4 minute read•Updated 3:56 PM EDT, Sat April 19, 2025
It’s shaping up to be a packed and dynamic week in the world of spaceflight, with crew returns, multiple Falcon 9 launches, and high-profile missions out of China. Here’s a detailed look at the key rocket launches and in-space operations taking place from April 19 through April 26, 2025.
Watch Weekly Pre Launch Preview: https://youtu.be/pMg_NgIk0yY
Soyuz MS-26 to Return ISS Crew to Earth on April 19
The week begins with a long-anticipated return from orbit. NASA astronaut Don Pettit, joined by Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, will conclude their extended stay aboard the International Space Station aboard Soyuz MS-26.
The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the ISS’s Rassvet module at 5:57 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 19, with a parachute-assisted landing expected at 9:20 p.m. EDT (6:20 a.m. Kazakhstan time on April 20) on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan. The landing also marks a personal milestone—Pettit will return to Earth on his 70th birthday.
NRO’s NROL-145 Mission Set for April 20 from California
The following day, attention shifts to California, where a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s SLC-4E at 5:29 a.m. PDT (8:29 a.m. EDT / 12:29 UTC). The launch, designated NROL-145, is a national security mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. While the payload is classified, it’s expected to bolster America’s space-based surveillance and intelligence capabilities.
CRS SpX-32 Cargo Mission to ISS Launching April 21
On Monday, April 21 at 4:15 a.m. EDT (08:15 UTC), another Falcon 9 will lift off—this time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The mission, CRS SpX-32, is SpaceX’s 32nd Commercial Resupply Services flight under NASA contract, and it will deliver roughly 6,700 pounds of supplies, scientific research, and hardware to support astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Rideshare Mission Bandwagon-3 Launching April 22
SpaceX continues its cadence with Bandwagon-3, a rideshare mission launching from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-40. Liftoff is scheduled for 12:48 a.m. UTC on April 22 (8:48 p.m. EDT on April 21). The Falcon 9 rocket will carry numerous small satellites for a range of commercial and research customers into a mid-inclination orbit, part of SpaceX’s growing portfolio of multi-payload deployments.
Later that day, CRS-32 is expected to dock autonomously to the ISS at 12:20 UTC (8:20 a.m. EDT), delivering its payload to the orbital laboratory’s crew.
China Launches G60 Satellite Mission on April 22
Also on Tuesday, April 22, China is scheduled to launch a Long March 8 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Site’s Commercial LC-1. The G60 Polar Group TBD mission is scheduled for 3:50 p.m. UTC (11:50 a.m. EDT) and is part of the ambitious G60 satellite constellation. Operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, the project aims to deploy 1,296 satellites by 2027, with a long-term goal of more than 12,000 spacecraft for broadband and IoT coverage.
Shenzhou 20 Crew Launch to Tiangong Set for April 24
China will follow up with a crewed launch later in the week. The Shenzhou 20 spacecraft, launched aboard a Long March 2F/G rocket, is scheduled to lift off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:17 a.m. UTC (5:17 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, April 24. The spacecraft will carry three taikonauts to the Tiangong space station, where they’ll spend six months conducting research, performing spacewalks, and maintaining the Chinese orbital outpost. This will mark the 15th crewed Chinese spaceflight and the 9th to the Tiangong station.
Starlink 6-74 Launch Closes Out the Week on April 25
SpaceX will round out the week with yet another Starlink deployment. Starlink 6-74 is scheduled to launch at 1:32 a.m. UTC on April 25 (9:32 p.m. EDT on April 24) from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-40. The mission will add to SpaceX’s ever-growing internet satellite constellation, expanding coverage and network redundancy.
A Global Cadence of Space Activity
From U.S. national security payloads to international crew rotations and large-scale satellite constellations, this week showcases the full spectrum of global space operations. Whether it’s logistics to the ISS, advanced reconnaissance systems, or new broadband infrastructure in orbit, space agencies and commercial players alike are pressing forward at full throttle.
Stay tuned to The Launch Pad for live coverage and mission updates throughout the week. Because space is better together!
