new suborbital spaceship, which is meant to be beginning its glide test campaign soon ahead of the start of commercial spaceflights in 2027. In their last investor report the company claimed that test flights of the new spaceship would begin in October 2026. [Source: Virgin Galactic]

NASA to Order More Starliners

According to Ars Technica, NASA will soon announce it has ordered two more crewed spaceflights on Boeing Starliner, as well as supporting its certification to be launched on a new rocket once the Atlas V is retired. It has become clear in recent months that SpaceX intends to stop operating its Crew Dragon spacecraft in the early 2030s to focus on Starship development. Boeing Starliner, despite its issues, represents the best chance for the United States to retain a vehicle suitable for low Earth orbit crewed missions into the 2030s. [Source: Ars Technica]

Further Delay to Starship Flight 14

The launch of Starship Flight 14, the first orbital launch attempt of SpaceX's fully reusable rocket, has been delayed by a further six days and is now aiming to launch on Monday 28th September. [Source: SpaceX]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Sunday 16th August 2026

Image credit: CMSA

Launch of Globalstar 2-R Mission 1

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0112 UTC, or 2112 Saturday evening local time (EDT). This was carrying Globalstar 2-R Mission 1, a batch of eight satellites to replenish Globalstar's satellite telephone and data transfer constellation. This was the 678th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 14th flight of booster B1090, which performed a boostback burn and successfully landed at Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 40. [Source: SpaceX]

Launch of USSF-366

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg in California at 0150 UTC, or 1850 Saturday evening local time (PDT). At just 38 minutes, this is the new record for the shortest gap between two Falcon launches, albeit from different launch sites. This was carrying USSF-366, a classified mission consisting of 23 communications satellites for the United States Space Force. This was the 679th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 18th flight of booster B1088, which successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

Launch of Guowang Group 24

SAST, a subsidiary of CASC, launched a Long March 12 (Chang Zheng 12) from Wenchang in Hainan at 0410 UTC, or 1210 local time (CST). This was carrying SatNet LEO (Guowang) Group 24, a batch of 9 satellites for the China Satellite Network Group's internet constellation. This was the 7th flight of the Long March 12, and the 9th flight of the Long March 12 family. Notably, the Long March 12 uses the same YF-100 engines as the recently failed Long March 7A, meaning the engines are still clear to fly and likely weren't the cause of the failure. [Source: SAST]

Tiangong Activities

CMSA published their weekly video on the activities of the crew of the Tiangong space station. Zhu Yangzhu, Lai Ka-Ying, and Zhang Zhiyuan performed research into electroencephalography, motion intuition, and emergency decision-making, and took blood samples. They maintained fluid physics experiments, practised simulated manual docking procedures, conducted medical training, and completed an emergency drill simulating a depressurisation event. [Source: CMSA]

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]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Wednesday 17th June 2026

Image credit: NASA/Jessica Meir

Launch of Guowang Group 22

CASC/SAST launched a Long March 12 (Chang Zheng 12) from Wenchang in Hainan at 0244 UTC, or 1044 local time (CST). It was carrying Guowang Group 22, a batch of nine satellites for the Chinese state-owned internet constellation. This was the 6th flight of the Long March 12. [Source: SAST]

Launch of CentiSpace-1 Group 05

ExPace, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), launched a Kuaizhou 11 from Jiuquan in Gansu at 0358 UTC, or 1158 local time (CST). It was carrying CentiSpace-1 Group 05, a batch of eight navigation satellites operated by the company Future Navigation. This was the 6th flight of the Kuaizhou 11. [Source: ExPace]

Launch of BlueBird 8 to 10

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0639 UTC, or 0239 local time (EDT). It was carrying BlueBird 8, 9, and 10, a batch of three satellites for AST SpaceMobile's cellular broadband constellation. This was the 653rd flight of the Falcon 9, and the 29th flight of booster B1077, which successfully landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

Launch of Amazon Leo LE-03

ESA launched an Ariane 6 from Kourou in French Guiana at 1221 UTC, or 0921 local time (GFT). It was carrying Amazon Leo LE-03, a batch of 36 satellites for the internet constellation. The rocket was in its 64 configuration, meaning it had four strap-on boosters. The boosters are newly upgraded, allowing for four additional satellites compared to previous missions. This was the 8th flight of the Ariane 6. [Source: Arianespace]

Splashdown of CRS-34

The Cargo Dragon serving the CRS-34 mission, which departed the International Space Station yesterday, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean under its parachutes at 1211 UTC, returning various science experiments from the station back to Earth. [Source: NASA]

Announcement of Relativity Space Mars Orbiter

Relativity Space have announced they will be developing a commercial Mars orbiter in partnership with NASA, as part of their new Interplanetary Sciences Program. It will include various instruments for the scientific study of Mars, as well as acting as a communications relay. The spacecraft is planned to be launched in late 2028 on the company's Terran R reusable rocket, which has yet to fly. [Source: Relativity Space]

International Space Station Activities

NASA published their daily blog post on the crew's activities aboard the International Space Station. The astronauts conducted routine research and maintenance, and prepared for the next spacewalk. [Source: NASA]