Astroboat
Global launches, mission events, crewed spaceflight updates, and selected sky events.
Launch and spaceflight data from The Space Devs Launch Library 2. Some sky events may be curated by Astroboat.
Cached data refreshed every 6 hours / Last checked May 13, 2026, 21:04 UTC
May 13, 2026, 04:30 UTC / 17 hours ago
The Eta Aquariids peak as Earth crosses dust left behind by Halley's comet.
Why it matters
Fast meteors from Halley's comet can leave persistent trains in dark skies.
May 13, 2026, 22:50 UTC / In 2 hours
34th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. The flight will be conducted under the second Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Cargo Dragon 2 brings supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations that occur onboard the orbiting laboratory.
Why it matters
SpaceX launch activity on Falcon 9 Block 5 for Dragon CRS-2 SpX-34 is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 14, 2026, 03:00 UTC / In 6 hours
Details TBD.
Why it matters
LandSpace launch activity on Zhuque-2E for Unknown Payload is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 14, 2026, 11:35 UTC / In 15 hours
Following its launch atop a Falcon 9, the CRS-34 Dragon will autonomously dock to the ISS, bringing crew supplies as well as experiments.
Why it matters
Docking events are key milestones for station logistics, crew support, and orbital operations.
May 15, 2026, 04:30 UTC / In 31 hours
Details TBD.
Why it matters
CAS Space launch activity on Kinetica 1 for Unknown Payload is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 15, 2026, 14:00 UTC / In 41 hours
A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Why it matters
SpaceX launch activity on Falcon 9 Block 5 for Starlink Group 17-37 is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 17, 2026, 14:40 UTC / In 4 days
Details TBD.
Why it matters
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation launch activity on Long March 8 for Unknown Payload is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 18, 2026, 12:35 UTC / In 5 days
The Globalstar global mobile communications network offers global, digital real time voice, data and fax services via its Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation. The constellation operates in a 1410 km orbit inclined at 52 degrees. In early 2022, Globalstar contracted with MDA for the construction of 17 new 2nd generation refresh satellites to replenish the existing constellation. Rocket Lab is sub-contracted to build the satellites' buses and the launch dispensers.
Why it matters
SpaceX launch activity on Falcon 9 Block 5 for Globalstar 2-R Mission 1 (x 9) is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 19, 2026, 02:11 UTC / In 5 days
A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.
Why it matters
SpaceX launch activity on Falcon 9 Block 5 for Starlink Group 17-42 is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 19, 2026, 03:52 UTC / In 5 days
Joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to investigate the interaction between Earth’s protective shield – the magnetosphere – and the supersonic solar wind.
Why it matters
Avio S.p.A launch activity on Vega-C for Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 19, 2026, 22:30 UTC / In 6 days
12th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Maiden Flight of Starship V3. The flight test’s primary goal will be to demonstrate each of these new pieces in the flight environment for the first time, with each element of the Starship architecture featuring significant redesigns to enable full and rapid reuse that incorporate learnings from years of development and test. The Starship upper stage will target multiple in-space and reentry objectives, including the deployment of 22 Starlink simulators, similar in size to next-generation Starlink satellites. The last two satellites deployed will scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators to test methods of analyzing Starship’s heat shield readiness for return to launch site on future missions. Several tiles on Starship have been painted white to simulate missing tiles and serve as imaging targets in the test. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned. For Starship entry, a single heat shield tile has been intentionally removed to measure the aerodynamic load differences on adjacent tiles when there is a tile missing. Finally, the ship will perform experimental actions tested on previous flight tests, including a maneuver to intentionally stress the structural limits of the vehicle’s rear flaps and a dynamic banking maneuver to mimic the trajectory that future missions returning to Starbase will fly.
Why it matters
SpaceX launch activity on Starship V3 for Flight 12 is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 20, 2026, 05:00 UTC / In 6 days
Note: Launch vehicle name is provisional. First orbital full version launch of the South Korean military small satellite launch vehicle, after 2 sub-orbital tests of individual stages on 30 March and 30 December 2022, and 1 orbital test flight without the 2nd stage on 4 December 2023. Details TBD.
Why it matters
Agency for Defense Development launch activity on South Korean ADD Solid-Fuel SLV for Demo Flight is useful for tracking mission cadence, spacecraft operations, and public viewing or webcast opportunities.
May 20, 2026, after sunset / In 7 days
The Moon passes near Spica in the evening sky, giving observers an easy way to identify Virgo's brightest star.
Why it matters
A simple naked-eye pairing that helps beginners identify Virgo's brightest star.
May 27, 2026, evening local time / In 14 days
Venus stands well away from the Sun after sunset, making it easy to identify in the western sky.
Why it matters
Bright planetary apparitions are useful beginner targets and help observers learn sky direction.
May 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 17 days
Two astronauts will replace a high-definition camera on camera port 3, install a new navigational aid for visiting spacecraft, called a planar reflector, on the Harmony module’s forward port, and relocate an early ammonia servicer jumper — a flexible hose assembly that connects parts of a fluid system — along with other jumpers on the station’s S6 and S4 truss.
Why it matters
Spacewalks expose real-time station maintenance and human spaceflight operations outside the spacecraft.
June 1, 2026, evening local time / In 19 days
Mars appears near the Beehive Cluster, creating a useful binocular observing target.
Why it matters
The pairing is a useful binocular target and a good lesson in apparent planetary motion.
Jul 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 78 days
As part of its mission extension, JAXA's Hayabusa2 spacecraft will observe S-type asteroid (98943) Torifune during a high-speed fly-by.
Why it matters
This event helps place spaceflight activity in context beyond launches alone.
Sep 30, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 139 days
Third flyby of ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission on its way to the Jovian system.
Why it matters
This event helps place spaceflight activity in context beyond launches alone.
Nov 30, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 200 days
Orbital insertion around Mercury of the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission.
Why it matters
This event helps place spaceflight activity in context beyond launches alone.
Dec 24, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 224 days
Solar Orbiter, a partnership between ESA and NASA, will perform a gravity assist maneuver with Venus on December 24, 2026. Throughout its mission it also makes repeated gravity assist flybys of Venus to get closer to the Sun, and to change its orbital inclination, boosting it out of the ecliptic plane, to get the best – and first – views of the Sun’s poles.
Why it matters
This event helps place spaceflight activity in context beyond launches alone.
Dec 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 231 days
NASA’s Europa Clipper will fly by Earth for a second and final gravity assist on its way to Jupiter.
Why it matters
This event helps place spaceflight activity in context beyond launches alone.
Dec 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 231 days
NASA TV will livestream the rendezvous and capture of Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser cargo craft to the International Space Station.
Why it matters
This event helps place spaceflight activity in context beyond launches alone.
Dec 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 231 days
The Starliner-1 spacecraft will dock autonomously to the International Space Station, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station.
Why it matters
Docking events are key milestones for station logistics, crew support, and orbital operations.
Dec 31, 2026, 00:00 UTC / In 231 days
Following its deorbit burn, the Boeing CST-100 Starliner will reenter the Earth's atmosphere and land at the White Sands Missile Range using its parachutes.
Why it matters
Landing events close the mission loop and reveal whether spacecraft recovery, sample return, or crew return objectives were met.