December 2018
GPS 3-01 Falcon 9 Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s first third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. Launch vehicle switched from a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket to SpaceX Falcon 9. The third GPS 3-series satellite will now launch on a Falcon 9. Launch window: Approx. 9:24-9:50 a.m. EST (Approx. 1424-1450 GMT)
Find out more »CSO 1 Soyuz Launch
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS20, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry into polar orbit the first Composante Spatiale Optique military reconnaissance satellite for CNES and DGA, the French defense procurement agency. The CSO 1 satellite is the first of three new-generation high-resolution optical imaging satellites for the French military, replacing the Helios 2 spy satellite series. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage.…
Find out more »GSAT 7A GSLV Mk.2 Launch
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2), designated GSLV-F11, will launch the GSAT 7A communications satellite for the Indian Air Force. Launch time: TBD
Find out more »Blagovest No. 13L Proton Launch
A Russian government Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage will launch the Blagovest No. 13L communications satellite to cover Russian territory and provide high-speed Internet, television and radio broadcast, and voice and video conferencing services for Russian domestic and military users. Launch time: 5:12 p.m. EST (2212 GMT)
Find out more »Kanopus-V 5 & 6 Soyuz Launch
The two spacecraft will assist the Russian government in disaster response, mapping and forest fire detection. Multiple secondary payloads from international companies and institutions will also launch on the Soyuz rocket. The Soyuz 2-1a rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Launch time: 9:07 p.m. EST on 26th (0207 GMT on 27th)
Find out more »SaudiSat 5A & 5B Long March 2D Launch
A Chinese Long March 2D rocket will launch the SaudiSat 5A and 5B Earth observation satellites for Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Launch date: Late 2018 Launch time: TBD
Find out more »January 2019
NROL-71 Delta 4-Heavy Launch
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Launch date: TBD Launch time: TBD
Find out more »ICON Pegasus XL Launch
Lofted to approximately 40,000 feet via an Orbital ATK L-1011 aircraft, an air-launched Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket will deploy NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite into orbit. ICON will study the ionosphere, a region of Earth’s upper atmosphere where terrestrial weather meets space weather. Disturbances in the ionosphere triggered by solar storms or weather activity in the lower atmosphere can cause disturbances in GPS navigation and radio transmissions. Launch date: TBD Launch window: 3:00-4:30 a.m. EST (0800-0930 GMT)
Find out more »Iridium Next 66-75 Falcon 9 Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 10 satellites for the Iridium next mobile communications fleet. Launch time: 10:53 a.m. EST; 7:53 a.m. PST (1553 GMT)
Find out more »Crew Dragon Demo 1 Falcon 9 Launch
A Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) "full thrust" Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crewed variant of the Hawthorne, California-based aerospace firm's Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station on an uncrewed test flight. The flight is slated to get underway from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Launch window: Approx. 8 p.m. EST on 17th (0100 GMT on 18th)
Find out more »Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 & GSAT 31 Ariane 5 Launch
Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA247, to launch the HellasSat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 and GSAT 11 communications satellite. Built by Lockheed Martin, the Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 satellite will provide telecommunications and broadband services in Saudi Arabia, other parts of the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 is a joint mission between Hellas-Sat, a subsidiary of Arabsat based in Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The GSAT 31 satellite, built…
Find out more »WGS 10 Delta 4 Launch
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch the 10th Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft, formerly known as the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite. Built by Boeing, this geostationary communications spacecraft will serve U.S. military forces. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (5,4) configuration with four solid rocket boosters. Launch window: 6:40-7:35 p.m. on 23rd (2340-0035 GMT on 23rd/24th)
Find out more »Chandrayaan 2 GSLV Mk. 3 Launch
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2) will launch the Chandrayaan 2 mission, India’s second mission to the moon. Chandrayaan 2 will consist of an orbiter, lander and rover launched together into a high Earth orbit. The orbiter is designed to use on-board propulsion to reach the moon, then release the lander and rover. Launch window: TBD
Find out more »Shijian 20 Long March 5 Launch
A Chinese Long March 5 rocket will launch the Shijian 20 communications satellite. Shijian 20 is the first spacecraft based on the new DFH-5 communications satellite platform, a heavier, higher-power next-generation design, replacing the Shijian 18 satellite lost on a launch failure in 2017. Launch date: January 2019 Launch time: TBD
Find out more »PRISMA Vega Launch
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV13, will launch with the PRISMA satellite for the Italian space agency — ASI. PRISMA is an Earth observation satellite fitted with an innovative electro-optical instrument, combining a hyperspectral sensor with a medium-resolution panchromatic camera. The mission will support environmental monitoring and security applications. Launch date: TBD Launch time: TBD
Find out more »PSN 6 & SpaceIL Lunar Lander Falcon 9 Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the PSN 6 communications satellite and SpaceIL’s Lunar Lander. Built by SSL and owned by Indonesia’s PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, PSN 6 will provide voice and data communications, broadband Internet, and video distribution throughout the Indonesian archipelago. A privately-funded lunar lander developed by Israel’s SpaceIL will ride piggyback on this launch, along with several smaller payloads under a rideshare arrangement provided by Spaceflight. Launch date: January 2019 Launch time: TBD
Find out more »February 2019
EgyptSat-A Soyuz Launch
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the EgyptSat-A Earth observation satellite. EgyptSat-A was built by RSC Energia for Egypt’s National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences. Launch time: 11:47 a.m. EST (1647 GMT)
Find out more »SpaceX CRS 17 Falcon 9 Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 19th Dragon spacecraft mission on its 17th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Launch window: TBD
Find out more »Radarsat Constellation Mission Falcon 9 Launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Radarsat Constellation Mission for the Canadian Space Agency and MDA. Consisting of three radar Earth observation spacecraft launching on a single rocket, the Radarsat Constellation Mission is the next in a series of Canadian Radarsat satellites supporting all-weather maritime surveillance, disaster management and ecosystem monitoring for the Canadian government and international users. Launch date: NET February 18, 2019 Launch time: TBD
Find out more »Arabsat 6A Falcon Heavy Launch
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the Arabsat 6A communications satellite for Arabsat of Saudi Arabia. Arabsat 6A will provide Ku-band and Ka-band communications coverage over the Middle East and North Africa regions, as well as a footprint in South Africa. Launch date: Early 2019 Launch window: TBD
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