Artemis II Rollback, February 25, 2026
NASA: ‘Engineering Failures’ and Culture Issues In Starliner Program Led To CFT-1 Failures
NASA has released a sweeping investigation report into the propulsion system failures that plagued Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner during its Crewed Flight Test (CFT) last year. The report finds a cascade of hardware failures, qualification gaps, organizational breakdowns, and a culture that prioritized schedule and provider success over engineering rigor in the program.
NASA Planning Second Wet Dress Rehearsal For Artemis II
Photo: Charles Boyer
NASA is moving ahead with a second wet dress rehearsal, or WDR-2, for the Artemis II mission. Launch controllers will take their positions in the Launch Control Center at 6:40 PM ET tonight (Feb. 17), kicking off a nearly 50-hour countdown sequence. The simulated launch window opens at 8:30 PM on February 19th and extends four hours.
Boeing and NASA Add Strakes To SLS Core Stage
When NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket rolls out to Launch Complex 39B this weekend, sharp-eyed observers will notice something new on the core stage: four thin metal fins that weren’t there for Artemis I.
They’re called strakes, and they exist because the rocket’s first flight revealed a problem nobody fully anticipated.
After Artemis I launched in November 2022, Boeing and NASA engineers dug into the flight data and found that the Space Launch System experienced higher-than-expected vibrations near the points where the twin solid rocket boosters attach to the core stage. The culprit turned out to be turbulent airflow swirling through the gap between the boosters and the orange core stage during ascent—an aerodynamic nuisance that needed fixing before astronauts climbed aboard.
The fix itself is elegantly simple. Strakes are fin-like structures commonly used on aircraft to manage airflow, but they’d never been added to the SLS core stage. Boeing’s engineering team ran the numbers through wind tunnel tests and computational fluid dynamics simulations, then designed four strakes sized and positioned to calm the turbulence and dampen vibrations for Artemis II and all future flights.
Getting them installed on an already-aggressive schedule required some hustle on NASA and Boeing’s part. “We immediately pulled together a team—the best of the best,” said Brandon Burroughs, who led the strake implementation effort. “The team worked around the clock and even through the year-end break. By working closely with NASA and streamlining processes, we did in weeks what would normally be done in years.”
Before drilling a single hole at Kennedy Space Center, technicians practiced the procedure in Huntsville, Alabama. The strakes were ready to install before the core stage was fully stacked on the mobile launcher—a critical bit of timing that avoided the access headaches that would’ve come once the solid rocket boosters were in place.
It’s a small addition with big implications.
Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a roughly 10-day trip around the moon, the first crewed flight beyond Earth orbit in more than half a century. Every improvement to the rocket brings NASA one step closer to landing crews on the lunar surface—and eventually, Mars.
2025 In Spaceflight For The Cape
2025 was an incredibly busy year in spaceflight, both here at the Cape and also globally. By Christmas, providers broke previous orbital launch records, with over 300 successful flights globally, largely driven by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for Starlink satellite deployments.
The Cape’s numbers for 2025:
For a complete list of 2025 launches from Florida, you can click here.
Commercial Spaceflight
SpaceX: Launch Cadence at an Unmatched Scale
SpaceX further extended its dominance in 2025 with over 130 orbital launches across the year, the vast majority using its Falcon 9 rocket. The company continued flying at a pace unmatched by any other launch provider, supporting satellite deployments, ISS crew and cargo missions, and national security payloads in addition to continuing building out its wildly popular Starlink offering.
Starlink
On October 25, 2025, SpaceX launched its 10,000th Starlink satellite. Space.com quoted noted satellite tracker Dr. Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, saying that there are currently 9,357 Starlink satellites in orbit, with 9,347 in operational positions. The constellation serves over 9 million customers across 100 countries and territories. It is estimated that the company adds around 20,000 new customers daily.
Reusable boosters remain central to that success. Several Falcon 9 first stages flew 20 or more times, reinforcing the idea that rapid reuse is no longer experimental but routine. One of its boosters, B1067, has now flown 32 times and is currently at SpaceX’s facilities at the Kennedy Space Center, being refurbished for another flight. The company has publicly stated that it seeks to certify Falcon 9 boosters for up to 40 flights, and in 2025, several of the company’s boosters have fewer than ten missions remaining to meet that goal.
