Long March 10 Stage 1 test article experienced a splashdown.
More footage including booster post-splashdown, the separation of the capsule from the LAS tower after safely pulled away, and capsule splashdown: Feb 12, 2026 The Smart Dragon-3 launch from just offshore of western Guangdong is targeting a sun-synchronous orbit and will use the DFHTG "Oriental Spaceport" ship.
Speaking of the sea, we have one Chinese sea launch with a satellite from Pakistan that was long delayed from December that should finally happen in around 2 hours ~06:30 UTC - unfortunately it's quite far away from S Guangdong coastline so no livestreams: Feb 12, 2026 A Chinese sea launch carrying a Pakistani satellite that had been delayed from December is scheduled to occur at approximately 06:30 UTC.
Speaking of the sea, we have one Chinese sea launch with a satellite from Pakistan that was long delayed from December that should finally happen in around 2 hours ~06:30 UTC - unfortunately it's quite far away from S Guangdong coastline so no livestreams: Feb 12, 2026 A Smart Dragon-3 launch is scheduled for December 26 at approximately 06:30 UTC from just offshore of western Guangdong out over the South China Sea.
Speaking of the sea, we have one Chinese sea launch with a satellite from Pakistan that was long delayed from December that should finally happen in around 2 hours ~06:30 UTC - unfortunately it's quite far away from S Guangdong coastline so no livestreams: Feb 12, 2026 The Chinese sea launch carrying the Pakistani satellite is positioned far from the southern Guangdong coastline, making public livestreams unlikely.
Speaking of the sea, we have one Chinese sea launch with a satellite from Pakistan that was long delayed from December that should finally happen in around 2 hours ~06:30 UTC - unfortunately it's quite far away from S Guangdong coastline so no livestreams: Feb 12, 2026 The Chinese University of Hong Kong is the second university in Hong Kong.
This launch finally (phew!) flew while I was sleeping at 06:37 UTC and was a success, with the Pakistan satellite being PRSC-EO2. It wasn't the only one on the SD-3 though, 6 others are on board including CUHK-1 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the city's 2nd university. Feb 12, 2026 CUHK-1 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong was one of the payloads aboard SD-3.
This launch finally (phew!) flew while I was sleeping at 06:37 UTC and was a success, with the Pakistan satellite being PRSC-EO2. It wasn't the only one on the SD-3 though, 6 others are on board including CUHK-1 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the city's 2nd university. Feb 12, 2026 A launch occurred at 06:37 UTC and was successful.
This launch finally (phew!) flew while I was sleeping at 06:37 UTC and was a success, with the Pakistan satellite being PRSC-EO2. It wasn't the only one on the SD-3 though, 6 others are on board including CUHK-1 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the city's 2nd university. Feb 12, 2026 The Pakistan satellite on the launch was PRSC-EO2.
This launch finally (phew!) flew while I was sleeping at 06:37 UTC and was a success, with the Pakistan satellite being PRSC-EO2. It wasn't the only one on the SD-3 though, 6 others are on board including CUHK-1 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the city's 2nd university. Feb 12, 2026 The SD-3 launch vehicle carried PRSC-EO2 and six other satellites.
This launch finally (phew!) flew while I was sleeping at 06:37 UTC and was a success, with the Pakistan satellite being PRSC-EO2. It wasn't the only one on the SD-3 though, 6 others are on board including CUHK-1 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the city's 2nd university. Feb 12, 2026 A ship is heading to the South China Sea to launch a rocket.
Interesting to see this ship heading way down to the South China Sea to launch this rocket (2nd try BTW since late Dec.) when it can launch towards SSO closer to home. Perhaps to allow the Pakistan sat to phone above home & to get a 2nd home port working (Yangjiang, Guangdong)? Feb 12, 2026 The ship-based rocket launch is a second launch attempt since late December.
Interesting to see this ship heading way down to the South China Sea to launch this rocket (2nd try BTW since late Dec.) when it can launch towards SSO closer to home. Perhaps to allow the Pakistan sat to phone above home & to get a 2nd home port working (Yangjiang, Guangdong)? Feb 12, 2026 China operates mobile sea-based launch sites for flexible launch operations.
I find it interesting China's the one who really make use of the flexibility of a mobile launch site at sea, wonder if that's going to inspire other countries/companies elsewhere. Also the thing CAST launching a commercial "spatial environment detection satellite" on this... Feb 12, 2026 CAST is launching a commercial "spatial environment detection satellite".
