Global Launch Log: Every Orbital Launch and Result — 2026-10-10
China successfully launched a batch of low-orbit internet satellites using the Long March 12 rocket from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site on October 10, 2026. Meanwhile, SpaceX faced a rare scrub for its Falcon 9 mission carrying SDA Tranche 1 tracking satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, with a retry scheduled shortly after. ULA’s Vulcan rocket remains grounded following a booster nozzle failure earlier this year, leaving the Pentagon reliant on SpaceX for national security space launches.
Global Launch Log: Every Orbital Launch and Result — 2026-10-10
Top developments
China Launches Low-Orbit Internet Satellites on Long March 12
On October 10, 2026, at 3:27 AM local time, China successfully launched the 27th batch of low-orbit internet satellites using a Long March 12 carrier rocket. The mission lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, marking another milestone in China’s rapid expansion of its commercial space capabilities. The satellites successfully entered their predetermined orbits, confirming the mission's success.
SpaceX Scrubs Vandenberg Launch for SDA Tranche 1
SpaceX attempted to launch a batch of military reconnaissance satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer from Vandenberg Space Force Base but experienced a rare scrub. This was the third attempt for this specific mission, highlighting potential logistical or technical hurdles in recent Falcon 9 operations. The Desert Sun reported that SpaceX was preparing for another go at the twice-scrubbed launch, aiming to finally deploy the 21 data satellites.
ULA’s Vulcan Remains Grounded Amidst Financial and Technical Struggles
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket has not flown since a booster nozzle failure during the USSF-87 mission in February 2026. As of early October, the rocket remains grounded, forcing the Pentagon to rely exclusively on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 for national security missions, including the recent GPS III SV-10 launch. Ars Technica reports that while ULA is preparing to resume Vulcan launches in the coming weeks, the extended grounding has raised concerns about ULA’s financial stability and potential ownership changes.
International Launch Activity Picks Up
NASASpaceFlight.com noted that the week following the previous issues saw a busy international launch schedule, with flights planned from South Korea, China, and the USA. This period followed impactful days for SpaceX, indicating a resilient pace of orbital access despite individual scrubs or groundings.
Local view
In China, state media outlets such as CCTV and Xinhua highlighted the successful launch of the satellite internet batch, emphasizing the role of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. The reporting framed the event as a significant step in China's independent infrastructure development, with the Long March 12 rocket demonstrating reliability in commercial configurations.
Context & numbers
According to Orbital Radar’s database, there have been 240 recorded orbital launches in 2026 so far, maintaining an overall historical success rate of 92.9% since 1957. The current year's activity reflects a steady cadence of global orbital access efforts.
On the radar
- Vulcan Return-to-Flight: Watch for ULA’s official announcement regarding the return-to-flight date for the Vulcan rocket, which is critical for restoring the two-provider architecture for national security launches.
- SDA Tranche 1 Retry: Keep an eye on the next launch window for the SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer mission from Vandenberg, which is crucial for the US military’s missile tracking capabilities.
- Boeing Starliner Uncrewed Test: NASA is targeting late 2026 for Boeing Starliner's uncrewed comeback flight, a key milestone for the company after previous technical issues.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