Starship test flights also continued launching from Texas, focusing on vehicle upgrades, heat-shield performance, and recovery techniques aimed at future missions beyond Earth orbit. The company is also continuing to build out its Boca Chica infrastructure, with a new launch pad nearing completion at the end of this year. Flights from the new facility should take place in the first part of 2026.
SpaceX also received approval to begin converting Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral for Starship operations. The site, previously used by United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV, gives SpaceX a second major East Coast launch location and points to long-term plans for higher-energy missions beyond Falcon 9.
Meanwhile, NASA, the FAA and other relevant authorities are finishing an Environmental Impact Statement for another Florida-based Starship launch pad at LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. The tower there has long been under construction, with work continuing apace at that facility in addition to the new pad a few miles south at SLC-37.
SpaceX has stated that its goal is to launch from the Cape in 2026.
SpaceX has also begun construction of a new “Gigabay” facility for Starship at its Roberts Road site at Kennedy Space Center. That facility is large — not quite the size of the venerable VAB, but large nonetheless — and should be completed in 2026.
Blue Origin: New Glenn Finally Flies
After years of development, Blue Origin reached orbit for the first time with the debut launch of its New Glenn rocket in 2025. Flying from LC-36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the successful flight validated the vehicle’s core systems and marked the company’s entry into the heavy-lift orbital launch market.
NG-1, Blue’s mission designation for the debut flight, also had a tertiary goal of landing the New Glenn first stage, but that effort was unsuccessful. The payload reached its target orbit, however, making the flight a rousing success for a company long discounted by many in the space community.
Momentum continued on New Glenn’s second launch, when Blue Origin successfully landed its reusable first-stage booster on its recovery ship ‘Jacklyn’. The recovery showed that the company’s emphasis on reusability was now operational and not theoretical, and it positioned New Glenn as a serious competitor in the heavy-lift category.
Notably, Blue’s second New Glenn flight was much smoother than the debut. This was an expected improvement, but it clearly showed that Blue had taken the lessons learned from NG-1 to heart, made operational improvements, and applied them to the NG-2 flight.
2025 also saw Blue Origin significantly advancing its Blue Origin Blue Moon lunar lander program, as it continued preparing its Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lunar lander for its first demo mission to deliver payloads to the lunar South Pole, presumably on the New Glenn NG-3 flight in early 2026.
Plans to reuse ‘Never Tell Me the Odds’, the booster used for the NG-2 flight, on NG-3. If successful, Blue Origin will achieve landing and then reusing a booster in relatively quick succession.
Blue is continuing development of its second lunar lander, Blue Moon Mark 2 (MK2). While they have made few public statements on the status and progress of the project, it is believed that they are building a flight-capable cabin for testing and crew training for the larger MK2, one of two of NASA’s selected crewed landers. Additionally, Blue is said to be working on life support, thermal control, and docking systems for MK2. Undoubtedly, the results from the MK1 mission will greatly inform the future designs of MK2.
Finally, Blue Origin created a new internal group focusing on national security missions for the US Government, and to run it they hired ULA’s CEO, Tory Bruno.
United Launch Alliance: A Year Full Of Change
2026 was a transitional year for United Launch Alliance, and one that has many observers wondering about the company’s long-term prospects, especially now that their former leader, Tory Bruno, has left to work for the competition.
One one hand, the company has an estimated 70 launches backlogged, with the majority being LEO satellites for Amazon’s Leo telecommunications constellation. On the other, Vulcan has been slow to build any cadence, with August 2025 being the last launch and NET March 2026 for its next flight. That’s not going to trim the backlog appreciably.
The reasons go back to last year: October of 2024, Vulcan’s second flight, CERT-2 saw one of its solid rocket boosters (SRB) nozzles detach due to a manufacturing defect in the nozzle’s internal insulator, causing an off-nominal burn. However, the main engines compensated, kept the rocket on course, and the mission still achieved its orbital goals. The company and Northrop Grumman conducted an investigation to identify the issue and prevent any recurrence.
