Reusability
Rocket Lab tests Electron stage recovery
Rocket Lab announced April 8 it had successfully tested its ability to catch a falling Electron rocket stage in mid-air, a key step in the company’s efforts to recover and reuse the stage.
PLD Space books first suborbital flight, nears resolution of engine setback
Spanish launch startup PLD Space says secured a second customer for the maiden flight of its Miura 1 reusable suborbital rocket while tackling development issues that prevented the mission from occurring last year.
Rocket Lab kicks off busy year with NRO launch
Rocket Lab successfully launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office Jan. 30 in the first of up to a dozen launches planned by the company this year.
Firefly partners with Aerojet Rocketdyne, mulls AR1 engine for Beta launch vehicle
Firefly Aerospace on Oct. 18 said it is collaborating with Aerojet Rocketdyne to increase the performance of its upcoming Alpha launch vehicle, and is considering Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR1 engine for a future launch vehicle.
Germany begins reusability study to capture rockets in midair and land them with a plane
The Germany space agency DLR is beginning a study this month on a reusable launcher concept that would use a winged first-stage booster captured on descent by an aircraft and towed back to land.
Op-ed | Reuse and sustainability in deep space exploration
Recent SpaceX and Blue Origin booster landings have reignited hopes that reusability can change the economics of space activity simply by switching from expendable to reusable launch vehicles.
PLD Space raises additional $10 million for reusable smallsat launchers
Spanish startup PLD Space raised 9 million euros ($10.6 million) last month from public and private investors to develop a pair of reusable launch vehicles.
SpaceX achievements generate growing interest in reusable launchers
As SpaceX launched another Falcon 9 with a previously-flown first stage May 22, both the company and its competitors are seeing a growing acceptance of reusable vehicles in the overall market.
Blue Origin signs Sky Perfect JSAT as fourth New Glenn launch customer
Blue Origin has added a fourth customer to its launch manifest for the still-in-development New Glenn rocket.
Don’t expect deep discounts on preflown SpaceX boosters
SpaceX intends to decrease launch costs over time but it will not offer deep discounts on preflown boosters while it strives to recover its investment in the technology, including ships, it relies on to make rockets reusable.
Spain’s PLD Space receives $2.4 million grant for smallsat launchers
Spanish rocket startup PLD Space received 2 million euros ($2.4 million) from a European Commission grant program to further the development of a pair of launchers designed for small satellites.
France, Germany studying reusability with a subscale flyback booster
A newer effort dubbed Callisto could test a European ability to launch, return and refly a rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in South America.
NASA leaning towards allowing reused Falcon booster on next Dragon mission
NASA may decide to allow SpaceX to use a previously-flown Falcon 9 first stage on the next Dragon mission to the International Space Station, the latest sign that SpaceX’s reusability efforts are winning broader acceptance in the market.
SpaceX launches third pre-flown rocket with EchoStar-SES satellite, lands booster
SpaceX completed its third launch with a previously used first stage booster Oct. 11, carrying a geostationary satellite for customers EchoStar and SES.
Ariane 6 could use reusable Prometheus engine, designer says
Europe’s upcoming Ariane 6 rocket, though designed to be expendable, could one day sport a reusable engine, according to Patrick Bonguet, head of the Ariane 6 program at ArianeGroup.
SpaceX’s final Falcon 9 design coming this year, two Falcon Heavy launches next year
SpaceX intends to launch a final upgrade to the Falcon 9 rocket, known as the Block 5, later this year, and has three Falcon Heavy launches planned for the next 17 months.
