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, Wednesday 16th September 2026

Image credit: Roscosmos

Launch of Progress MS-35

Roscosmos launched a Soyuz 2.1b from Baikonur in Kazakhstan at 1333 UTC, or 1833 local time (KZT). This was carrying Progress MS-35 (designated Progress 96 by NASA), a cargo resupply mission for the International Space Station, including 842kg of fuel, 1122kg of life support supplies, and 525kg of equipment. Among the new equipment is an exoskeletal controller for an anthropomorphic robot called "Teledroid" that will be delivered aboard the next cargo mission. The mission was originally due to launch a week ago, but was delayed due to an issue with the rocket's third stage. The spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous and dock with the zenith port of the Poisk module of the ISS on Saturday. This was the 209th flight of the Soyuz-2 family of rockets, and the 87th flight of the 2.1b configuration. [Source: Roscosmos]

Scrub of USSF-259

SpaceX were scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg in California carrying the USSF-259 mission today, but the flight was scrubbed and will now aim to launch tomorrow. [Source: SpaceX]

International Space Station Activities

The crew of the International Space Station continued their routine research and maintenance while they await the arrival of Progress MS-35. Jessica Meir performed sleep and stress research and worked on loading and unloading cargo from the Cygnus spacecraft. Andrey Fedyaev inspected laptops. Jack Hathaway replaced water filters in an oxygen generator. Sophie Adenot performed exercise research. Pyotr Dubrov performed maintenance on power systems and the ventilation system. Anna Kikina serviced an oxygen generator. Anil Menon continued his soldering research. The members of Crew-12 - Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev - called down to Earth for a news conference with journalists. [Source: NASA]

Crew-13 Rescheduled

NASA announced that SpaceX Crew-13, the next crewed launch to the ISS, is now aiming to launch in "early October". The mission was originally scheduled to launch on Saturday 12th September, but was delayed due to an oxidizer leak in the Crew Dragon spacecraft (Grace). The faulty oxidizer valve has now been replaced. [Source: NASA]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Monday 24th August 2026

Image credit: NASA/Jack Hathaway

Launch of Kosmos 2619

Roscosmos launched a Soyuz 2.1b from Plesetsk in Arkangelsk at 0240 UTC, or 0540 local time (MSK). This was carrying a single payload designated Kosmos-2619 and thought to be a GLONASS navigation satellite. This was the 208th flight of the Soyuz 2 family of rockets, and the 86th flight of the 2.1b variant. [Source: Jonathan McDowell]

International Space Station Activities

The NASA and ESA astronauts aboard the International Space Station spent today preparing for tomorrow's spacewalk, while the Russian cosmonauts carried out routine research and maintenance. [Source: NASA]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Monday 20th July 2026

Image credit: Bureau 1440

Launch of 16x Rassvet-3

Roscosmos launched a Soyuz 2.1b from Plesetsk in Arkangelsk at approximately 1751 UTC yesterday, Sunday 19th July, or 2051 local time (MSK). The launch was unannounced and carried out in secret. It was carrying the second batch of 16 Rassvet-3 communications satellites for Bureau 1440's internet constellation, following the first launch in March. When it becomes operational, the constellation could be used by the Russian military on the front lines in Ukraine, hence the secrecy. Bureau 1440 announced the success of the launch today, and the approximate launch time was calculated based on the catalogued orbits of the satellites. This was the 207th flight of the Soyuz-2 family of rockets, and the 85th flight of the 2.1b variant. [Source: TASS]

Scrub of Starlink Group 17-39

SpaceX were scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg in California today, but the rocket suffered a pad abort just after ignition and the flight was scrubbed. The payload is Starlink Group 17-39. There will be a second attempt tomorrow. [Source: SpaceX]

International Space Station Activities

The crew of the International Space Station prepared for the departure of the MS-28 crew next week, as well as carrying out routine research and maintenance. [Source: NASA]

Spaceflight Daily Report, Tuesday 14th July 2026

Image credit: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center

Launch of Starlink Group 15-14

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg in California at 0128 UTC, or 1828 Monday afternoon local time (PDT). This was carrying Starlink Group 15-14, a batch of 27 satellites for the constellation. It was the 665th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 15th flight of booster B1093, which successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

Launch of Starlink Group 10-45

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 0910 UTC, or 0510 local time (EDT). This was carrying Starlink Group 10-45, a batch of 29 satellites for the constellation. It was the 666th flight of the Falcon 9, and the 28th flight of booster B1080, which successfully landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean Ocean. [Source: SpaceX]

Launch of Soyuz MS-29

Roscosmos launched a Soyuz 2.1a rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan at 1447 UTC, or 1947 local time (KZT). This was carrying Soyuz MS-29, a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut to the International Space Station. The Soyuz spacecraft made two orbits of the Earth before docking with the nadir port of the station's Prichal module at 1756 UTC, about three hours after launch, where it will remain for the next eight months. This was the 206th flight of the Soyuz-2 family of rockets, and the 82nd flight of the 2.1a variant. [Source: NASA]

The three crew join Expedition 74 and will remain on the station for the beginning of Expedition 75 next week. The mission commander is Pyotr Dubrov, who was previously a flight engineer on Soyuz MS-18 back in 2021. This is his second spaceflight. The other cosmonaut on the mission is Anna Kikina, also on her second spaceflight. She previously visited the station as part of SpaceX Crew-5 back in 2022. The third crew member is NASA astronaut Anil Menon, who has served as a flight surgeon for NASA and as medical director at SpaceX. This is his first spaceflight, making him the 648th human to achieve orbit, the 743rd human to fly above 100km (FAI definition of space), and the 784th human to fly above 50mi (US definition of space). There are now thirteen people in space; five Russians, four Americans, and one French aboard the ISS, and three Chinese aboard Tiangong. [Source: NASA]