The Weekly Rocket Report #40

08/25/2025-08/31/2025

Ricky Whitmore

Space Writer

Hello my friends, welcome back to The Weekly Rocket Report!  Hope my friends in the US enjoyed the holiday weekend.  We have 7 launches to talk about this week so let’s get right into the shenanigans. 

The first launch of the week was from China where a Long March 8A launched SatNet LEO Group 10.  This launch added 9 more satellites to the SatNet constellation. 

Next up we head back to the US, where we will actually be staying the rest of the week.  Tuesday afternoon began a busy week for SpaceX, with Falcon 9 launching NAOS (LUXEOSys) & others to orbit.  The main payload, NAOS, is a military reconnaissance satellite from the government of Luxembourg.  Also on board was LEAP-1 a satellite designed to demonstrate real time AI processing power in outer space.  The other 6 payloads were all imaging satellites from various companies: Pelican 3&4 from Planet Labs, Acadia 6 from Capella Space, and FFLY 1,2&3 from Pixxel.  Following staging, Falcon 9’s booster flew back to the launch complex, landing successfully at LZ-4. 

Falcon 9 launches NAOS (LUXEOSys) & Others. Photo Credit: SpaceX.

Later on Tuesday evening came the launch everyone was waiting for, Starship Flight 10.  Following a spectacular liftoff and staging, the Superheavy booster returned to Earth, landing softly and successfully in the Gulf.  The water landing was intentional as the flight team was looking to have the booster re-enter at a “higher angle of attack” a test it apparently passed.  As for ship, it continued on to space, where it successfully shut down its engines, deployed simulated payloads, and successfully re-lit an engine in space.  Following its in space tests it fell back to earth, mostly surviving re-entry and flipping for a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

Starship launches Flight 10. Photo Credit: SpaceX.

Wednesday morning saw a return trip to the East Coast where Falcon 9 took off carrying the 28 satellites of Starlink Group 10-56.  Following stage separation the first stage returned to Earth, landing on the drone ship “Just Read The Instructions”. 

Falcon 9 launches Starlink Group 10-56. Photo Credit: SpaceX.

Thursday morning came with another Starlink launch, this time Starlink Group 10-11.  The 28 satellites were deployed successfully and the rocket’s first stage landed back down range on the drone ship “A Shortfall Of Gravitas”.  This launch marked something special for SpaceX as Booster 1067 became the first booster to fly 30 missions for Falcon.  This mission also marked the close out of an itinerary that saw SpaceX launch a rocket from all 4 of its launch pads (SLC-4E @ Vandenberg, Starbase, SLC-40 @ Cape Canaveral, and SLC-39A @ Cape Canaveral) in less that 48 hours. 

Falcon 9 launches Starlink Group 10-11. Photo Credit: SpaceX.

Moving on to Saturday with another Starlink Mission, Starlink Group 17-7 carried 24 satellites to orbit.  Following booster separation the first stage returned to Earth landing on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You”. 

Sunday morning we close out the week with, you guessed it, a Starlink mission.  Falcon 9 carried the 28 satellites of Starlink Group 10-14 to orbit, while its first stage landed down range on the drone ship “Just Read The Instructions”. 

There you have it everyone, what a week.  It was great to finally see a fully successful Starship launch, hopefully with a successful launch they are able to pick up the cadence and keep this program moving faster.  Another interesting bit from the week was the launch of 3 NASA sounding rockets from the NASA Wallops Island Facility.  These launches released material that allowed for visual indications of wind speeds and patterns, creating some stunning visuals for residents along the Eastern United States.  With all of that being said, it looks like another “boring” week of launches next week, nothing but Starlink’s.  Did you ever think we would get to a point where rocket launches to outer space were regarded as boring because they happened so often?  Anyway, I will of course be back next week to break down all the action on The Weekly Rocket Report! 

 As always feel free to write to me at rickyew2112@gmail.com, or find me on X @Rickyew2112

Sic Itur Ad Astra

(Thus They Journey to the Stars)