That took several months and most of ULA’s inertia but the company continued to soldier on with other missions while it waited for the results and corrections to Vulcan.
In written testimony to Congress in May 2025, Major General Stephen G. Purdy stated the Vulcan program had performed “unsatisfactorily“ over the past year. He noted that “major issues with the Vulcan have overshadowed its successful certification,” directly resulting in the grounding of four national security missions.
Due to Vulcan’s delays, the original 60/40 mission split favoring ULA under the NSSL Phase 2 contract shifted closer to 54/46 (or nearly 50/50) in 2025, as more missions were awarded or reassigned to SpaceX. Now, Blue Origin is also in the competition future NSSL launches, with Blue expected to complete NSSL Certification next year. SpaceX isn’t going anywhere either, leaving ULA walking a tightwire in the coming year.
On August 13, 2025, ULA successfully launched its first national security mission for the U.S. Space Force using a Vulcan VC4S. The mission deployed NTS-3, an experimental navigation satellite designed to enhance GPS resilience and was a complete success.
With its Delta family retired, ULA successfully conducted four major launches for Amazon’s broadband constellation (Project Kuiper, now Amazon Leo) using Atlas V rockets. All of those missions were textbook perfect, as has been customary for the rocket.
ULA is planning to increase its launch cadence in 2026, and has all but completed a second launch tower and vertical integration facility for Vulcan.
Finally, close to the Christmas holiday, ULA announced that CEO Tory Bruno had resigned “to pursue another opportunity.” For Bruno, that opportunity turned out to be leading Blue Origin’s new National Security Group, where he will ostensibly be competing with his old company for lucrative USSL launches. At Blue Origin, Bruno will have a reusable rocket system in hand, while ULA will compete with its Vulcan rocket and the vast depth of experience the company has on its resume.
ULA COO John Elbon was named as the Interim CEO in a press release issued today. John Elbon is the chief operating officer for United Launch Alliance (ULA). Before his new role, Elbon was responsible for the operations of the Atlas, Delta, and Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle programs, including design, engineering, integration, production, quality assurance, and program management.
Previously, Elbon served as vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Commercial Programs. In that position, Elbon managed Boeing’s efforts on NASA’s Commercial Crew Space Act Agreements, including the first two phases of the Commercial Crew Development, which for Boeing was the Starliner CST program.
Rocket Lab
In 2025, Rocket Lab completed 21 Electron launches, maintaining one of the highest success rates in the small-satellite market and continuing to serve commercial, civil, and national security customers. Electron missions flew from both New Zealand and Virginia, reinforcing Rocket Lab’s value as a responsive, geographically flexible company.
At the same time, much of Rocket Lab’s strategic focus shifted toward the future with continued development of Neutron, its upcoming medium-lift, partially reusable rocket. Throughout 2025, the company advanced engine testing, structural manufacturing, and launch infrastructure work at Wallops Island, Virginia.
While Neutron did not fly during the year as the company had expected, visible progress signaled Rocket Lab’s intent to move beyond small payloads and compete for larger commercial constellations and U.S. government missions later in the decade.
Beyond launch vehicles, Rocket Lab also expanded its space systems business, delivering spacecraft components, solar panels, and complete satellites to a growing customer base.
Rocket Lab’s share price rose sharply in 2025, with investors seeing significant gains in their positions.
Taken together, 2025 was not a year of dramatic firsts for Rocket Lab, but one of consolidation and preparation — proving it could sustain a high launch tempo today while methodically building the capability to play a much bigger role in the launch market of the future.
NASA
The year was marked by layoffs, with uncertainty and dread a prevalent mood for many at the agency as the new presidential budget called for drastic cuts in NASA’s science programs.
The year also saw a great deal of preparation for a return to the Moon under Artemis, a major anniversary for the International Space Station, and visible progress in science, aviation, and artificial intelligence. It was also a year of leadership change, with private-space veteran Jared Isaacman nominated and later confirmed to a senior NASA leadership role, signaling closer alignment between the agency and the commercial space sector.
The year set the tone for a decade defined by sustained activity rather than isolated milestones.
