Rocket Launches

Rocket launches used to be the realm of national governments, but with the rise of private spaceflight companies more rockets are launching into space than ever before. While most rockets launch satellites into orbit, some like Russia's Soyuz, carry astronauts on missions into space. SpaceX's Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner will fly Americans into orbit, while Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin will launch space tourists on short suborbital trips. SpaceX and Blue Origin even land their rockets after launch for later reuse. See news, photos and videos of the latest rocket launches from around the world here. 

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, SpaceX, NASA Space Launch System, Space Tourism, International Space Station

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a black and white spacex rocket launches at night

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched 22 Starlink satellites to orbit Sunday night (July 23) and landed the returning rocket on a ship at sea.

a black and white chinese rocket launches into a blue sky

China launches 4 commercial weather satellites to orbit (video)

By Andrew Jones published

A Chinese solid rocket launched a new batch of commercial satellites from the Gobi Desert on Wednesday (July 19).

An orange-tinted white fire blasts from the bottom of a rocket rising in the center of the image. The ground is obscured by fog as the rocket begins to climb a black sky.

See SpaceX launch picture-perfect nighttime Starlink mission (photos)

By Josh Dinner published

SpaceX launched 15 Starlink satellites into orbit overnight, steadily adding to the company's broadband megaconstellation. A few hours after liftoff, they posted these gorgeous launch photos.

a silver and red rocket stage floats in the ocean

Rocket Lab recovers Electron booster from Pacific Ocean after satellite launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab pulled one of its boosters from the sea after a launch on Monday (July 17), taking another step toward rocket reuse.

a rocket sits on a launch pad, almost entirely obscured by fog

SpaceX aborts Starlink satellite launch with 5 seconds left in countdown

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX aborted the planned launch of 15 Starlink internet satellites early Wednesday (July 19) with 5 seconds left in the countdown.

a spacex falcon 9 rocket rises above the fog during a night launch

SpaceX launches 15 Starlink satellites to orbit, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 15 Starlink satellites toward orbit early Thursday (July 20) and came back down for a landing on a ship at sea.

a cylindrical-shaped piece of debris covered in mud and barnacles on a beach. the ocean is visible in behind

Australian Space Agency investigating possible rocket debris found on beach

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Australian Space Agency found a piece of debris that may be part of a 'foreign space launch vehicle,' but it's unclear which one it could be.

a space plane above Earth

Virgin Galactic to launch 2nd commercial spaceflight on Aug. 10

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Galactic will launch six people to suborbital space next month on 'Galactic 02,' the company's first private astronaut mission.

a white lvm3 rocket climbs into a blue sky

What's next for India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover mission?

By Robert Lea published

India's third lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14. The mission's lander and rover are scheduled to touch down on the moon in late August.

a black, white and red rocket lab rocket launches with the ocean and the sky in the background

Rocket Lab launches 7 satellites, recovers booster after ocean splashdown (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

Rocket Lab launched seven satellites to orbit Sunday (July 17) and recovered the returning booster after an ocean splashdown.

chandrayaan 3 launching through the clouds.

India launches historic Chandrayaan-3 moon rover to land at the lunar south pole

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission launched today (July 14), kicking off the nation's second attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon.

a black and white spacex rocket on the pad at night

SpaceX aborts Falcon 9 rocket's record-tying 16th launch attempt

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX aborted the planned 16th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket early Friday (July 14) with 40 seconds left in the countdown.

a red-and-white rocket on a launch pad at sunset

ULA delays 1st Vulcan rocket launch to late 2023 after explosion during test

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Vulcan Centaur is now scheduled to debut in late 2023, provided the rest of its development goes according to plan.

a rocket lights up the night sky with a brilliant yellow flame over its launchpad

SpaceX rocket launches 54 Starlink satellites and lands at sea on record-tying 16th flight (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket a new fleet of Starlink satellites into orbit and landed on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean late Saturday in what was a record-tying 16th flight for the booster.

a white rocket rolls out of a large building toward its launch pad

Watch India launch Chandrayaan 3 moon rover and lunar lander today

By Mike Wall published

India's Chandrayaan 3 moon mission is scheduled to launch early Friday morning (July 14), and you can watch the historic action live.

rocket lifting off between two launch towers and sending out a cloud of dust behind

China just launched a methane-fueled rocket into orbit, a world's 1st for spaceflight (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Zhuque-2, a rocket built by the Chinese company Landspace, reached Earth orbit on July 12, becoming the first methane-fueled launcher ever to do so.

people watch a large tv screen with an image of a missile launching into a blue sky

North Korea launches ICBM on record-breaking 74-minute flight

By Andrew Jones published

North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday (July 12), shortly after complaining about purported spying activity by the United States.

a white rocket stands on its launch pad against a blue-black sky

India's moon-landing mission is 'go' for Friday morning launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

India's Chandrayaan 3 moon mission has passed its readiness review and is all set to launch toward Earth's nearest neighbor early Friday morning (July 14).

wide shot of a white rocket on the launch pad, surrounded by four tall lightning towers

India's ready to launch its Chandrayaan-3 moon-landing mission on July 14. Here's what to expect

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Chandrayaan-3 will be India's third mission to the moon and the country's second attempt at soft-landing a robotic craft on Earth's nearest neighbor.

a black and white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches at night from florida

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches for record-breaking 16th time, lands on ship at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on its record-breaking 16th mission Sunday night (July 9), sending 22 of the company's Starlink 'V2 Mini' satellites to orbit.