China's Splashdown and Vast's Ascent
Spacepower Watch Newsletter #2608
Top Stories
- NASA selected Vast to conduct a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station in 2027, marking the first time such a mission has been awarded to a company other than Axiom Space. The two-week mission will use a SpaceX Crew Dragon and is intended to support the transition toward commercial space stations.
- China successfully tested its new-generation Long March 10 launch vehicle and Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, both designed for the country’s crewed lunar program, including a first launch from the new site on Hainan Island. The test also marked the first controlled splashdown of both the Mengzhou capsule and the first stage of the Long March 10.
- SpaceX launched the Crew Dragon Freedom carrying the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station, delivering four astronauts for an eight-month stay aboard the station.
Upcoming Space Launches
| Day | Payload | Launch Vehicle | Spaceport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16.2 | Starlink Group 6-103 | 🇺🇸 Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral |
| 18.2 | Starlink Group 17-25 | 🇺🇸 Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg |
| 18.2 | Starlink Group 10-36 | 🇺🇸 Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral |
| 21.2 | Stairway to Seven | 🇺🇸 Firefly Alpha | Vandenberg |
| 21.2 | Starlink Group 17-26 | 🇺🇸 Falcon 9 Block 5 | Vandenberg |
| 22.2 | Starlink Group 6-104 | 🇺🇸 Falcon 9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral |
Past Launches
New Infographics
