Weekly Dose of Space (26/4-2/5)
Welcome back to Weekly Dose of Space! This week saw seven launches taking place worldwide, including the debut flight of a brand new rocket. News from the week had three nations signing onto America's Artemis Accords as well. As always, we'll also look ahead to what the worldwide launch schedule might look like next week.
April 26th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 17-16
Departing from Space Launch Complex 4E in California, a Falcon 9 carried twenty-five Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Supporting this launch was booster B1088 for its fifteenth flight, landing downrange on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You'.
April 28th - Atlas V for LA-06
United Launch Alliance's Atlas V blasted off from Space Launch Complex 41, in Florida, to carry twenty-nine satellites into low Earth orbit on behalf of Amazon. Those satellites are part of the Leo space-based internet constellation, with 270 in orbit after that mission.
April 29th - Falcon Heavy with ViaSat-3 F3
For the first time in eighteen months, Falcon Heavy lifted off from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, sending the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite into geostationary space. Two side boosters, B1072 and B075, returned to Florida after supporting ascent, flying for the second and twenty-second time respectively.
April 30th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 17-36
Another Falcon 9 flew from Space Launch Complex 4E to place twenty-four Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Booster B1093 supported this mission for its thirteenth landing, touching down on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' downrange.
April 30th - Ariane 6 for LE-02
For the second time this week, thirty-two satellites were sent into low Earth on behalf of Amazon via an Ariane 6 from French Guiana, in South America. After this launch, the company has 302 satellites making up its constellation.
April 30th - Soyuz-5 for its debut flight
Russia successfully debuted its new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle with a debut flight from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to demonstrate all systems ahead of a payload-carrying orbital flight. The debut flight carried no payloads and flew into the Pacific Ocean as planned, with its first and second stages proven by that.
Roscosmos uploaded full live stream of the first Soyuz-5 / Sunkar suborbital test launch, after all: pic.twitter.com/N7msi7qn26
— afec7032 ๐ท๐บ (@robert_savitsky) April 30, 2026
May 1st - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 10-38
Twenty-nine Starlink satellites were delivered to low Earth orbit by a Falcon 9 launching from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida. Supporting this mission was booster B1069, flying for its thirty-first time and landing downrange on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas'.
In Other Space News
Latvia, Jordan, Morocco sign Artemis Accords
In recent days, the U.S.-led Artemis Accords has gained three new signatories to bring it up to sixty-four nation bloc in international space law, still under a third of member states of the United Nations.
Back on April 20th, Latvia joined the accords with the country's Minister for Education and Science, Dace Melbฤrde, dropping into NASA headquarters to sign, witnessed by Administrator Isaacman and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. After the signing, Melbฤrde stated:
"Latvia already contributes to the global space ecosystem through its industry and research, and we look forward to the opportunity to deepen cooperation with the United States and NASA, contributing to future space activities under the Artemis framework. Participation in the Artemis Accords is also an investment in the development of our students, researchers, and innovators."
A few days later, April 23rd, Ambassador Dina Kawar of Jordan headed to NASA to sign the Artemis Accords on behalf of her country, in the presence of Isaacman and U.S. Department of State Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Ruth Perry. Via a shorter press release, the Ambassador was quoted as sharing:
"Through the National Council for Future Technologies, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein is ensuring that talent has a direction, transforming Jordan into a regional and global technology hub across AI, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and now space. Todayโs signing is proof that this ambition has no ceiling. We invite our American partners to build what comes next with us."
Most recently, on April 29th, Morocco signed onto the accords at an event in the nations captial, Rabat, by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. In a short, President Trump-praising heavy press release, Administrator Isaacman welcomed Morocco to the bloc.
What to Expect Next Week
May 3rd - Falcon 9 with CAS500-2
SpaceX will launch South Korea's CAS500-2 satellite into sun-synchronous orbit to begin its Earth imaging mission.
May 6th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 17-29
Another batch of Starlink satellites will be launched atop of Falcon 9, departing from Space Launch Complex 4E.
May 9th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 17-37
Even more Starlink satellites are set to be launched via Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 4E, to be deployed into low Earth orbit.
