After spring is crowded with spring, the space industry is starting relatively slowly. Only a few tasks were confirmed in June, although more activity may be seen this month as Windows solidification is tentatively launched. SpaceX remains the most active player, with many scheduled Falcon 9 launches, including private astronaut missions to the International Space Station and three deployments of Starlink satellites. These were shortly after SpaceX’s high-profile setbacks, the largest and most powerful rocket ever, failing to return in full after a propellant leak caused it to get out of control.
China is also expected to continue to expand its satellite network and plans to conduct two long-term rocket launches. Here are the key space tasks to watch in June:
June 2, June 3 and June 8: SpaceX launches back-to-back star-stripe link missions. SpaceX will start this month with 9 consecutive tasks. On June 2, Falcon 9 will launch a batch of Starlink V2-Mini satellites (Starlink 12-19) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida into low-Earth orbit. The next day, another Falcon 9 will be lifted from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying 22 Starlink V2-Mini satellites (Starlink 11-22). Then, on June 8, the third batch of Starlink satellites (Starlink 15-8) will be withdrawn from Vandenberg.
June 8:Axiom Mission 4 starts to ISS. SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch the Axiom Mission 4 (AX-4), a private crew mission after delays in late May. The mission, operated by Axiom Space, Texas, will carry four astronauts who will spend up to 14 days on the ISS for scientific research. The crew is led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who directs a private space flight for the second time. She joined her by Shubhanshu Shukla, Esa astronauts Sławomir Uznański and Tibor Kapu. Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to visit ISS history.
June 23 or June 24: Japan launches the final mission of the Mitsubishi H-2A rocket. Japan plans to launch a satellite attracting Earth from the Tanegashima space center on June 23. Satellites are a joint effort of the Ministry of Environment, the National Institute of Environmental Studies and the Japan Aeronautics and Space Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission will also mark the final flight of the H-2A rocket, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.
TBD: The Tenth Orbit Test of Starship. SpaceX is expected to conduct its 10th orbital test of its Starship in June. The latest flight on May 27 ended in a failure, but Elon Musk said on X that the next three tests will be about three to four weeks apart, each of which is the next release in June.
TBD: China has launched two long-term March missions. China Aviation Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) plans two long-term March missions in June. These launches will provide communications satellites to low-Earth orbit as part of China’s expanding space infrastructure.
TBD: Sierra Space Send space plane to the ISS. Colorado-based Sierra Space is preparing for a milestone mission: the first reusable Dream Chase Space program is launched. The space plane will be ridden on the Cape Canaveral in the Ula Vulcan Centaur rocket, the first time a winged commercial spacecraft has visited the space station.
