SpaceX and China’s Chang Zheng set for busy launch schedule with multiple missions next week

This week, the launch schedule features two missions from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and a cargo mission from China’s Chang Zheng 7, all set to take place between May 4 and May 9, 2026. SpaceX aims to bolster its Starlink constellation by sending another 48 Starlink satellites into orbit as part of Group 17, while China’s upcoming mission involves delivering supplies to the Tiangong space station.

A potential factor in the current lull of Falcon 9 launches might be attributed to SpaceX’s focus on preparing for an upcoming cargo mission to the International Space Station, known as CRS-34. This mission is expected to launch on May 12 and requires extensive work at Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida, which is currently in use as teams prepare the Cargo Dragon spacecraft. The launch tower’s crew access arm is facilitating crew access to the craft during this crucial phase of preparation. Additionally, may 12 is also suggested as the tentative launch date for Starship Flight 12 from Starbase in Texas, marking a significant milestone as it will be the inaugural flight of version 3 for both the Super Heavy and Starship vehicles.

Meanwhile, preparations are ongoing at SpaceX’s other launchpad, Space Launch Complex 39A in Florida, which is still set up from last week’s successful Falcon Heavy mission, where ViaSat-3 was successfully deployed. Recently, SpaceX has deliberately slowed the launch frequency from this pad to allow for ongoing developments at the nearby Starship facilities.

Thus far in 2026, SpaceX has achieved 52 Falcon 9 launches, leading to projections that the company could approach a total of around 156 missions by year-end. In comparison, 165 missions were completed in the entire year of 2025. Other significant launches on the horizon include the European Space Agency’s SMILE mission aboard a Vega C rocket, another Atlas V mission for Amazon’s LEO satellite constellation, and the next Isar Spectrum launch, all of which are expected to take place later in May.

On May 5, at 7:00 PM PDT (or 2:00 AM UTC the following day), a Falcon 9 will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California during a four-hour window. The mission will send 24 Starlink v2 Mini satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit. The Falcon 9 booster for this mission, designated B1081, will be completing its 24th flight and is set to make a landing on the autonomous droneship Of Course I Still Love You, located roughly 640 kilometers downrange in the Pacific Ocean. This booster has previously supported a wide range of missions, including crewed flights and multiple Starlink deployments, with its career starting in September 2023.

Following this, on May 9 at 7:00 AM PDT (14:00 UTC), another Falcon 9 launch is planned from the same location. This mission will again deploy 24 Starlink v2 Mini satellites into the constellation’s Group 17. Interestingly, while earlier missions from this group carried 25 payloads, this payload count has been adjusted. This may indicate a new requirement for the Falcon 9 missions to initiate at a higher orbit, which would necessitate using more fuel and thus reduce the number of satellites deployed per launch. The nearly-new booster B1103 will undertake its second flight during this launch, having previously supported a Starlink mission.

In contrast, the Chang Zheng 7 rocket, also known as Long March 7, will take to the skies from Wenchang Space Launch Site in China on May 9 at 10:00 PM UTC. This mission involves the delivery of Tianzhou 10, a fully automated cargo spacecraft designed to resupply the Tiangong space station. The Chang Zheng 7 stands 53.1 meters tall, featuring a two-stage design bolstered by four strap-on boosters, and has been operational since 2017 with a proven track record of ten successful flights.

As these missions unfold, the space industry appears to be gearing up for a significant period of activity, with a flurry of launches anticipated in the coming weeks.