Weekly Spaceflight Update: October 5 - October 11th
NEONSAT-2 to 6 | KARI
On October 7th, at 12:25 p.m. Korea Standard Time, South Korea launched a Nuri rocket from Naro Space Center, carrying 15 satellites, including five NEONSAT Earth observation spacecraft, to sun-synchronous orbit. Fourteen satellites were successfully deployed, while one rideshare payload failed to separate. The mission marked South Korea's first orbital launch of 2026.
Photo: KASA
Starship Ship 40 Returns to Texas | SpaceX
On October 7th, SpaceX's Starship Ship 40 arrived at the Port of Brownsville in Texas aboard the recovery vessel Forte, following its successful flight and controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean during Starship Flight 13 on July 24th. The spacecraft was recovered intact and transported back to Texas for post-flight inspections, marking the first time SpaceX has recovered a Starship upper stage from the ocean following a flight test. Ship 40 was later transported back to Starbase.
Photo: Tyler R. For Launch Heaven Media
Crew-12 Return | NASA / SpaceX
On October 8th, at 11:34 a.m. EDT, SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, California, returning NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev to Earth. The crew spent 237 days in space after launching to the International Space Station in February.
Photo: NASA
Starlink Mobile Expansion | SpaceX
On October 8th, SpaceX announced an agreement to acquire a nationwide portfolio of low-band wireless spectrum licenses, supporting its plans to expand Starlink's direct-to-cell services across the United States. Combined with its next-generation Starlink satellites, the additional spectrum is intended to help SpaceX provide high-speed mobile broadband directly to compatible devices in areas with limited traditional cellular coverage.
Photo: SpaceX
Cygnus NG-24 Departure | Northrop Grumman / NASA
On October 9th, at 12:44 p.m. EDT, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft, named S.S. Steven R. Nagel, was released from the International Space Station using the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The spacecraft departed after spending nearly six months at the station, having delivered approximately 11,000 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, and equipment. Cygnus is carrying discarded cargo that will be destroyed during atmospheric reentry.
Photo: NASA
VIPER Lunar Rover Testing | Blue Origin / NASA
On October 9th, Blue Origin announced the completion of a joint test campaign with NASA involving the deployment of a VIPER rover research unit from a flight-like lunar lander offloading system. Testing included normal and contingency operations across different lander tilt angles, with NASA remotely commanding the rover. The demonstration helped validate procedures for safely deploying VIPER onto the lunar surface.
Photo: Blue Origin
Starship Ship 42 Cryogenic Testing | SpaceX
On October 9th, SpaceX transported Starship Ship 42 to the Massey's test site near Starbase, Texas, for another round of cryogenic proof testing. The tests evaluated the spacecraft's structural integrity under extremely cold temperatures and pressurized conditions. Following testing, Ship 42 was transported back to the Starbase production site on October 10th. The vehicle is being prepared for Starship Flight 15.
Photo: Tyler R. For Launch Heaven Media
SatNet LEO Group 27 | CASC
On October 10th, at 3:27 a.m. China Standard Time, China launched a Long March 12 from the Wenchang commercial launch site in Hainan, carrying another batch of Guowang broadband communications satellites to low Earth orbit. The launch continued China's expansion of its planned satellite internet constellation.
Photo: Sorae
SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A | SpaceX
On October 10th, at 12:39 a.m. PDT, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 21 satellites for the U.S. Space Development Agency to low Earth orbit. The booster landed at Landing Zone 4 shortly after launch. The mission had originally been targeted for October 5th before several delays.
Photo: Frank M. For Launch Heaven Media
