Nine launches highlight a busy week of space exploration as companies race to deploy satellites

A busy week in space exploration is ahead, as a total of nine launches are set to take place from various locations around the world. SpaceX is expected to lead the charge with five missions, all dedicated to deploying its Starlink satellite constellation. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab plans to send an Earth observation satellite into orbit from New Zealand, and Isar Aerospace aims for its second test flight of the Spectrum rocket from Norway. The week’s activities kicked off on Monday with a Chinese launch that successfully deployed eight satellites in a rideshare mission.

The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) conducted the first launch of the week, using its Kuaizhou 11 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Kuaizhou 11 lifted off at 04:12 UTC, placing the eight satellites into a Sun-synchronous orbit. Now in its fifth mission, the Kuaizhou 11 has been operational since 2020 and is designed to carry payloads of up to 1,500 kilograms to low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is set to begin its missions on March 16, with the launch of Starlink Group 17-24 at 8:39 PM PDT (03:39 UTC on March 17). This mission will launch 25 Starlink v2 Mini satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East in California. The Falcon 9 booster, designated B1088, is preparing for its 14th flight. After delivering its payload and separating from the second stage, the booster will attempt a landing on SpaceX’s droneship in the Pacific Ocean.

Another two Starlink missions are lined up for Falcon 9 on March 17 and March 19, aiming to deploy additional satellites to the constellation. The first, Starlink Group 10-46, will lift off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, while the second, Starlink Group 10-33, will follow shortly thereafter from the same launch complex. Each mission involves multiple satellites and aims for strategic positions in low-Earth orbit.

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket will launch the StriX-6 satellite, designed for Earth observation, on March 19. This mission will take off from Rocket Lab’s launch facility in New Zealand, aiming to place the satellite into low-Earth orbit. The StriX-6, weighing around 100 kilograms, is the second satellite in a series being developed in partnership with Japanese company Synspective. The Electron rocket has been operational since 2018 and continues to support various customer missions.

On the same day, Isar Aerospace will attempt to launch its Spectrum rocket for its second mission from Norway. Carrying several payloads for the European Space Agency’s Boost! program, this launch follows a previous attempt that resulted in a failure shortly after liftoff in 2025. The Spectrum rocket, which employs propane and liquid oxygen, aims to prove its capabilities after earlier setbacks.

SpaceX will wrap up its week of launches with a pair of additional missions on March 20 and March 22, both of which will further expand the Starlink network. With Falcon booster B1091 flying for its 23rd time, the Starlink Group 17-15 mission will add even more satellites to the impressive Starlink constellation. Finally, the week concludes with the Starlink Group 10-62 mission, again deploying 29 satellites.

The Russian space agency Roscosmos will also contribute to the week’s activity, planning to launch the Progress MS-33 resupply mission to the International Space Station on March 22. This mission will deliver critical supplies to the ISS crew and represents an essential part of ongoing support to international space operations. This launch will mark a significant return to operations from a platform that was previously affected by structural issues during earlier missions.

Overall, this week showcases the growing commercial and international participation in space launch activities, underlining a robust future for satellite deployments and exploration initiatives.