rideshare

SpaceX launches Transporter-5 dedicated smallsat rideshare mission
SpaceX launched several dozen payloads on its fifth dedicated rideshare mission May 25, illustrating the continued demand for such missions even as dedicated small launch vehicles emerge.

SpaceX launches fourth dedicated rideshare mission
SpaceX launched the fourth in its series of dedicated rideshare missions April 1, placing one relatively large satellite and dozens of smallsats into low Earth orbit.

Blaming inflation, SpaceX raises Starlink and launch prices
SpaceX has raised prices for both its Starlink broadband service and for dedicated and rideshare launches, in some cases by up to 20%, citing inflation.

SpaceX severs ties with longtime partner Spaceflight Inc.
SpaceX is severing ties with launch integrator Spaceflight Inc. after years of working closely together, a move that has surprised Spaceflight.

Launcher buys additional SpaceX rideshare missions
Launcher has purchased slots on three more SpaceX rideshare missions for its Orbiter tug as it continues development of a small launch vehicle.

SpaceX launches third dedicated smallsat rideshare mission
A SpaceX Falcon 9 placed more than 100 smallsats into orbit Jan. 13 as the company accelerates the pace of its dedicated rideshare missions.

Propellant leak forces Sherpa tug off SpaceX rideshare mission
A Sherpa tug has been removed from an upcoming SpaceX rideshare mission after its propulsion system developed a leak, forcing Spaceflight to find new rides for 10 cubesats.


Spaceflight offers lunar flyby rideshare mission
Launch services provider Spaceflight sees a lunar flyby mission opportunity next year as a pathfinder for future opportunities to support customers going to both geostationary orbit and the moon.

Space Force developing “freight train to space” for smallsats
The U.S. Space Force plans to demonstrate later this year two approaches to provide rides to space for small satellites and hosted payloads, including a version of a common adapter equipped with a propulsion system.

SpaceX launches second dedicated rideshare mission
SpaceX launched 88 satellites on a Falcon 9 June 30 on the company’s second dedicated smallsat rideshare mission.

Launcher to develop orbital transfer vehicle
Small launch vehicle company Launcher announced June 15 that it is also working on an orbital transfer vehicle for small satellites that it plans to use on both its own rocket as well as SpaceX’s Falcon 9.


Arianespace offers free launch to deserving cubesat
The winner of the "Destination: A Better Life on Earth" competition will win integration and launch services aboard a future Arianespace rideshare mission offering one of the two new services.

NASA looking for earlier launch of lunar orbiter smallsat mission
NASA is looking at options to move up the launch of a small lunar orbiter mission, illustrating the challenges the agency faces as it seeks to make greater use of rideshare launch opportunities.

Soyuz launch marks first full-commercial mission of Russia’s GK Launch Services
A Soyuz rocket launched 38 satellites from 18 countries on Monday, including South Korea’s CAS500-1 remote sensing satellite, in the first all-commercial rideshare mission GK Launch Services has arranged without a Russian government satellite onboard.

Strong interest for SpaceX smallsat rideshare launch services
SpaceX is seeing strong demand for its dedicated smallsat rideshare missions, a program that is putting pricing pressure on small launch vehicle developers.

SpaceX’s rideshare carried small satellite technology of interest to U.S. military
Among the 143 satellites on Transporter-1 were technology demonstrations and payloads of interest to the U.S. military, including satellite components, in-space laser communications and remote sensing.

SpaceX launches record-setting cluster of smallsats
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 143 small satellites for a wide range of customers Jan. 24 on the company's first dedicated rideshare mission, a service that poses a competitive threat to emerging small launch vehicles.

SpaceX’s record-setting rideshare mission a challenge for space traffic control
SpaceX's Transporter-1, a rideshare mission scheduled to launch Jan. 23 could set a new record for the most satellites ever launched in a single flight.