Tag: Satellite Launch
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Successful Launch Does Not Mean Delivery Is Complete: Key Stages of In-Orbit Satellite Delivery
On September 13, during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), Beijing Kaiyun United Information Technology Group Co., Ltd. (“Kaiyun Group”), PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited Zhejiang Branch, Beijing Hangbiao Times Testing and Certification Co., Ltd., and Sipai (Beijing) Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop commercial…
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China Launches Nine Satellites on Kinetica 1, Including Orbital AI and 5G Testbeds
China launched nine satellites aboard a Kinetica 1 Y18 rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone at 12:03 p.m. Beijing Time on September 20, 2026. The satellites entered their planned orbits, marking the 16th flight of the Kinetica 1 launch vehicle. The mission carried the Qinling-01 and Qinling-02 satellites, Pujiang-4, PEGA-SUS1, Diting-01 Group…
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SpaceX Sets USSF-259 Launch, Second Classified Space Force Mission in Six Days
SpaceX is preparing to launch the classified USSF-259 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on September 16, marking the company’s second national security flight from the base in six days. A Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East during a four-hour window…
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China Marks 666th Long March Flight with Six Remote-Sensing Satellites
China launched six remote-sensing satellites aboard a Long March 4B rocket Sept. 10, marking the 666th flight of the Long March family and adding new spacecraft for scientific experiments, land-resource surveys, agricultural monitoring and disaster reduction. The Long March 4B ignited at 5 p.m. Beijing time at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and deployed Yaogan-53…
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Stoke Space Raises $1 Billion, Targets Early 2027 Debut for Fully Reusable Nova Rocket
Stoke Space announced on September 8 that it completed the initial closing of a $1 billion Series E financing round, bringing its total capital raised to $2.3 billion. The Kent, Washington-based company will use the funding to prepare its fully reusable Nova Pathfinder rocket for a first orbital launch in early 2027, expand production and…
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Kuaizhou-11 Y3 Passes Factory Review Ahead of Dual-Satellite Launch
Kuaizhou Aerospace recently announced that the Kuaizhou-11 Y3 carrier rocket has completed all assembly and testing work at its Wuhan base and successfully passed its factory quality review. The rocket will soon be transported to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for a dual-satellite mission carrying Tianyi-51 and Tianyi-52 into orbit. The official launch window has…
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CAS Space Moves Toward First Sea Launch of Kinetica-1 After Full Mission Rehearsal
Chinese commercial space company CAS Space has completed a full mission rehearsal for the first sea launch of its Kinetica-1 solid-fuel rocket, bringing the maiden maritime launch closer to execution and validating the ground support architecture required to operate the vehicle from a moving offshore platform. The Aug. 25 rehearsal simulated the launch-day sequence from…
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ESA Shelves Ariane 6 Block 3 Upgrade Plans as Europe Prioritizes Launch Cadence and Near-Term Competitiveness
The European Space Agency (ESA) has shelved plans for the Ariane 6 Block 3 upgrade, marking a significant shift in Europe’s launch strategy as officials focus resources on increasing Ariane 6 production and flight rates rather than pursuing a major performance enhancement program. The decision effectively pauses one of the most ambitious future evolutions of…
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VinSpace Signs SpaceX Launch Contract for 2027 Satellite Mission
VinSpace Joint Stock Company (“VinSpace”) has announced the signing of a launch contract with U.S.-based SpaceX. The agreement marks a milestone in VinSpace’s roadmap to build comprehensive aerospace capabilities, advancing its mission to support the development of Vietnam’s space industry. Under the agreement, VinSpace’s satellites will launch aboard a Transporter rideshare mission in 2027 as…
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NASA Selects Gravitics for SBIR Award to Develop Orbital Sample Return System
Gravitics, Inc., an orbital infrastructure company, has announced that it was selected by NASA for a 2026 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award. The award supports development of the Multiple-Downmass Hangar, a system for affordable and frequent commercial sample return from low Earth orbit. The Multiple-Downmass Hangar is designed to hold multiple return…