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• Jeff Foust
Virgin Galactic says it will postpone the start of commercial flights on its new suborbital spaceplane until early 2027, extending the development timeline by several months. The delay pushes back the company’s planned return to revenue-generating passenger operations.
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Virgin Galactic says it will postpone the start of commercial flights on its new suborbital spaceplane until early 2027, extending the development timeline by several months. The delay pushes back the company’s planned return to revenue-generating passenger operations.
The U.S. Space Force awarded Impulse Space a $28 million SBIR Phase III contract extension for VICTUS SALO 2 and 3. The two missions will expand demonstrations of tactically responsive space operations, in-space maneuvering and space-domain awareness for military operators.
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Virgin Galactic has pushed the first commercial flight of its next-generation Delta-class SpaceShip to February 2027, while raising seat prices and reporting that $750,000 expedition tranches sold out early. The company is also asking the public to help name the vehicle ahead of its christening.
AST SpaceMobile says it expects to expand its low Earth orbit constellation from 13 to 45 satellites by early next year, supporting beta direct-to-device service in the U.S. this year with roughly half-day coverage. Continuous service is targeted for 2027, with 10 missions booked across two launch providers.
Dozens of airports have land, runways and remote buffer zones that could be repurposed as spaceports, according to the proposal. The FAA is seeking to speed those conversions by waiving requirements under 13 environmental laws, potentially reducing regulatory barriers to new launch sites.
Satellite geospatial imagery provider Satellogic reported its first quarter with positive operating income and adjusted EBITDA, describing the result as confirmation of its turnaround year. The company said it expects the improved performance to continue through the remainder of the year and into 2027.
Chinese reusable launch-vehicle developer iSpace has secured the first batch of its Series E financing, months after closing a substantial D++ round. The company is continuing to raise capital, underscoring its ongoing funding needs as it advances its reusable-rocketry ambitions.
Firefly Aerospace reported its first quarterly revenue above $100 million, attributing the record result to a new slate of launch and defense announcements. The milestone marks a significant commercial expansion for the space company as it broadens activity across civil and national-security markets.
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