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Falcon 9s and Long March Rockets Set for Busy Week of Launches

This week’s manifest shows a steady, reuse-driven cadence of commercial and national launches worldwide.

A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 25, carrying two dozen Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was part of SpaceX's Starlink Group 17-51 mission, one of several Starlink batches the company sent to low Earth orbit that week. Credit: SpaceX via X

Overview

  • SpaceX is targeting Starlink Group 17-52 on Wednesday, July 29, and Group 17-53 on Aug. 1–2 from Vandenberg with roughly 24–25 v2 and v2 Mini satellites per launch.
  • Both Vandenberg missions plan to recover first stages on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, with high‑flight boosters B1081 and B1063 listed to attempt sea landings.
  • The National Reconnaissance Office has slated the classified NROL-95 for launch on Thursday, July 30, on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command.
  • China’s state-owned CASC is planning a Long March 7A from Wenchang and a Long March 6A from Taiyuan around July 29–30, both carrying undisclosed payloads.
  • The cluster of flights this week highlights how routine booster reuse and commercial rides for government payloads are increasing launch cadence and putting more demand on range scheduling and recovery assets.