**SpaceX and Rocket Lab Achieve Launch Milestones with Packed Week of Missions**

In an extraordinary week for space launches, SpaceX and Rocket Lab both achieved significant milestones. Leading the pack, SpaceX conducted an impressive five missions, while Rocket Lab delivered its 65th Electron flight.

Rocket Lab's "Full Stream Ahead" mission saw the second BlackSky Generation 3 satellite successfully launched just before midnight on June 2 UTC. This mission departed from Māhia Peninsula's Launch Complex-1B in New Zealand, carrying the satellite into a mid-inclination circular orbit at 470 km altitude. Postponed from its initial May 28 date due to additional checks and adverse weather conditions, the launch signifies Rocket Lab's tenth mission for BlackSky Technology, making it the leading provider for launches in this specific constellation. The BlackSky Gen-3 satellite, capable of producing 50 cm resolution images and equipped with shortwave infrared sensors, marks another stride in Earth-imaging technology.

Meanwhile, SpaceX carried out a range of missions, starting with its Starlink Group 12-19 launch at 12:43 AM EDT on June 3 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's SLC-40 in Florida. This mission deployed 23 Starlink v2 Mini satellites, 13 of which feature Direct-to-Cell capabilities, to a low-Earth orbit. The reusable Falcon 9 booster B1077, in its 21st flight, successfully landed on the autonomous droneship "Just Read the Instructions."

Later the same day, June 3 saw another Starlink mission—Group 11-22—lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base's SLC-4E in California. This mission placed 27 Starlink v2 Mini satellites into orbit and marked SpaceX's 68th mission for the year. The booster is expected to land on the west coast droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean.

On June 7, SpaceX gears up to launch the SiriusXM SXM-10 satellite from CCSFS's SLC-40, designed to replace older satellites launched back in 2005 and 2006. Weighing over 6,000 kg, this cutting-edge satellite will enhance services for over 33 million SiriusXM subscribers. Post-launch, the Falcon 9 booster will land on one of SpaceX’s east coast droneships.

Further, on June 8, another Starlink batch—Group 15-8—is set to launch from VSFB, carrying 26 Starlink v2 Mini satellites to an orbit inclined at 70 degrees.

Capping off the week is the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) targeted for June 9. The mission will launch a crew to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center. During their 14-day stay, Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu will conduct 60 scientific studies. This mission includes several historic milestones: Shukla will be India’s second astronaut in space since 1984, Uznański becomes Poland's second since 1978, and Kapu is Hungary's second since 1980. Commander Whitson is also making history by commanding her second commercial human spaceflight mission.

This hectic week underscores the rapid advancements and growing capacities of private space companies, marking significant achievements in space exploration and technology deployment.