Gilmour Space Secures License for Historic Australian-Made Orbital Launch

Australian startup Gilmour Space Technologies has cleared a major hurdle for its first orbital launch after receiving a permit from the Australian Space Agency. This approval sets the stage for the maiden flight of the Eris small launch vehicle, which could take off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in northern Queensland as early as December, marking the first attempt by an Australian-made rocket to reach orbit from Australian soil.

Read more »

Rocket Lab Launches Secretive Payload For Its 12th Launch of 2024

Rocket Lab has successfully conducted its 12th launch of the year, carrying out a mysterious mission that has raised curiosity across the aerospace industry. The company, known for its innovative approach to small satellite launches, launched the mission from its private spaceport on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula, deploying a payload for an undisclosed client.

Read more »

SpaceX Gears Up for Sixth Starship Test Flight with New Reusability Goals

SpaceX has announced plans to conduct the sixth test flight of its Starship spacecraft as early as Monday, November 18. This highly anticipated mission builds on Starship's fifth flight success and will aim to push the boundaries of the vehicle’s reusability capabilities, bringing SpaceX closer to realizing a fully reusable space transportation system.

Read more »

Japan Successfully Launches Military Satellites on New H3 Rocket

Japan's space agency, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully launched its first military satellites aboard the new H3 rocket. The launch took place from the Tanegashima Space Center, marking the rocket's inaugural flight since Japan’s initial launch attempt in early 2023, which was aborted due to technical issues.

Read more »

SpaceX Scrubs Starlink Satellite Launch Due to Helium Leak

SpaceX postponed a planned launch of its Starlink satellites over the weekend after encountering an issue with one of its Falcon 9 rockets. The launch, which was set to deploy 23 Starlink satellites, was scheduled for Sunday, November 3, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. However, with just two minutes and 36 seconds remaining in the countdown, the team called a hold due to what appeared to be a helium leak.

Read more »

SpaceX Sets Record with 12 Successful Launches in October, Starship’s Fifth Test Flight and a Major NASA Mission Using Falcon Heavy

SpaceX has reached a new pinnacle in its journey to reshape space exploration, achieving a record-setting 12 successful launches in October. This ambitious month was marked by key milestones, including the second test flight of the Starship rocket system and a high-stakes, multi-billion dollar mission for NASA using the Falcon Heavy vehicle. The mission cadence, achieved with a mix of routine satellite deployments, commercial launches, and scientific missions, demonstrates SpaceX’s capacity to execute complex launches at a rate unparalleled in the space industry.

Read more »

SpaceX Prepares for CRS-2 SpX-31 Mission to Deliver Critical Science Payloads to the ISS

On November 5, 2024, SpaceX and NASA will launch the CRS-2 SpX-31 mission, the latest in SpaceX’s series of Commercial Resupply Services missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is scheduled to take place from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A at 2:29 AM UTC, using a Falcon 9 rocket and the Cargo Dragon spacecraft. This mission represents the 31st ISS resupply mission by SpaceX and underscores the company’s essential role in maintaining NASA’s research and supply efforts in low Earth orbit.

Read more »

European Commission Assemble A Team Led By Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES to build IRIS² - A Multi-Orbit Broadband Constellation

The European Commission announced it is advancing plans for the multi-orbit sovereign broadband constellation, IRIS², following a final offer from SpaceRISE, a consortium led by prominent European satellite operators SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat. The proposed contract includes the design and deployment of over 290 satellites aimed at enhancing government communications by 2030, with commercial services also anticipated.

Read more »

Chinese Startup Cosmoleap Secures Funding To Develop Rocket With "Chopstick" Recovery System

Beijing, China - Chinese aerospace startup Cosmoleap has secured a major funding round to develop a revolutionary rocket designed to feature a unique “chopstick” recovery system. This innovation in the Chinese space sector aims to make rocket launches more sustainable and cost-effective, potentially reducing dependence on traditional expendable launch methods. The funding, led by both domestic and international investors, marks a notable step in China's rapidly evolving private space industry and could give Cosmoleap an edge in a competitive global market.

Read more »

Starlink Nears Completion of Its Initial Direct-to-Cell Constellation Layer with Only Five Launches Remaining

SpaceX’s Starlink project, renowned for its ambitious goal of providing global satellite internet coverage, is now within reach of a transformative milestone: the completion of its initial Direct-to-Cell (D2C) constellation layer. This groundbreaking achievement, which will allow standard cellular phones to connect directly to Starlink satellites for voice, text, and limited data services, is now only five launches away.

Read more »

China Successfully Launches Shenzhou-19 with Three Astronauts

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) launched the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft today, carrying three astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station. The mission aims to reinforce China’s growing presence in space, support Tiangong’s scientific operations, and continue China's broader aspirations of becoming a global space power.

Read more »