Busy Week Ahead with Eight Orbital Launches Led by SpaceX and China
This week promises a busy schedule for orbital launches, featuring eight attempts predominantly led by SpaceX and various missions from China. SpaceX is planning to deploy two groups of Starlink satellites into the expanding constellation, alongside a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, which will enhance its satellite capabilities.
In parallel, China is set for four launches, including two missions using the Chang Zheng family of rockets that are expected to carry undisclosed payloads. Additionally, private Chinese company Galactic Energy will make a significant debut with its Ceres 2 rocket, while also launching an unidentified payload aboard its established Ceres 1S rocket.
Among the notable missions is the first launch of the week, as SpaceX successfully lifted off its Starlink Group 6-97 batch of 29 Starlink v2 Mini satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday at 4:08 PM EST. Using the Falcon 9 rocket, the mission marked the 25th flight of booster B1078, which safely returned to Earth aboard SpaceX’s droneship in the Atlantic.
Shortly thereafter, on Tuesday, China’s Chang Zheng 8A rocket will be put into action from the Wenchang Space Launch Site at 15:45 UTC. Though details about its payload remain a mystery, this vehicle has already proven its reliability since its inception, delivering significant payloads to low Earth orbit.
Following this, SpaceX is set to launch the Starlink Group 6-98 mission on Wednesday at 1:01 PM EST, once again deploying a batch of 29 Starlink v2 Mini satellites aboard Falcon 9, with booster B1085 marking its 13th flight.
On Thursday, two additional Chinese rockets will make their appearances. A Chang Zheng 3B/E rocket will launch an undisclosed payload from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, while Galactic Energy’s Ceres 1S is scheduled to take off from the Haiyang Oriental Spaceport at 19:30 UTC, also with an unidentified cargo.
Saturday will see Galactic Energy attempting its debut flight of the Ceres 2 rocket in a demonstration mission. This next-generation vehicle, capable of carrying 2,000 kg to low Earth orbit, will lift off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, although specific payload information remains undisclosed.
Finally, SpaceX will wrap up the week’s launch activities with the NROL-105 mission on Friday night at 8:18 PM PST. This mission will deliver a set of reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office using the Falcon 9 rocket, distinguished by its booster B1100 which is in its second mission.
Isar Aerospace also plans to conduct the second flight of its Spectrum rocket towards the end of the week from Norway. This flight comes after its initial endeavor in March 2025, which ended prematurely due to an engine failure. This mission aims to deploy several cubesats for an initiative by the European Space Agency.
As the week unfolds, stakeholders and space enthusiasts alike eagerly anticipate these pivotal missions among the growing tapestry of satellite deployment and space exploration. For future updates and any changes to the schedule, enthusiasts can follow developments closely.