When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
SpaceX launched the first mission of 2026 tonight (Jan. 2).
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California tonight at 9:09 p.m. EST (6:09 p.m. local California time; 0209 GMT on Jan. 3), carrying an Italian Earth-observing satellite to orbit.
The rocket's first stage landed back at Vandenberg as planned about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. It was the 21st flight for this particular booster, according to SpaceX.
About 4.5 minutes later, the Falcon 9's second stage deployed the payload — a COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite — into low Earth orbit for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence.
The spacecraft will study Earth using synthetic aperture radar, gathering data at all times of day and in all weather conditions from an altitude of 385 miles (620 kilometers).
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation is a small network designed to "monitor the Earth for the sake of emergency prevention, strategy, scientific and commercial purposes, providing data on a global scale to support a variety of applications," according to a European Space Agency explainer.
Among those applications are "risk management, cartography, forest & environment protection, natural resources exploration, land management, defense and security, maritime surveillance, food & agriculture management," the explainer adds.
Three COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellites have now launched to date. The first one flew in December 2019 atop a Soyuz rocket, and the second lifted off in January 2022 on a Falcon 9.
Tonight's liftoff was the first of 2026 not just for SpaceX but for the global launch community.
It's no surprise that SpaceX is breaking in the year. Elon Musk's company launched a whopping 165 orbital missions in 2025 — far more than any other entity, either commercial or governmental. That was also a record for SpaceX, which the company may aim to break again this year.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:25 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 with news of successful launch, rocket landing and satellite deployment.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Artemis 2 captures historic 'Earthset' photo | Space photo of the day for April 7, 2026 - 2South Africa pushes for $200B investment
- 3Sexual violence part of 'everyday life' in parts of Sudan, charity says
- 4Ifo: Job cuts in Germany slowing but not enough for a turnaround
- 56 Solid Vehicle Fix Administrations to Keep Your Vehicle in Prime Condition
- Email Promoting Instruments for Compelling Efforts
- Birds Will Flock To Your Birdbath When You Plant These Two Flowers Around It
- Dozens of hidden star streams found in the outskirts of our Milky Way galaxy
- Arrow Exploration brings new Colombian oil well on stream ahead of schedule and under budget
- NASA troubleshoots Artemis II toilet problem in otherwise smooth flight
- Step by step instructions to Protect Your Retirement with Senior Protection.
- When faith comes under fire: How Iran’s repression of religious minorities has increased
- Popular Home Rug Series For You
- Did Japan’s PM Actually Back the Memecoin Bearing Her Name?
