Rocket Launches Today

Launch Service Provider

CASC

Vehicle

Long March 4B

Haiyang 2E (Chinese: "Ocean"), abbreviated HY-2E, is a marine remote sensing satellite of China. The HY-2 series' primary objective is to measure ocean dynamic and regional environmental trends in the microwave spectral range, plus measurements of parameters such as marine wind vector, marine surface heat and Sea Surface Temperature (SST). These ocean dynamics real-time data aid aero-marine forecasts for the prevention of, and relief in the event of, natural disasters. Instruments carried include: * Microwave Radiometer Imager (MWRI) * Radar Altimeter (RA) * Ku-band Rotational Fan-beam Scatterometer (SCAT)

Launch Service Provider

SpaceX

Vehicle

Falcon 9 Block 5

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.

Launch Service Provider

ULA

Vehicle

Atlas V 551

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, this constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude. 29 satellites are carried on this launch.

Launch Service Provider

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Vehicle

Pegasus XL

Contracted by NASA under the Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract, Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK servicing spacecraft will rendezvous and attach to NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to re-boost its orbit. This aims to demonstrate a key capability for the future of space exploration and extending the Swift mission’s science lifetime in gamma ray astronomy.