I find it interesting China's the one who really make use of the flexibility of a mobile launch site at sea, wonder if that's going to inspire other countries/companies elsewhere. Also the thing CAST launching a commercial "spatial environment detection satellite" on this... Feb 12, 2026 The scheduled Proton launch will be the last time the vehicle flies with a Blok-DM upper stage.
Really weird to see one flying finally after so many years LOL. There are also only up to 10 left (recent reports is that all 10 have assigned payloads, although quite a few are civil comsats that must be listed w/ question marks) so go watch if you can. Feb 12, 2026 Russia’s Proton rocket will make its first flight in almost three years carrying the Elektro-L No.5 weather satellite into orbit.
Really weird to see one flying finally after so many years LOL. There are also only up to 10 left (recent reports is that all 10 have assigned payloads, although quite a few are civil comsats that must be listed w/ question marks) so go watch if you can. Feb 12, 2026 The Proton launch is scheduled for 08:52 UTC from Site 81/24 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Really weird to see one flying finally after so many years LOL. There are also only up to 10 left (recent reports is that all 10 have assigned payloads, although quite a few are civil comsats that must be listed w/ question marks) so go watch if you can. Feb 12, 2026 Recent reports state that there are only up to 10 Proton rockets remaining and all 10 have assigned payloads.
Really weird to see one flying finally after so many years LOL. There are also only up to 10 left (recent reports is that all 10 have assigned payloads, although quite a few are civil comsats that must be listed w/ question marks) so go watch if you can. Feb 12, 2026 Elektro‑L No.5 is identified as a satellite associated with Roscosmos in the livestream graphic.
Live stream is here: Feb 12, 2026 Roscosmos is broadcasting a livestream of the launch of the Elektro‑L No.5 satellite on YouTube.
Live stream is here: Feb 12, 2026 The Vulcan launch vehicle used Aerojet Rocketdyne solid rocket boosters with nozzle hardware that suffered anomalous loss during flight on the referenced mission.
OH DEAR Not again @northropgrumman! 2 SRB nozzles falling off in 4 launches and 12 flights is uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Time to look at combined effects of the rocket on those nozzles I think - Vulcan is supposed to be *the* reliable launcher (cough)... Feb 12, 2026 United Launch Alliance launched the GSSAP 7 and GSSAP 8 satellites for the United States Space Force from SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
OH DEAR Not again @northropgrumman! 2 SRB nozzles falling off in 4 launches and 12 flights is uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Time to look at combined effects of the rocket on those nozzles I think - Vulcan is supposed to be *the* reliable launcher (cough)... Feb 12, 2026 The Vulcan launch on February 12, 2026 experienced an SRB nozzle that likely burned through seconds into launch and detached partway through first stage flight.
OH DEAR Not again @northropgrumman! 2 SRB nozzles falling off in 4 launches and 12 flights is uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Time to look at combined effects of the rocket on those nozzles I think - Vulcan is supposed to be *the* reliable launcher (cough)... Feb 12, 2026 Two SRB nozzles have detached across four Vulcan launches and twelve SRB flights according to the posted observations.
OH DEAR Not again @northropgrumman! 2 SRB nozzles falling off in 4 launches and 12 flights is uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Time to look at combined effects of the rocket on those nozzles I think - Vulcan is supposed to be *the* reliable launcher (cough)... Feb 12, 2026 A nozzle separated from an SRB during the USSF-87 launch and is visible in the lower-left area of the first posted photo.
If you can't see the nozzle falling off clearly, it's clear as daylight here (lower left on the 1st photo): Feb 12, 2026 United Launch Alliance launched a Vulcan rocket on the USSF-87 mission on February 12, 2026.
If you can't see the nozzle falling off clearly, it's clear as daylight here (lower left on the 1st photo): Feb 12, 2026 One solid rocket booster on the Vulcan USSF-87 launch appeared to suffer an anomaly similar to the Cert-2 anomaly in October 2024.
If you can't see the nozzle falling off clearly, it's clear as daylight here (lower left on the 1st photo): Feb 12, 2026 A solid rocket booster nozzle joint section experienced a burn-through during a ULA Vulcan launch.
And you can see yet again the SRB nozzle joint section had a burn-through - this time *pointing at* the BE-4s, unlike what happened on the Cert-2 flight: Feb 12, 2026 The SRB burn-through on this Vulcan flight pointed at the BE-4s, unlike the burn-through observed on the Cert-2 flight.
And you can see yet again the SRB nozzle joint section had a burn-through - this time *pointing at* the BE-4s, unlike what happened on the Cert-2 flight: Feb 12, 2026 The burn-through on the solid rocket booster nozzle joint section was oriented toward the Blue Origin BE-4 engines.