Lunar exploration remained a central focus. NASA continued methodical preparations for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon since Apollo, completing the stacking of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft and running dozens of mission simulations to stress-test procedures and crew timelines. At the same time, the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program delivered tangible results.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission One achieved a successful lunar landing in early March, while Intuitive Machines’ second Nova-C lander reached the surface days later, gathering data despite landing on its side. Together, the missions reinforced NASA’s strategy of using commercial partners to deliver science and technology to the Moon more frequently and at lower cost.
Beyond the Moon, NASA continued expanding its deep-space science portfolio. In November, the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft were launched toward Mars to investigate how the planet’s weak magnetic environment interacts with the solar wind, a key factor in understanding how Mars lost much of its atmosphere. Planning for future lunar surface science also advanced when Blue Origin was selected to deliver the VIPER rover to the Moon’s south pole later in the decade, keeping the agency’s search for water ice on track.
Space science and Earth observation saw several high-profile missions reach orbit in 2025. In March, NASA launched the SPHEREx space telescope to conduct an all-sky infrared survey while also deploying the PUNCH mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and the origins of the solar wind.
Over the summer, the NISAR satellite, a joint mission with India’s ISRO, lifted off to provide unprecedented radar mapping of Earth’s ice sheets, forests, and changing landscapes. Astronomers also turned their attention outward as NASA coordinated global observations of 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object ever detected passing through our solar system.
Closer to home, the Lucy spacecraft added another successful asteroid flyby to its mission, passing 52246 Donaldjohanson and returning detailed images that will help refine models of early solar system formation.
Human spaceflight milestones were just as prominent aboard the International Space Station. In November, the ISS marked 25 consecutive years of continuous human presence in orbit, a milestone that underscored its role as a testbed for long-duration missions beyond Earth.
Earlier in the year, astronaut Suni Williams set a new record for cumulative spacewalk time by a woman, reflecting both the station’s ongoing maintenance demands and the growing experience of its crews. Williams had the opportunity to mark that achievement because she and Butch Wilmore were part of the ill-fated Boeing CFT mission that launched in 2024 and led to an unexpected nine-month stay on station. The Boeing CFT astronauts joined Crew 9, which launched in September 2024 and landed in the Pacific Ocean on March 18, 2025.
Logistics capabilities also expanded with the arrival of Northrop Grumman’s first Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft, which delivered larger payloads and increased flexibility for station resupply. SpaceX provided the lift for Cygnus, as Northrop Grumman has yet to complete development of a new Antares 300-series replacement.
NASA also made visible progress in aviation and emerging technologies. The X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft completed its long-awaited first flight in October, validating a design meant to dramatically reduce sonic booms and potentially reopen the door to commercial supersonic travel over land.
In materials science, the agency’s heat-resistant superalloy GRX-810 earned recognition as NASA’s 2025 Commercial Invention of the Year, highlighting work aimed at improving engines and structures for extreme environments.
Taken together, 2025 was less about a single headline mission and more about steady progress across many fronts. NASA strengthened its lunar pipeline, celebrated a quarter-century of continuous human spaceflight, launched major new science missions, and laid the groundwork for how future exploration will be managed and analyzed. They also got a new administrator after a tumultuous nomination process. Jared Isaacman will bring many new ideas and changes to the agency, changes that will hopefully rejuvenate and reinvigorate the US space program.
Others
Sierra Space
In 2025, Sierra Space moved its Dream Chaser program through a series of important ground milestones while also reworking its near-term flight plans. The spaceplane, named Tenacity, completed extensive pre-flight testing, including electromagnetic compatibility checks and runway tow trials, clearing several technical hurdles ahead of flight. That flight, planned for 2024, will now take place in 2026. Maybe.
Photo: Sierra Space
The program’s first mission was significantly reshaped. What was initially planned as a cargo run to the International Space Station was revised into a standalone orbital demonstration, now targeted for late 2026. NASA amended its contract with Sierra Space, removing guaranteed ISS delivery missions as the company redirected more attention toward defense and national security work.
As a result, Tenacity’s debut will focus on proving core flight and reentry capabilities rather than docking operations. The change reflects both development challenges and the additional certification steps required for ISS missions. While near-term station flights are no longer assured, Dream Chaser could still play a role in future logistics, including potential cargo deliveries to commercial space stations such as Orbital Reef, once the vehicle completes its initial orbital testing.
