Launch
Roscosmos to complete Soyuz accident investigation this month
The final report into the launch failure that forced the abort of a crewed Soyuz spacecraft is scheduled for completion by the end of the month, the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos announced Oct. 20.
Ariane 5 launches BepiColombo to Mercury
A Mercury-bound science mission from the European and Japanese space agencies began a seven-year journey to the Solar System’s smallest planet Oct. 19 aboard and Ariane 5 rocket.
Vector secures $70 million Series B round for small launch vehicle development
Vector, one of dozens of ventures developing small launch vehicles to serve perceived high demand for small satellite launches, announced Oct. 19 that it closed a $70 million Series B round to move into full operations.
Final Iridium Next launch scheduled for Dec. 30 Falcon 9 mission
The last mission needed to complete Iridium Communications’ second-generation satellite constellation is scheduled for Dec. 30, Iridium CEO Matt Desch said today.
ULA CEO Bruno: New competitors in military launch market ‘good for the country’
Between now and when the the Air Force starts buying launch services from new competitors, ULA and SpaceX will be competing “one mission at a time.”
Rocket Lab selects Wallops for U.S. launch site
Small launch vehicle company Rocket Lab announced Oct. 17 that it will build its second launch pad, and first in the United States, at Wallops Island in Virginia.
Swedish firm buys Falcon Heavy launch
A Swedish company with plans for a geostationary communications satellite announced Oct. 16 a contract with SpaceX for a Falcon Heavy launch no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2020.
45th Space Wing gears up for surge in launch activity
45th Space Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Schiess: Gen. Raymond “is pushing us to look at ways to be more responsive.”
Why was Delta 2 so reliable?
Despite its reputation as a reliable workhorse, every Delta 2 launch campaign was unique.
Delta 2 finishes its 29-year run as America’s trusty medium-lift workhorse
As the Delta 2 program ends, participants, customers and onlookers are comparing memories.
Virgin Galactic preparing for next phase of SpaceShipTwo test flight program
Virgin Galactic’s chief executive says the company is approaching the “next phase” of the flight test program for the company’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle as the company’s founder predicts the company reaching space in “weeks.”
China to launch unmanned test flight of next-generation crewed spacecraft in 2019
The next-generation crewed spacecraft will be the payload for the first flight of the Long March 5B launch vehicle, a variant of the Long March 5 and designed for lofting large modules of the planned Chinese Space Station.
Soyuz investigators hone in on booster separation, promise conclusions Oct. 20
Roscosmos now says one of the Soyuz rocket’s four strap-on boosters failed to properly separate and nicked the core stage.
Arianespace assessing impact of crewed Soyuz failure on satellite-launching variant
Arianespace said Oct. 11 it’s too soon to say whether the Soyuz-ST rockets it uses to launch satellites from South America will be grounded following the failure of a Russian Soyuz-FG rocket carrying crew to the International Space Station.
Air Force funding three new rockets to compete with SpaceX but only intends to buy launch services from two providers
Phase 2 of the Launch Service Agreement will be an open competition. All there winners have to compete - or they would have to return their development funds back to the government. SpaceX presumably would bid as well.