And you can see yet again the SRB nozzle joint section had a burn-through - this time *pointing at* the BE-4s, unlike what happened on the Cert-2 flight: Feb 12, 2026 Observers identified a potential SRB anomaly during the ULA Vulcan launch.
And you can see yet again the SRB nozzle joint section had a burn-through - this time *pointing at* the BE-4s, unlike what happened on the Cert-2 flight: Feb 12, 2026 GPS III SV10 is a U.S. Space Force spacecraft.
Also (cough) maybe it's time to say congratulations to a certain S Texas (ex-S California) aerospace company for getting the contract to launch GPS III SV10...or maybe a few more @USSpaceForce spacecraft than it is right now. Feb 12, 2026 NASASpaceflight provided a livestream of USSF87's liftoff.
...that's a very-early-in-flight abnormal shredding of red hot debris that must have landed right next to the pad... 🤐 Feb 12, 2026 Video footage of USSF87's liftoff shows red-hot debris shredding early in flight and appearing to land near the launch pad.
...that's a very-early-in-flight abnormal shredding of red hot debris that must have landed right next to the pad... 🤐 Feb 12, 2026 USSF87 experienced a liftoff event captured on video.
...that's a very-early-in-flight abnormal shredding of red hot debris that must have landed right next to the pad... 🤐 Feb 12, 2026 Roughly 20 seconds after liftoff on the USSF-87 mission, at least one of the Vulcan rocket's solid rocket booster nozzles showed signs of a possible burn-through.
Another angle of the initial GEM-63XL nozzle joint burn-through: Feb 12, 2026 United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket lifted off on the USSF-87 mission.
Another angle of the initial GEM-63XL nozzle joint burn-through: Feb 12, 2026 Telemetry near BECO is available for the two United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur (Vulcan VC4) launches USSF-87 and USSF-106.
One thing about the launch though - @ulalaunch is probably correct to report nominal launch performance even with this yet another "observation" - here are the telemetry close to BECO for the 2 Vulcan VC4 launches so far, tonight's USSF-87 on the left & USSF-106 on the right. Feb 12, 2026 The telemetry visualization compares the two Vulcan VC4 launches with USSF-87 shown on the left and USSF-106 shown on the right.
One thing about the launch though - @ulalaunch is probably correct to report nominal launch performance even with this yet another "observation" - here are the telemetry close to BECO for the 2 Vulcan VC4 launches so far, tonight's USSF-87 on the left & USSF-106 on the right. Feb 12, 2026 The telemetry shown in the visualization is taken close to BECO for both the USSF-87 and USSF-106 Vulcan VC4 launches.
One thing about the launch though - @ulalaunch is probably correct to report nominal launch performance even with this yet another "observation" - here are the telemetry close to BECO for the 2 Vulcan VC4 launches so far, tonight's USSF-87 on the left & USSF-106 on the right. Feb 12, 2026 United Launch Alliance observed an issue early during flight on one of the vehicle's four solid rocket motors and is reviewing the flight data.
"observation" 😉 Feb 12, 2026 The vehicle used four solid rocket motors.
"observation" 😉 Feb 12, 2026 During the flight, the booster, upper stage, and spacecraft continued to perform on a nominal trajectory.
"observation" 😉 Feb 12, 2026 Two solid rocket booster (SRB) nozzle incidents occurred on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, one during the USSF-87 mission and one during the Cert-2 launch.
Comparison of the 2 SRB nozzles incidents on Vulcan, USSF-87 on the left and the Cert-2 launch on the right: Feb 12, 2026 A side-by-side comparison image labels the USSF-87 SRB nozzle incident on the left and the Cert-2 SRB nozzle incident on the right.
Comparison of the 2 SRB nozzles incidents on Vulcan, USSF-87 on the left and the Cert-2 launch on the right: Feb 12, 2026 The GEM63 propellant mass is 97,500 lb (44,200 kg).
Hmm... Feb 12, 2026 The GEM63XL maximum thrust is approximately 25% higher than the GEM63 maximum thrust.
Hmm... Feb 12, 2026 The GEM63 solid rocket motor has a maximum thrust of 370,835 lbf.
Hmm... Feb 12, 2026 The GEM63 total length is 791 inches (2,009 cm).
Hmm... Feb 12, 2026 The GEM63 and GEM63XL motor diameters are both 63 inches (160 cm).
Hmm... Feb 12, 2026