https://spacewatch.global/tag/spaceflight/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:25:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/spaceflight/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/the-space-cafe-podcast-139-with-john-mcfall/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67657 John McFall - surgeon, Paralympic medalist, father of three, and ESA parastronaut selectee — joins Markus to explore how human spaceflight changes when we design for ability, not assumptions. From winter survival in the Pyrenees to EVA realities and cosmic radiation, John shares what it takes to open space to everyone.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/09/spaceflight-and-rocket-factory-partner-to-fly-sherpa-otvs-from-europe/ Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:00:16 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=43411 Space transportation provider Spaceflight, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for upcoming launches with launch services provider Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), RFA said. Under the agreement, Spaceflight will fly its Sherpa orbital transfer vehicles (OTV) and other rideshare payloads on upcoming RFA missions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/05/spacex-successfully-launches-transporter-5-rideshare-mission/ Thu, 26 May 2022 06:00:52 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=41148 SpaceX has launched the Transporter-5 rideshare mission carrying several dozen payloads to low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits. This time the first stage touched down at Landing Zone-1 at Cape Canaveral. This was the eighth launch of booster 1061 and the one-hundredth launch of a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/05/rocket-lab-successfully-catches-booster-returning-from-space-with-helicopter/ Tue, 03 May 2022 07:00:10 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=40743 Rocket Lab has successfully deployed 34 satellites to orbit during its “There And Back Again” mission, which also included a mid-air capture of the Electron booster with a helicopter for the first time. This was the company’s 26th Electron mission. Rocket Lab has deployed a total of 146 satellites to orbit with the launch vehicle so far.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/04/german-enmap-satellite-launches-aboard-spacexs-transporter-4-mission/ Mon, 04 Apr 2022 06:00:11 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=40248 SpaceX launched its Transporter-4 mission carrying 40 spacecraft, including CubeSats, microsats, picosats, non-deploying hosted payloads, and an orbital transfer vehicle to deploy spacecraft at a later time. The rideshare mission was the rocket booster’s seventh successful mission.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/03/spacex-ends-partnership-with-spaceflight/ Mon, 28 Mar 2022 06:00:27 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=40102 SpaceX decided to end partnership with launch services company Spaceflight, after years of close cooperation. SpaceX sent an email to companies taking part in its rideshare missions, saying that it will no longer be flying or working with Spaceflight after the current missions concluded. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/03/astra-successfully-deploys-payloads-into-sun-synchronous-orbit/ Thu, 17 Mar 2022 07:00:35 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=39886 Astra launched its Rocket 3.3 vehicle from Alaska on Kodiak Island, successfully placing several payloads into sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 525 km. An attempt the previous day had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions. The liftoff and ascent went as planned, however, there was no immediate confirmation of payload separation.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/03/kleos-patrol-mission-to-launch-with-d-orbits-ion-satellite-carrier/ Wed, 02 Mar 2022 07:00:10 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=39620 Space logistics and orbital transportation company D-orbit signed a contract with US launch provider Spaceflight to deploy the Kleos Patrol Mission (KSF2) satellites aboard D-orbit’s next ION Satellite Carrier mission, the company said. The four satellites of Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service company, Kleos Space, will launch with SpaceX’s Transporter 4 mission.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/01/israel-artemis-accords-while-nasa-selects-companies-for-vadr/ Thu, 27 Jan 2022 07:00:24 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=38799 Israel signed onto Artemis Accords to land astronauts on the Moon and establish a long-term human presence there as a base for future Mars missions, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology announced. The Artemis program establishes principles of cooperation, sustainable human presence on the lunar surface and space exploration in general.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/01/rocket-lab-announces-first-electron-launch-of-the-year/ Wed, 19 Jan 2022 07:00:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=38659 Rocket Lab has announced the date for its first Electron mission in 2022, which will be a dedicated mission for BlackSky through global launch services provider Spaceflight. Electron is scheduled to launch the “Without Mission A Beat” from New Zealand on 4th February.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/01/spacex-successfully-launches-105-spacecraft/ Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:00:24 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=38571 SpaceX successfully launched 105 spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle yesterday during its third dedicated smallsat rideshare mission, Transporter-3. The rideshare program was announced in 2019, offering small satellite operators to launch for a combined price of US $1M. Transporter-3 carried CubeSats, microsats, PocketQubes,]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/03/scientists-study-human-cell-infection-in-space/ Thu, 11 Mar 2021 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=31060&preview=true&preview_id=31060 Scientists study human cell infection in space]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/11/spaceflight-to-launch-new-rideshare-vehicles-in-2021/ Fri, 13 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=28176&preview=true&preview_id=28176 Spaceflight to launch new rideshare vehicles in 2021]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/07/in-space-sets-sights-on-next-phase-of-faraday-programme-after-devastating-loss-of-faraday-1-satellite/ Mon, 06 Jul 2020 05:00:29 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=24017 In-Space sets sights on next phase of Faraday programme after devastating loss of Faraday-1 satellit. In-Space Missions has vowed to continue its Faraday satellite programme after the extreme disappointment of losing their maiden satellite Faraday-1.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/10/relativity-space-closes-140-million-series-c-funding-round-led-by-bond-and-tribe-capital/ Thu, 03 Oct 2019 05:00:52 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=16260 Relativity Space has closed a $140 million Series C funding round led by Bond and Tribe Capital.With this $140 million funding round, Relativity is fully funded to become the first company in the world to launch an entirely 3D printed rocket to orbit and enter commercial service in early 2021.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/09/relativity-space-signs-launch-services-agreement-for-multiple-launches-with-momentus-on-terran-1-worlds-first-3d-printed-rocket/ Thu, 12 Sep 2019 05:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15956 Relativity Space has signed a Launch Services Agreement (LSA) with Momentus, the provider of in-space shuttle services that move satellites between orbits, to launch Momentus’ small and medium satellite customers on Relativity’s Terran 1 rocket, the world’s first and only entirely 3D printed rocket]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/08/spaceflight-purchases-and-fully-manifests-first-ever-commercial-sslv-mission-from-newspace-india-limited/ Wed, 14 Aug 2019 05:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15581 Spaceflight has purchased the first commercial launch of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), scheduled for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India later this year.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/08/spaceflights-second-rideshare-mission-with-rocket-lab-slated-for-16-august/ Mon, 12 Aug 2019 05:00:44 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15553 Spaceflight, the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, has announced it has managed the procurement, integration, and mission management services for three spacecraft on Rocket Lab's next mission aboard an Electron rocket.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/07/spaceflight-to-launch-multiple-spacecraft-from-international-space-station-via-cygnus/ Thu, 11 Jul 2019 05:00:01 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=15065 Spaceflight has announced that it is providing mission management and rideshare integration services on an upcoming launch from the International Space Station (ISS) and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus launch vehicle. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2019/06/relativity-to-build-autonomous-rocket-factory-and-expand-testing-facilities-at-nasa-stennis-space-center/ Thu, 13 Jun 2019 05:00:48 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=14584 Relativity has announced that it has secured an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and an incentive package from the Mississippi Development Authority to expand facilities and infrastructure at NASA’s historic Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi.]]>