Here is your one-stop shop for space launches with our May launch schedule! This month sees 312 satellites launched, 1 launch to a space station and 1 test flight. Read on to find out more!
Last updated: June 1st 2022
Satellite Launches
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 2nd There And Back Again : 34 small satellites are launched by a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand at 23:49 BST. The satellites will be for commercial operators Alba Orbital, Astrix Astronautics, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, E-Space, Unseenlabs, and Swarm Technologies. Delayed from April 22nd, 23rd, 27th and 28th.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 6th Starlink 4-17 : A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches another batch of 53 Starlink satellites from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida at 10:42 BST. Moved forward from May 8th. Delayed from May 5th. Watch it live from 10:27 BST.
- LAUNCH FAILURE 13th Jilin 1 Mofang 01A-R : The iSpace developed Hyperbola 1 rocket launches a Jilin 1 commercial Earth-imaging satellite from Jiuquan, China at 08:09 BST.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 13th Starlink 4-13 : A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California at 23:07 BST carrying the next batch of 53 Starlink satellites. Delayed from May 8th. Moved forward from May 15th.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 14th Starlink 4-15 : From Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, the next batch of 53 Starlink internet satellites launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 21:40 BST. Delayed from May 8th. Moved forward from May 15th.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 18th Starlink 4-18 : Another batch of 53 Starlink satellites will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida at 11:59 BST. Moved forward from May 21st.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 19th Bars-M : From the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia, a Bars-M optical and stereo mapping satellite, designated Kosmos 2556, is launched. Belonging to the Russian military, it will launch aboard a Russian government Soyuz-2.1a rocket at 09:03 BST.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 20th Communications Test Satellites : 3 communications test satellites are launched aboard a Chinese Long March 2C rocket from Jiuquan, China at 11:30 BST. 2 were built by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd and 1 was built by the China Academy of Space Technology.
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 25th Transporter 5 : Aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Transporter 5 mission carries 59 microsatellites and nanosatellites to a sun synchronous orbit for commercial and government customers. It will launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida at 19:35 BST.
Launches to Space Stations
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 9th Tianzhou 4 : China launch the Tianzhou 4 resupply ship to their space station. It launches from Wenchang, China at 18:56 BST.
Test Flights
- LAUNCH SUCCESS 19th CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2 : Boeing‘s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is launched on its 2nd unpiloted test flight aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket designated AV-082. The spacecraft will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida at 23:54 BST and make its way to the International Space Station. Delayed from end of 2020 and January 4th. Moved forward from March 29th, April 2nd and May. Delayed from July 30th, August 3rd and late 2021.