The pace of rocket launches has ballooned in recent years, making it a challenge to know what mission is launching and when. In this launch guide, the Space.com news team aims to keep you up to date on the latest rocket launches.
If there is a rocket launch today, you'll details below on what vehicle it is (odds are high it would be SpaceX, if we're being honest), as well as its mission and where to watch live if a webcast is available. If there is NOT a rocket launch today, you'll find an update on when the next mission is scheduled to fly.
Check out our Space Calendar for more details on future rocket launches, night sky events and more.
SpaceX | Starship | Blue Origin | ULA | Space Launches & Spacecraft
Dec. 28: SpaceX launching 2 rockets today
SpaceX is planning two rocket launches in the next 12 hours, one from California and the other from Florida.
The first launch is a Falcon 9 rocket launching Saturday, Dec. 28, from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 5:48 p.m. PST (8:48 EST, 0148 GMT). You can watch the launch on SpaceX's X account and mission page starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.
This mission, called Starlink 11-3, will launch 22 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit for SpaceX's growing megaconstellation. It will be the 16th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage on the mission, with SpaceX hoping to recover the stage by landing it on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You shortly after launch. Previous missions include 12 Starlnk launches, a Transporter-11 rideshare flightthe SARah-2 and SDA-0A satellite missions.
The second launch by SpaceX will actually launch on Sunday, Dec. 29, but the liftoff time is at 12 a.m. EST (0500 GMT), a midnight launch for the flight. You can watch the launch on SpaceX's X account and mission page starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.
This mission is called the "Astranis: From One to Many" and will launch four small "MicroGEO" communications satellites to provide connectivity on Earth for a variety of customers. Two satellites will provide in-flight connectivity for clients of Colorado-based Anuvu, one will serve a customer in the Philippines, and Astranis will use the fourth satellite as a so-called "UtilitySat for different clients.
This is SpaceX's second attempt to launch the Astranis mission. A Dec. 21 launch try ended in an abort at the T-0 mark.
That's it for the rocket launches scheduled for today.
NOTE: SpaceX is also planning to launch another 21 Starlink satellites, this time from Florida, on Monday, Dec. 30, at 12 a.m. EST, so we'll have an update on that one tomorrow. ALSO: An Indian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is scheduled to launch the new SpaDeX to test autonomous rendezvous and docking technology. It is also carrying 24 other science payloads for ISRO, universities and companies aboard its Poem-4 module. ISRO's SpaDeX is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 30, at 11:28 a.m. EST (9:58 p.m. IST, 1628 GMT).
Dec. 29: SpaceX's last launch of 2024!
SpaceX will close out its 2024 launch schedule overnight tonight with its third launch in 3 days, this time to launch 21 new Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
"Up next, Falcon 9 is set to lift off from pad 39A in Florida for our final launch of 2024," SpaceX wrote on X.
SpaceX's last launch of the year is scheduled to lift off early Monday, Dec. 30, at 12 a.m. EST (0500 GMT). You can watch the launch on SpaceX's X account and mission page starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.
The Starlink mission, called Starlink 12-6, will off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It will be the 16th launch for the Falcon 9 rocket first stage ooster on the mission. Backup launch windows are availale at 3:28 a.m. EST (0828 GMT) and on Dec. 31 at 12 a.m. EST.
The next launch after SpaceX's Starlink will be anIndian Space Research Organisation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which is scheduled to launch on Monday, Dec. 30, at 11:28 a.m. EST (9:58 p.m. IST, 1628 GMT). It will fly the SpaDeX mission to test autonomous rendezvous and docking technology, and is also carrying 24 other science payloads for ISRO, universities and companies aboard its Poem-4 module.
Dec. 29: SpaceX delays Starlink launch, New India launch time
SpaceX's planned Starlink satellite launch at midnight tonight has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The Starlink 12-6 mission was scheduled to launch 21 Starlink satellites into orbit from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 12 a.m. EST (0500 GMT). However, SpaceX has changed the time. It will now launch on Dec. 31 at 12:34 a.m. EDT (0534 GMT), with a backup launch time available at 1:28 a.m. EST (0628 GMT).
That means the next rocket launch will now be the Space Docking Experiment launch by India on Monday, Dec. 30. That mission also has a slightly new launch time.
The India Space Research Organisation will launch the two-satellite SpaDeX mission, as it's called, at 11:30 a.m. EST (10 p.m. IST, 1630 GMT). That's 2 minutes later than the previously announced launch time.
