NEWS — Spaceflight RSS

SpaceX Booster 19 prelaunch testing is underway as SpaceX prepares its next Block 3 Super Heavy booster for a potential flight in early to mid-March 2026. Booster 19 will support the debut of the Starship Version 3 architecture, featuring new Raptor 3 engines and design improvements. Prelaunch testing — including cryogenic measurements and static firings — is crucial for validating performance ahead of a major test flight, likely part of the Starship Flight 12 campaign.

The Falcon 9 NROL-105 launch from Vandenberg’s pad 4E on January 16, 2026, marked the 600th mission for SpaceX’s Falcon rocket family, lofting reconnaissance satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This milestone reflects decades of innovation in reusable launch technology and deepens commercial-government cooperation in national security space launch services.