Launch
SpaceX ready for Starship suborbital flight as FAA begins new environmental study
As SpaceX prepares for the first high-altitude test flight of its Starship reusable launch vehicle, the FAA is starting a new environmental review required for the company’s future launch vehicle plans.
SpaceX sets new Falcon 9 reuse milestone on Starlink launch
SpaceX set a new milestone in Falcon 9 reuse with the latest Starlink satellite launch Nov. 24 as the company seeks permission to deploy Starlink satellites into a new orbit.
Traditional launch services may not suit the needs of the future Space Force
How the Pentagon buys launch services in the future could change as the military considers using emerging technologies and services known as “space mobility and logistics.”
Rocket Lab declares success in Electron rocket recovery
Rocket Lab says its attempt to recover the first stage from its latest Electron launch was a “complete success,” but that the company still has work to do before it’s ready to attempt to reuse the stage.
Relativity Space raises $500 million
Small launch vehicle startup Relativity Space has raised a $500 million funding round that the company says will enable it to accelerate its long-term vision of reshaping aerospace manufacturing.
China launches Chang’e-5 Moon sample return mission
A Long March 5 rocket launched China’s Chang’e-5 spacecraft Monday to kick off a 23-day mission to deliver the first lunar samples to Earth since the 1970s.
Falcon 9 launch ends long hiatus in Vandenberg launches
Despite a lull in orbital launch activity at Vandenberg Air Force Base, officials with the U.S. Space Force foresee a “very promising future” for both commercial and government launches there.
Falcon 9 launches Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean science satellite
A SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched Nov. 21 the latest in a series of satellites developed by the United States and Europe to track rising sea levels.
Avio CEO promises Vega’s rapid return to flight as CNES plots replacement satellite
The head of Italian rocket manufacturer Avio assured customers Nov. 19 that the company was working hard to return Vega to service following the rocket’s second failure in its last three launches.
Rocket Lab launches Electron in test of booster recovery
Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket Nov. 19, placing nearly 30 smallsats in orbit while making its first attempt to recover the rocket’s first stage.
Astra to make second orbital launch attempt
Small launch vehicle developer Astra will make its second orbital launch attempt in December, three months after an initial launch attempt failed shortly after liftoff.
SpaceX to transition to fully reusable fleet for national security launches
“Over the next 18 months we’ll complete the transition to a fully reusable SpaceX fleet for our national security missions,” said Col. Robert Bongiovi, director of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise.
Voyager Space Holdings to acquire The Launch Company
Voyager Space Holdings announced that it plans to acquire The Launch Company.
ULA: Dream Chaser schedule slip not a setback to Vulcan certification
ULA said the delay in Dream Chaser’s first mission will not prevent Vulcan from getting certified on time for its first national security mission in 2022.
FAA: Commercial space launch regulations ‘in final coordination’
The revised rules for commercial launch and reentry will be officially posted for public comment in the coming weeks, said Wayne Monteith, the FAA’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation.
Human error blamed for Vega launch failure
Arianespace executives said Nov. 17 that the failure of a Vega launch the previous day was caused when the rocket’s upper stage tumbled out of control due to incorrectly installed cables in a control system.