Relativity
In 2025, Relativity Space entered a new phase after a major leadership shakeup. In March, Eric Schmidt stepped in as chief executive following a substantial investment in the company. Under his leadership, Relativity moved away from its earlier goal of fully 3D-printed rockets, adopting a more pragmatic hybrid manufacturing strategy while accelerating development of its larger, reusable Terran R launch vehicle.
Schmidt is a former Google
Stoke Space
Stoke Space, the Kent, Washington, company founded by former Blue Origin and SpaceX employees, had a good 2025, making major progress toward the first launch of its Nova rocket.
Rockets need launch pads, and Stoke has rebuilt SLC-14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to modern standards for Nova. This is no small accomplishment, and on top of that, Stoke was respectful of the history of 14: this is where John Glenn launched in Mercury-Atlas 6, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth.
As for Nova itself, work is focused on final hardware qualification as the company simultaneously activates SLC-14. Stoke had previously planned for a 2025 debut of Nova, but mid-year, the company shifted to the right on the launch calendar in order to complete SLC-14 and to iron out any remaining issues with Nova.
The 40.2-meter (132-foot) tall rocket is expected to fly in the early part of next year. Stoke is also planning to slowly introduce reusability, so expect the first launch to be expendable.
Boeing
In 2025 Boeing welcomed a new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, previously the president and CEO of Rockwell Collins. Ortberg promised major changes throughout the company, including its spaceflight division.
In November 2025, NASA reduced Boeing’s Commercial Crew contract from six planned missions to the International Space Station (ISS) down to four. This followed technical issues during the 2024 crewed flight test that necessitated the astronauts’ return on a SpaceX vehicle in early 2025. The next mission for Starliner will be uncrewed and carrying cargo, but no date for that mission has been announced.
The news was not all bad for Boeing: their autonomous X-37B spaceplane continued its eighth mission, conducting long-duration orbital experiments as well as novel orbital maneuvers that can quickly place the spacecraft in a new orbit very quickly. In the quickly militarizing orbital environment, this is a tactical advantage yet to be demonstrated by any other nation.
Boeing also continued working on the SLS core stage. It’s Artemis II hardware is in the VAB awaiting rollout and at the time of this writing, the core stage for Artemis III is in an advanced state of manufacturing. After that, it is difficult to tell if the SLS rocket will be canceled by NASA and the Trump administration or if Boeing and others will continue manufacturing the rocket.
Taken overall, the year was an incredibly exciting one, but also one that sets the stage for the future: in 2026 humans will return to cislunar space and further development for landing on the lunar surface will continue apace. Vast Space is planning to launch Vast-1, the first privately owned and operated space station in LEO. We’ll also see SpaceX passing 10,000 Starlink satellites on orbit at some point in 2026, along with Amazon’s nascent Leo constellation starting to take form. There will be new rockets making their debut, and in between, lot of launches, especially Falcon 9 launches.
Stay tuned.
2025 Space Coast Launches
Click “Read More” to open the table below.
Commercial Space Stations: U.S. Firms Pushing Towards Demo Launches, Europe Bets on Partnerships
Graphic: Axiom Space
As the International Space Station nears its 2030 planned retirement, both American and European players are accelerating efforts to ensure a continued human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO). American companies are spearheading multiple commercial station projects, while Europe is increasingly aligning itself as a strategic partner in the emerging space economy.
NASA has taken a clear stance: rather than replace the ISS with another government-owned platform, it’s backing private companies to build and operate commercial stations. Through its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program, NASA is funding early design and development, with plans to purchase services as a customer once the stations are operational.
Here are where the key U.S. projects stand:
Axiom Station (Axiom Space)
Photo: Axiom Space
Axiom will launch its first module to the ISS in 2026, marking the beginning of the Axiom Station. Only one module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (AxPPTM), will be attached to ISS. When Habitat 1 (AxH1) is launched, AxPPTM will detach from ISS and will dock with AxH1, separate from NASA’s orbiting outpost.
