Small launch vehicles
Small geostationary satellites, lunar orbit are part of evolving launch market
The launch vehicle market is changing rapidly as satellites of various sizes seek transportation to both traditional and nontraditional orbits.
Relativity Space raises $140 million
Small launch vehicle company Relativity Space announced Oct. 1 it has raised a new round of $140 million, a sign of investor confidence despite strong competition and setbacks suffered by other vehicle developers.
Smallsat launch services feel pricing pressure
Companies that provide both dedicated and rideshare launch services for small satellites say that price remains a major factor for their customers, with pressure from growing competition to lower them.
Vector replaces CEO, suspends operations amid financial problems
Small launch vehicle company Vector has replaced its founding chief executive and disclosed that financial difficulties have forced the company to suspend its operations.
Orbex wins launch contract from In-Space Missions
Orbex, a United Kingdom-based small launch vehicle developer, announced Aug. 7 that another British company, In-Space Missions, awarded it a contract for the launch of a small satellite.
Spaceflight purchases first commercial flight of new Indian small launcher
Spaceflight announced Aug. 6 that it will purchase the first commercial launch a new Indian vehicle scheduled to make its debut later this year.
Investors don’t see Virgin Galactic deal as model for space industry
Virgin Galactic’s merger with a publicly-traded investment company is likely a one-off event based on the company and people involved, and not a sign of more fundamental changes in the industry, investors argue.
Small launch vehicle companies seek improvements in government contracting
As Rocket Lab prepares the next launch of its Electron rocket, it and other small launch vehicle developers say the U.S. government can be a better, and smarter, customer for their services.
Former Blue Origin and SNC executive joins Vector
Small launch vehicle Vector has hired a new chief financial officer who previously held similar positions at Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada Corporation.
Relativity to build rocket factory at Stennis
Small launch vehicle developer Relativity announced June 11 it will establish a production facility for its Terran 1 rocket at NASA’s Stennis Space Center.
U.S. launch companies not worried about Chinese competition
Despite a surge in Chinese launch activity and growth of commercial Chinese launch developers, executives with American companies said they’re not worried about potential competition with them.
Commercial, not government, demand will drive size of small launch vehicle market
Startups in the burgeoning small launch vehicle market acknowledge that only a handful of vehicles will survive a likely shakeout, driven more by commercial rather than government demand.
Investors seek disruptive space startups in an overcrowded market
Space startups seeking funding should stay away from increasingly overcrowded parts of the market and instead seek more novel approaches that could offer much bigger returns.
Exolaunch and Virgin Orbit sign memorandum of understanding
German launch services provider Exolaunch announced a memorandum of understanding April 11 with Virgin Orbit to send satellites into space as early as 2020 on LauncherOne dedicated and rideshare missions.
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.
Relativity signs contract with Telesat for launching LEO constellation
Small launch vehicle developer Relativity announced April 5 a contract with Telesat to launch a portion of that company’s low Earth orbit broadband satellite constellation.
