Launch
Landspace, iSpace and Linkspace of China claim progress on new launchers
Chinese startup Linkspace succeeded with a vertical takeoff and landing test late last month on the same day fellow private launch firm OneSpace failed to reach orbit with its OS-m rocket. Also that week, two other Chinese companies declared success with engine tests as they push to develop new launch vehicles.
Relativity to launch LEO satellite for mu Space
Relativity announced April 23 it has secured a contract to launch a low Earth orbit satellite for Thai startup mu Space.
ArianeGroup starting Ariane 6 production after new ESA agreement
The European Space Agency’s 22 member states agreed April 17 to a workaround to get Ariane 6 production in full swing despite a dearth of public sector launch contracts.
Antares launches Cygnus on ISS cargo mission
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket successfully launched a Cygnus spacecraft April 17 carrying nearly three and a half tons of cargo bound for the International Space Station.
Falcon Heavy center core toppled after landing
The center core of the Falcon Heavy rocket that launched a communications satellite April 11 fell over after landing in rough seas, but SpaceX said the mishap won’t affect upcoming launches.
Air Force insists launch competition must stay on schedule
The upcoming release of the Air Force RPF for launch services was a hot topic last week at the 35th Space Symposium
Glavkosmos absorbs ILS, promises lower Proton prices
International Launch Services, the commercial sales division of Russia’s Proton rocket manufacturer Khrunichev, is now part of Glavkosmos, a Roscosmos subsidiary that sells Soyuz rocket launches.
Falcon Heavy sends first commercial satellite into orbit
SpaceX sent the Arabsat-6A communications satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit April 11, completing the Falcon Heavy rocket’s first commercial launch.
Arabsat CEO: Falcon Heavy gives our satellite extra life
Arabsat chose SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket to launch its newest satellite in order to give the satellite a longer lifespan, Khalid Balkheyour, Arabsat’s chief executive, said in an interview with SpaceNews.
Three companies selected for DARPA Launch Challenge
Three launch vehicle developers, one of which is still in stealth mode, have qualified to compete in a DARPA competition in early 2020 to demonstrate responsive launch capabilities.
Blue Origin urging Air Force to postpone launch competition
Blue Origin wants the U.S. Air Force to wait until 2021 before picking the two companies it intends use for launching critical military satellites in the decade ahead.
Soyuz launch completes first-generation O3b constellation
European launch provider Arianespace completed SES’s first-generation O3b constellation April 4 with the Soyuz launch of four satellites.
Air Force touts deal with Rocket Lab as a new way of buying ‘affordable rides to space’
The Air Force Space Test Program has awarded contracts to Rocket Lab and Vox Space. More vendors could be selected.
Air Force space launch competition caught in political crossfire
While Blue Origin is asking for a delay in the LSP decision, ULA is said to be fiercely opposed.
Rocket Lab launches DARPA satellite
Rocket Lab successfully launched an experimental satellite for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency March 28 as the company looks to move to a monthly cadence of launches.
Air Force firmly opposed to delaying National Security Space Launch competition
An award is anticipated in spring 2020. The Air Force will procure launch services from fiscal year 2020 through 2024 for launches starting in 2022.