"Tonight at precisely 10:00:15 PM, PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads are set for liftoff," ISRO officials wrote on the social media site X. SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) is a pioneering mission to establish India's capability in orbital docking, a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions."
🎉 Launch Day is Here! 🚀Tonight at precisely 10:00:15 PM, PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads are set for liftoff.SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) is a pioneering mission to establish India's capability in orbital docking, a key technology for future human… pic.twitter.com/147ywcLP0fDecember 30, 2024
Dec. 30: India Space Docking Experiment launch today
India's Space Docking Experiment is just about 30 minutes from liftoff as the Indian Space Research Organisation prepares for its final launch of 2024.
Liftoff is set for 11:30 a.m. EST (10 p.m. IST, 1630 GMT) from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre. You'll be able to watch it live online via YouTube here.
India successfully launches SpaDeX docking test flight
The India Space Research Organisation has successfully launched its twin Space Docking Experiment satellites to kick off a first-ever docking test for the country.
The launch occurred on time at 11:30 a.m. EST (1630 GMT), though it was 10 p.m. Monday evening at its Satish Dhawan Space Centre launch site. Read our full updated wrap story.
Dec. 31: SpaceX's last Starlink launch of 2024
The next rocket launch we're tracking will be SpaceX's final Falcon 9 launch of the year, a Starlink satellite mission launching from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
That SpaceX Starlink mission is scheduled to launch at 12:39 a.m. EST (0539 GMT) on Monday, Dec. 31. As always, you'll be able to watch it live online at SpaceX's mission website and the SpaceX X page.
SpaceX's Starlink 12-6 mission will launch 21 Starlink satellites into orbit and mark the company's 134th Falcon rocket launch of the year. It will be the 16th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster on the flight.
Next launch on Jan. 2: SpaceX Falcon 9
With SpaceX's successful Dec. 30 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, the launch year for 2024 is all wrapped up. So let's look ahead to the first launches of 2025 for your planning. I've sourced these launch dates from rocket watches across the internet, including Spaceflight Now and others.
Next Launch:
The next rocket launch will be a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to launch on Jan. 2. The mission will launch the Thuraya 4 communications satellite for the United Arab Emirates company Yahsat. Liftoff is set for 12 a.m. EST (0500 GMT), so that means it is an overnight launch. Call it some late New Year's Ever rocket launch fireworks.
SpaceX Starlink launch on Jan. 5: SpaceX is also expected to launch its next Starlink satellite mission on Jan. 5 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 12:10 p.m. EST (1710 GMT).
Blue Origin New Glenn launch on Jan. 6? Blue Origin's first New Glenn rocket is assembled and nearly ready for its launch debut. Currently, a launch is expected for no earlier than Jan. 6 from Blue Origin's pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but this scheduled could change as it's a new launch vehicle.
Spacex Starship Flight 7: SpaceX's next Starship test flight is also exppected in early January, possibly on Jan. 10 or Jan. 11 from the company's pad at its Starbase facility in South Texas near Boca Chical beach. The company has typically targeted launches in the early am, but did launch Flight 6 at 5 p.m. ET in November.
So it's going to be a pretty busy start to the 2025 launch year, Space Fans. We'll have our next update to confirm the SpaceX YahSat launch on Jan. 1.
SpaceX Thuraya 4 launch now NET Jan. 3
The first SpaceX launch of 2025 is now tentatively set for no earlier than Friday, Jan. 3, at 8:27 p.m. EST (0127 GMT on Jan. 4) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida according to Spaceflight Now. That's one day later than previously expected based on a Launch Weather Forecast from the 45th Space Wing and U.S. Space Force.
SpaceX has not yet listed the launch on its launch schedule, so stay tuned for any new launch date updates.
Jan. 3: SpaceX's 1st launch of 2025 officially tonight
SpaceX's first launch of 2025 is officially on track to launch tonight, Friday, Jan. 3, to kick off an ambitious year for the company. A Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Thuraya 4 commnunications satellite mission for the UAE company Space42 and Yahsat, which is part of Space42.
Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket is set for 8:27 p.m. EST (0127 Jan. 4 GMT) from Space Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. SpaceX has a 4-hour window in which to launch the mission, so it could lift off as late as 12:27 a.m. EST (0527 GMT). A backup launch date is available on Saturday night (Jan. 4), SpaceX says.
You'll be able to watch the launch live on SpaceX's Thuraya 4 mission page and on the @SpaceX X site.
While this is SpaceX's 1st launch of 2025, it's not the first flight for the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage. The booster will make its 20th launch and landing on this mission, and is expected to land just over 8 minutes after launch on SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall Of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean.