Graphic: Axiom Space
Axiom already has experience flying private missions to the ISS, is building new EVA spacesuits, and is one of the most advanced competitors in the commercial space station market in terms of flight readiness.
Let’s hope they come up with some friendlier names for each of the modules.
Haven-1 & Haven Demo (Vast Space)
Vast Space is building a modular station beginning with Haven-1, planned for launch in May 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. It will support short-duration missions for four crew members and is designed to operate autonomously before more complex modules are added.
Ahead of Haven-1, Vast will launch a Haven Demo mission — a critical uncrewed test flight that will validate life support systems, power, comms, and other station functions. This demo is expected in 2025 and will serve as a technological shakedown before human occupation.
No launch date has been set for Haven Demo, but launching this year is more than aspirational, given that the company announced on September 26, “Haven Demo build and test are complete, and it is now undergoing final integration for launch.”
Vast’s roadmap includes Haven-2, a larger and more capable successor, anticipated by 2028. In June 2024, Vast signed a cooperation agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA), opening the door for European astronauts and payloads to fly on its platforms.
Starlab (Voyager/Nanoracks + Airbus)
Credit: Starlab
Targeting a 2029 launch, Starlab is a collaboration between U.S.-based Voyager Space and Nanoracks, with European aerospace giant Airbus as a co-developer. The station has completed major design reviews and is moving into the full production phase. Its design supports four crew members and includes laboratory space for government and commercial users. Airbus’s involvement makes this one of the most international of the U.S.-led efforts.
Orbital Reef (Blue Origin + Sierra Space)
Credit: Sierra Space
Orbital Reef, billed as a “business park in space,” is being developed with a mix of partners, including Blue Origin, Sierra Space, Boeing, and others. The plan includes large inflatable habitat modules (Sierra’s LIFE system) and facilities for research, tourism, and manufacturing. It’s an ambitious project, but it is still in its design stages.
No advanced design review or acceptance meetings have been announced, and no metal has been bent to create a first flight module for Orbital Reef. The project partners have a stated 2027 goal, but does not seem to be a priority for some of them at this point in time.
Europe: Infrastructure, Access, and Industry Roles
While Europe lacks a flagship commercial space station project of its own, ESA is actively engaging through industrial support and international partnerships.
- Airbus in Starlab: The European aerospace leader plays a central role in the development of Starlab, ostensibly to ensure that European technology is integrated into the next generation of orbital stations.
- ESA–Vast Agreement: ESA’s memorandum of understanding with Vast signals a shift toward broader collaboration with commercial operators outside of Europe, giving ESA member states potential crew and science access aboard Haven-class stations.
- Cargo Return Services: ESA has also contracted Thales Alenia Space (Italy) and The Exploration Company (Germany) to develop LEO cargo return vehicles by 2028–2030. These efforts support future station resupply and science return — capabilities vital for any long-term orbital presence.
- Exploratory Talks with Blue Origin: ESA is reportedly in talks to integrate European hardware or services into Orbital Reef, another sign of the agency’s pivot toward cooperative participation in commercial platforms rather than duplicating them.
Outlook: High Stakes, Compressed Timelines
With ISS operations expected to wind down by the end of the decade, time is tight. NASA and its commercial partners face a complex mix of engineering, regulatory, and financial hurdles. The recent postponement of NASA’s next CLD solicitation reflects industry-wide uncertainty and a need for clearer demand signals.
Meanwhile, Europe’s more cautious strategy — focused on access, partnerships, and enabling infrastructure — may prove prudent if their own efforts with Starlab stutter. At the same time, it also risks leaving Europe dependent on foreign platforms unless greater independence is pursued.
That means money, and it is in short supply these days, as the ESA budget has flattened: €7.68 billion ($7.91 billion) in 2025, down about 1.4% from the €7.79 billion the agency had allocated for 2024.
Stay Tuned…
If early stations like Haven-1 and Axiom Station succeed, the LEO economy could expand quickly in the 2030s, with multiple platforms offering access to governments, scientists, private astronauts, and commercial industries alike.
There are surely some potholes in the road to space for all of the companies. Not only do they have to create a spacecraft that will reliably keep its occupants alive, but they will also need to establish supply chains (resupply missions) and operational groups to manage it all. It’s a daunting task for anyone.
