SpaceX and global rivals set for a week of ambitious rocket launches

SpaceX is gearing up for a bustling week ahead, with plans to execute five Falcon 9 launches, including four dedicated to its Starlink satellite constellation and one rideshare mission. Meanwhile, China is also poised for action, planning three rocket launches from the Jiuquan and Xichang launch centers. In an exciting development, South Korean company Innospace is set to conduct the inaugural flight of its Hanbit-Nano rocket from Brazil by the week’s end.

The week’s first Falcon 9 mission is slated for Tuesday, November 18, at 6:29 PM EST, lifting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission, dubbed Starlink Group 6-94, will deploy 28 new v2 Mini Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The rocket’s booster, designated B1085, will be flying for the 12th time, having previously supported a mix of crewed and uncrewed missions. Following its launch, the booster is scheduled to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, positioned approximately 640 km offshore.

On Wednesday, November 19, SpaceX will launch its second Falcon 9 mission—Transporter 15—at 10:18 AM PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This mission will carry various payloads into a sun-synchronous orbit, including Impulse Space’s upgraded Mira spacecraft, LEO Express 3. This mission marks a significant achievement for booster B1071, which will complete its 30th flight, solidifying its status as one of the most flown Falcon boosters.

Later the same day, China is set to launch a Chang Zheng 2C/YZ-1S rocket, with liftoff occurring at around 04:00 UTC. The specific payload details remain under wraps until after the launch occurs. This rocket is a three-stage vehicle derived from the DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile.

The Falcon 9 will return to the eastern U.S. coast on Thursday, November 20, for the Starlink Group 6-78 mission, scheduled for 10:01 PM EST. The booster B1080 will execute its 23rd flight to deliver an additional batch of 29 Starlink satellites into orbit, landing on another drone ship, Just Read The Instructions.

On Friday, November 21, China’s Chang Zheng 3B/E rocket is expected to liftoff at 10:55 UTC from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, with a still-unknown payload. This rocket stands 56.3 meters tall and is equipped with multiple boosters and stages, all powered by stable, but toxic, hypergolic propellants.

As the week wraps up, SpaceX plans to conduct another Falcon 9 launch on Saturday, November 22, sending Starlink Group 6-79 into orbit before Innospace’s Hanbit-Nano rocket attempts its first flight on the same day at 18:00 UTC. Launching from Brazil, this microlauncher aims to place eight payloads into low Earth orbit, demonstrating innovative propulsion technologies with its hybrid engines.

As activity ramps up, the Falcon 9 missions are expected to push the total launches for 2025 to impressive new heights, continuing to define SpaceX’s role as a leader in commercial spaceflight. The following week, on November 25, China’s space agency plans to launch Shenzhou 22, an uncrewed mission to supply the Tiangong space station, underlining the increasing pace of global space exploration.