SpaceX conducted its sixth test flight of the Starship mega-rocket on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, continuing its ambitious efforts to create a fully reusable launch system designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. While the 36-story rocket system successfully launched, plans to catch the Super Heavy booster with the company’s unique "chopstick" arms were abandoned mid-mission due to technical concerns. Despite the setback, the flight achieved critical objectives and provided valuable insights into the performance of both stages of the Starship system.

China launched the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft on Friday night, delivering vital supplies to the orbiting Tiangong space station, the China Manned Space Agency announced. The mission was a resounding success, marking another milestone in the nation’s expanding space ambitions.The Long March-7 rocket carrying Tianzhou-8 lifted off at 11:13 p.m. Beijing Time from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province. Approximately 10 minutes later, Tianzhou-8 separated from the rocket, deployed its solar panels, and entered its designated orbit. The craft is expected to autonomously dock with the space station’s Tianhe core module within three hours of the launch.

Impulse Space has signed a contract with SpaceX for three Falcon 9 launches, beginning in 2026, to deploy its Helios transfer vehicle. The company, which announced the deal on Nov. 14, aims to showcase Helios' ability to quickly and efficiently transport payloads between orbits, including for the U.S. Space Force.

Rocket Lab has been awarded an $8 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to enhance digital engineering processes for its Archimedes rocket engine, the company announced on Nov. 12. Archimedes, a liquid oxygen and methane-fueled engine, is set to power both stages of Rocket Lab’s upcoming Neutron rocket, a medium-lift, reusable vehicle expected to debut in 2025.

Firefly Aerospace has secured $175 million in a Series D funding round to ramp up production of its launch vehicles and spacecraft, with a particular focus on responsive space capabilities. Announced on Nov. 12, the oversubscribed round was led by new investor RPM Ventures, pushing Firefly’s valuation to over $2 billion, up from the $1.5 billion valuation it held after closing its Series C round in November 2023.

Rocket Lab announced on Nov. 12 that it has signed its first customer for the Neutron launch vehicle, securing a contract with an unnamed “commercial satellite constellation operator” for two launches. The first Neutron launch for this customer is set for mid-2026, with a second scheduled for 2027. The contract also includes the potential for additional launches to support the customer’s full constellation deployment.

In a remarkable doubleheader, SpaceX successfully launched two Starlink missions from opposite coasts of the United States within hours, advancing its ambitious plan to expand global internet coverage via its satellite mega-constellation.

In recent years, the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s ambitious yet controversial heavy-lift rocket program, has faced significant challenges in cost, delays, and competition from commercial players like SpaceX. Now, speculation is brewing that the Trump administration could consider canceling the SLS project entirely, favoring private-sector alternatives or redirecting funds toward more pressing national and space exploration goals.

Pasadena, California — In a second significant workforce reduction within a year, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will lay off 325 employees this week, accounting for approximately 5% of its workforce. According to Eric berger of Arstechnica.com, the cuts, announced by JPL Director Laurie Leshin, come as the California-based laboratory faces financial pressures and shifting priorities within NASA's deep-space exploration agenda. JPL, renowned for leading the development of robotic space missions, is left with about 5,500 employees following this layoff round.

SpaceX is preparing for its sixth test flight of the Starship-Super Heavy system, with the launch scheduled from its Texas Starbase site. This mission, known as Starship Integrated Flight Test 6 (IFT-6), marks a continuation of SpaceX's efforts to develop the world’s first fully reusable space vehicle. Following the successes and lessons from previous missions—especially Flight 5—SpaceX aims to further validate the vehicle’s orbital and recovery systems while pushing Starship closer to becoming a reliable platform for crewed missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

In a significant step for China's commercial space industry, a Chinese commercial rocket launched 15 satellites into orbit late Sunday, including CAS Space’s first-ever international payload. The Lijian-1 (also known as Kinetica-1) solid rocket lifted off at 11:03 p.m. Eastern on November 10 (0403 UTC, Nov. 11) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

SpaceX has successfully launched the KoreanSat-6A (KOREASAT-6A), a cutting-edge telecommunications satellite, into orbit from its Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission, executed with precision by a Falcon 9 rocket, marks another milestone in SpaceX's efforts to provide reliable satellite deployment services and enhance global telecommunications infrastructure.