So, as always, stay tuned, there is a lot more to come, but things are about to start getting interesting.
Launch Preview: SpaceX Set To Launch X-37 Tonight From KSC
SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force are gearing up to launch the eighth mission of the X‑37B Orbital Test Vehicle—designated USSF‑36 (OTV‑8)—this evening aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for 11:50 pm ET, launching from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If weather or technical reasons delay the launch prior to propellant loading, the launch window extends to 03:40 am ET tomorrow morning.
Booster B1092 will be embarking on its sixth flight tonight.
Sonic Boom
This launch is a Return To Launch Site mission, meaning the booster is set to land at Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral. As such, there will be a sonic boom spreading across the Space Coast region as the rocket returns.
Details in Brief
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | SpaceX |
| Location | Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 |
| Pad | Launch Complex 39A |
| Status | Go for Launch |
| Status Info | Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources. |
| Window Opens | Thursday, 08/21/2025 11:40 PM |
| Window Closes | Friday, 08/22/2025 3:40 AM |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Mission Description |
Eighth flight of the X-37B program. The X-37B is a dynamic and responsive spacecraft responsible for conducting a range of tests and experiments that expedite the development of critical next-generation technologies and operational concepts for reusable space capabilities.
The OTV-8 mission in Low Earth Orbit includes operational demonstrations and experiments of next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest performing strategic grade quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space. Mission partners include the Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit, respectively. |
As of 10:00 AM Thursday August 21, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force Launch Delta 45 has forecast a 65-80% probability of acceptable weather conditions through the launch window.
Trajectory
Northeast.
The booster is slated to return to Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a few miles south of LC-39A.
Payload
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is a reusable, uncrewed spaceplane developed by Boeing for the United States Space Force. Roughly the size of a small bus, it resembles a miniature space shuttle orbiter and operates in low Earth orbit for extended missions—some lasting over 900 days.
Originally a NASA project before transferring to the Department of Defense, the X‑37B is designed to test new technologies in orbit and return them safely to Earth, thanks to its runway landing capability. It launches vertically on rockets like Falcon 9 and glides back to Earth for landing at sites such as Kennedy Space Center or Vandenberg Space Force Base.
While many details about the X‑37B’s missions remain classified, the vehicle is widely understood to be a testbed for advanced military tech. Past missions have reportedly involved experiments in satellite servicing, secure communications, surveillance tech, and space environment durability tests. In recent flights, it’s tested solar power beaming and high-endurance components as well as unique orbital maneuvers demonstrating the Space Force’s ability to place spacecraft in any orbital location quickly.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.
Launch Viewing: In Person
The best free options are available for spectators: the Max Brewer Bridge, Space View Park and Rotary Riverfront Park, all in Titusville.
Crew 11 Set For Thursday Lunchtime Launch From KSC
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
NASA and SpaceX are finalizing preparations for the launch of Crew-11, the next long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS), currently targeted for Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 12:09 PM ET from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew members arrived yesterday at KSC, and are undergoing their final preparations for Wednesday’s launch.
The mission will send four astronauts to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, flying the Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft on its sixth voyage to orbit. The launch marks the eleventh operational crew rotation flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Should weather or technical issues delay the liftoff, NASA and SpaceX have identified Thursday, August 1, as the primary backup launch opportunity, with a similar afternoon launch window.
Leading the Mission: Commander Zena Cardman
At the helm of Crew-11 is NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, making her first journey into space. Selected by NASA in 2017, Cardman holds degrees in biology and marine science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her astronaut career, she conducted research in microbial ecology and geobiology—skills that align closely with her role in conducting biological experiments on the ISS.
Photo: Eric A. Moore/Florida Media Now
A Veteran Returns: Mike Fincke
Seated beside Cardman in the pilot’s chair is veteran astronaut Mike Fincke. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and flight test engineer, Fincke has already logged more than 381 days in space across two ISS expeditions and one space shuttle mission. He has also completed nine spacewalks.
Photo: NASA
Originally assigned to the Boeing Starliner program, Fincke was the backup astronaut attached the the Crew Flight Test of Starliner that resulted in the unexpectedly long stay aboard ISS for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.
