Upcoming space events in 2025: Rocket launches, space missions, skywatching events and more

Sky-watchers, science lovers and space fans — this year’s for you. From space missions to glowing full moons, 2025 is bursting with cosmic events. Each month offers a reason to look up or log on. Whether you're tracking launches or enjoying lunar views, it’s all happening. This calendar captures major events you shouldn’t miss.

Note: Dates may shift. This schedule is based on updates from NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, Spaceflight Now, Everyday Astronaut, Supercluster and others. Events are updated as new details emerge.

June 2025

• QPS-SAR-11 satellite: Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launched “The Mountain God Guards” on June 11. The QPS-SAR-11 satellite, also called “YAMATSUMI-I”, lifted off from Mahia, New Zealand. Built for iQPS, this SAR satellite will provide sharp Earth images.


• Strawberry Moon: On the same day, the Full Strawberry Moon rose at 3:44 a.m. EDT. Its name comes from ripening berries in early summer across North America.


• Ax-4 mission: SpaceX will launch the Ax-4 mission for Axiom Space this month. The Falcon 9 flight departs from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Astronaut Peggy Whitson will lead the crew. Joining her are Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA's Sławosz Uznański, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu.


• Falcon 9: A Starlink batch will ride a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg on June 12. The launch is at 9:46 p.m. ET, adding to the growing satellite internet network.


• Kuiper’s KA-02 mission: ULA will launch Project Kuiper’s KA-02 mission on June 13. The Atlas V 551 rocket lifts off at 2:29 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral. The satellite batch will join Amazon’s growing orbital constellation.


• International Space Development Conference: The International Space Development Conference returns June 19-22 in Orlando. The event welcomes leaders across the space sector working for a shared spacefaring future.


• Transporter-14: SpaceX will launch Transporter-14, its rideshare mission, on June 20. The launch will happen from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.


• EWS OD-1 payload: Northrup Grumman’s Minotaur IV will carry the EWS OD-1 payload this June. The rocket lifts from SLC-8 at Vandenberg. This satellite will monitor weather from low-Earth orbit.


• USSF-106 mission: ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch the USSF-106 mission. Scheduled for June, it marks the rocket’s first of several military launches.


• SatNet Group 04: China's CASC will launch SatNet Group 04 using the Long March 12. This two-stage rocket lifts off from LC-2, Wenchang Space Launch Centre.


• DART AE: Rocket Lab will fly DART AE using its HASTE vehicle this June. The hypersonic drone is part of the Pentagon's HyCAT programme. The launch takes place at Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.


• NASA’s TRACERS: NASA’s TRACERS mission may launch this summer aboard a Falcon 9. The pair of spacecraft will study magnetic reconnection caused by solar activity.


• Vulcan Centaur: Vulcan Centaur is also lined up to carry Sierra Space's Dream Chaser. The spaceplane will fly to the ISS, launching from Cape Canaveral.

• Progress MS-31 cargo mission: Roscosmos will launch the Progress MS-31 cargo mission to the ISS. Progress 92P will lift from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It will carry food and equipment for astronauts on board.


• Buck Moon: The Buck Moon, also called Thunder Moon, peaks on July 10. It becomes full at 4:37 p.m. EDT and appears bright for several nights.


• NASA’s Crew-11 mission: SpaceX will fly NASA’s Crew-11 mission in late July. Commander Zena Cardman, Pilot Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov are heading to the ISS. The launch will happen from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.


• Dragon Endurance capsule return: Crew-10 astronauts will return to Earth off the California coast. Their mission ends with a splashdown of the Dragon Endurance capsule.

• Full Sturgeon Moon — Aug. 9: August’s full moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon, will reach its peak on Aug. 9 at 3:55 a.m. ET (0855 GMT). The exact timing of the full moon varies depending on your time zone, as lunar phases are calculated based on the moon’s position relative to Earth’s longitude — unlike moonrise and moonset, which are affected by your latitude.


• Perseid Meteor Shower (Aug. 12-13): One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, the Perseids could deliver up to 100 bright meteors per hour under clear, dark skies. Although the full moon may interfere, it’s still worth watching post-11 p.m. local time.

• Draconid Meteor Shower (Peaks Oct. 8): Known for rare outbursts in the past, the Draconids will be modest this year. They're best viewed in the early evening as their radiant lies high in the northern sky.


• Orionid Meteor Shower (Peaks Oct. 20-21): Caused by Halley's Comet, the Orionids promise around 20 fast-moving meteors per hour. With a new moon aiding dark skies, the best time to view is around 2 a.m.

• Soyuz MS-28: Roscosmos will launch Soyuz MS-28 from Baikonur with three astronauts. NASA’s Chris Williams flies with Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. They’ll spend eight months aboard the space station.
  December 2025


• Soyuz MS-27 capsule return: The Soyuz MS-27 capsule will return to Earth this month. Cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and NASA’s Jonathan Kim will land in Kazakhstan. Their six-month mission ends with this descent.


• Gilmour Space is expected to launch Eris-1 this year. From Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, the hybrid-fuelled rocket aims for low-Earth orbit.
  2026 Preview


• NASA’s Artemis 2: NASA’s Artemis 2 will fly no earlier than February 2026. Four astronauts will ride the SLS and Orion for a lunar flyby. The ten-day mission includes three NASA astronauts and one from Canada.


• Rocket Lab plans to launch NASA’s Aspera smallsat in early 2026. This mission will study the flow of gas between galaxies.


• Vast’s Haven-1 space station: Vast’s Haven-1 space station is set to launch in May. The outpost will fly aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral. Vast-1, a 30-day crewed mission, will follow later that year.


• Taurid Meteor Shower (Peaks Nov. 5 & Nov. 12): Split into Southern and Northern streams, the Taurids are slow but occasionally produce bright fireballs. The shower overlaps through late October and early November.


• Leonid Meteor Shower (Peaks Nov. 17): Known for past storms, the Leonids will likely offer a modest 10-15 meteors per hour this year. Best viewed from late night to pre-dawn on Nov. 17.

• Geminid Meteor Shower (Peaks Dec. 13-14): Among the year’s best, the Geminids could bring up to 120 colourful meteors per hour. Originating from asteroid Phaethon, they’ll be best visible after midnight under relatively dark skies.


• Ursid Meteor Shower (Peaks Dec. 22-23): A quieter show with about five meteors per hour, the Ursids come from Comet 8P/Tuttle. Best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere just before Christmas.