Small launch vehicles
Small launch vehicle industry growth slows
The growth of the small launch vehicle industry is slowing, with fewer new vehicles entering the market and more vehicles going defunct, as demand for such vehicles lags expectations.
Astra cancels Rocket 3 to focus on larger vehicle
Astra Space announced Aug. 4 it is canceling its existing small launch vehicle after its most recent failure and will focus instead on a much larger vehicle that may not be ready to fly customers until 2024.
Firefly gears up for second Alpha launch
Firefly Aerospace is preparing for the second launch of its Alpha rocket in late August or early September, hoping that a successful mission can enable a “step change” in activity for the company.
Xenesis signs launch pact with Evolution Space
SAN FRANCISCO – Launch startup Evolution Space signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a small satellite constellation for optical communications startup Xenesis.
Under the $120 million deal signed in May, Evolution will conduct fi…
Lawmakers seek another big increase for DoD ‘responsive launch’
A bipartisan group of House members is proposing to increase funding for tactically responsive launch to $150 million in 2023
Launcher wins Space Force contract to support engine development
Launcher won a $1.7 million contract from the U.S. Space Force that will assist the company’s development of a high-performance rocket engine for its small launch vehicle.
ABL Space Systems completes acceptance testing of RS1 upper stage
ABL Space Systems has completed testing of the second stage of its small launch vehicle, four months after a previous version of the stage was destroyed in a test accident.
Astra reveals details of next, larger rocket
Astra disclosed details about its new launch vehicle that will be capable of carrying heavier payloads and flying more frequently.
Astra’s Rocket 3.3 returns to flight with successful launch
Astra successfully returned its Rocket 3.3 vehicle to flight March 15, placing several payloads into low Earth orbit.
Astra gears up for next launch, signs Spaceflight contract
Astra Space says it will attempt its next Rocket 3.3 launch as soon as March 14 as the first flight in a multi-launch contract with Spaceflight.
Astra blames launch failure on wiring error and software flaw
Astra Space said March 7 it identified two problems that led to the failure of a launch last month as the company gears up for a new launch that may be imminent.
Astra launch of NASA-sponsored cubesats fails
The first operational launch of Astra’s Rocket 3.3 vehicle failed Feb. 10 when the rocket’s upper stage appeared to tumble out of control after stage separation.
Astra aborts launch attempt
Astra Space aborted and then scrubbed a launch of its Rocket 3.3 small launch vehicle Feb. 7 seconds before liftoff.
Astra finalizes plans for first Florida launch
Astra Space will launch four NASA-sponsored cubesats on its Rocket 3.3 vehicle as soon as Feb. 5 on a mission that will be the first to use a streamlined set of commercial launch regulations.
ABL Space Systems test accident to delay first launch by three months
ABL Space Systems says a test incident that destroyed the upper stage of its RS1 rocket last week will delay that vehicle’s first flight by three months as it identifies and corrects the failure’s root cause.
Isar Aerospace wins 10 million euro European Commission launch competition
Isar Aerospace won 10 million euros in a European Union prize competition, the latest sign of the E.U.’s growing role in supporting Europe’s launch industry.
Foust Forward | Small launchers on the bubble
Each year for the last several years, industry officials warned that this would be the year the small launch vehicle bubble bursts. But that bubble has not only failed to burst, it’s gotten larger.
ABL Space Systems rocket stage destroyed in test accident
ABL Space Systems said the second stage of the small launch vehicle they are developing was destroyed in an accident during testing Jan. 19.
Virgin Orbit launches seven cubesats on third operational mission
Virgin Orbit placed seven cubesats for three customers into orbit Jan. 13 on the third consecutive successful operational flight of its LauncherOne air-launch system.
Astra to perform next launch from Cape Canaveral
Small launch vehicle developer Astra Space announced Dec. 6 that it will conduct its next launch from a pad at Cape Canaveral in January, carrying a set of cubesats for NASA.