Finke was reassigned to Crew-11 after the return of Starliner, and commercial crew schedule adjustments were made thanks to delays introduced by the CFT problems. His experience provides invaluable backup for the relatively newer members of the team, and his familiarity with long-duration spaceflight is expected to be critical in managing station operations and mentoring the crew aboard.
Representing Japan: Kimiya Yui
Photo: ESA
JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui returns to orbit for his second flight, having previously served aboard the ISS in 2015 during Expedition 44/45. Yui, a former fighter pilot in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, was instrumental in setting up Japan’s Kibo laboratory module during his first mission. On Crew-11, he’ll continue that legacy by supporting international science initiatives and representing Japan’s contributions to the station’s operations.
A Russian Debut: Oleg Platonov
Photo: Credit: IMAGO/ITAR-TASS
Rounding out the crew is Oleg Platonov, a first-time space traveler from Russia’s Roscosmos agency. Platonov, an aerospace engineer and former Air Force officer, was initially scheduled to fly on a Soyuz mission but joined Crew-11 under a seat-swap agreement between NASA and Roscosmos.
Despite political tensions on Earth, Platonov’s role highlights the ongoing collaboration between the United States and Russia in maintaining the ISS as a platform for peaceful international science and exploration.
Once At ISS
Once aboard the ISS, the crew will take part in Expeditions 73 and 74, diving into hundreds of research projects ranging from plant biology to space manufacturing to human health in microgravity. The mission also serves as preparation for the Artemis program, as NASA continues to build systems and experience for future lunar missions.
Dragon Endeavour, making its sixth flight, adds another chapter to its legacy as the most frequently reused crew spacecraft in NASA’s current fleet. If all goes according to plan, Crew-11 will return to Earth in April 2026 with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Photo: NASA
Boeing and NASA Advance Artemis III with Key Milestone, But SLS Future Remains Uncertain
Photo: Boeing / NASA
NASA and Boeing have taken a crucial step forward in prepping the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis III—the mission slated to return astronauts to the Moon—by completing thermal insulation on the core stage’s massive liquid hydrogen tank at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
“There are better process controls in place than we’ve ever had before, and there are specialized production technicians who must have certifications to operate the system. It’s quite an accomplishment and a lot of pride in knowing that we’ve completed this step of the build process,” said Boeing’s Brian Jeansonne, the integrated product team senior leader for the thermal protection system at NASA Michoud.
The operation involved applying a specialized thermal protection system (TPS) to shield the tank from extreme temperatures. It’s essential work: the tank must keep liquid hydrogen chilled at minus 423°F and endure the searing heat of launch and ascent. Using a robotic system, NASA and Boeing crews sprayed on 107 feet of foam insulation in just under two hours—marking the largest such application in spaceflight history.
“The thermal protection system protects the SLS rocket from the heat of launch while also keeping the thousands of gallons of liquid propellant within the core stage’s tanks cold enough,” said Jay Bourgeois, thermal protection systems lead at NASA Michoud. “Without it, the propellant would boil off too quickly to sustain a successful launch.”
Artemis III builds on the upcoming Artemis II crewed test flight and will introduce new systems, including next-gen spacesuits and a lunar lander, as NASA targets a historic first—sending astronauts to explore the Moon’s South Pole. The mission is seen as a stepping stone to human exploration of Mars.
Despite this progress, the future of the SLS program beyond Artemis III is murky. The rocket has faced repeated delays and ballooning costs—currently topping $2 billion per launch. As NASA pushes toward greater reliance on commercial launch systems like SpaceX’s Starship, some in the space policy community have questioned how long the SLS can remain viable.
Experts estimate there is a growing chance—around 30–50%—that Artemis III could be the SLS rocket’s final mission if commercial alternatives prove more reliable and cost-effective. Decisions about extending the SLS program may hinge on Artemis III’s performance and broader shifts in NASA’s strategy for deep space exploration.
For now, the agency is racing to meet Artemis III’s ambitious timeline, eyeing a late 2026 launch. Whether the SLS will be part of NASA’s long-term future—or a stepping stone soon left behind—remains to be seen.
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