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
How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free this weekend - 2US FDA investigates Takeda's blood disorder drug after pediatric death
- 3Louisiana seeks California doctor’s extradition, testing the limits of shield laws
- 4Top Frozen yogurt Flavor: Cast Your Vote!
- 5Track down the Ideal Weight reduction Methodology for Your Way of life
- Step by step instructions to Keep up with Great Hand Cleanliness Before Handshakes
- NATO official says members often aren't buying weapons together, and it's a mistake
- The most effective method to Decisively Use Open Record Rewards
- Poll: By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans say Trump has done more to raise prices than lower them
- The Green Transformation: 5 Feasible Living Practices
- Most loved Amusement Park Firecrackers Show: Which One Lights Up Your Evening?
- Sarkozy says he owes France 'the truth' as he challenges conviction over alleged Libya funding
- The 25 Most Notable Style Crossroads in History
- Astronauts head home early after medical issue
