FlightGlobal
• David Kaminski-Morrow
Virgin Galactic has transported the first of its new-generation, six-passenger Delta-class spaceplanes to its New Mexico operations base, where it will undergo flight testing. The company intends to begin commercial service in the second quarter of 2027 and has revealed the vehicle’s livery.
Commercial Space
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Virgin Galactic has transported the first of its new-generation, six-passenger Delta-class spaceplanes to its New Mexico operations base, where it will undergo flight testing. The company intends to begin commercial service in the second quarter of 2027 and has revealed the vehicle’s livery.
SpaceX sent 27 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from California just after midnight on Oct. 31. The launch adds another batch to the constellation, extending the company’s ongoing deployment of its satellite internet network.
NASA issued a Request for Information on Oct. 29 to assess industry capabilities for in-space servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope. The inquiry signals an exploration of commercial options, but the available information does not specify a mission, procurement timeline or selected provider.
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NASA is seeking ideas for commercial missions to reboost or service the Hubble Space Telescope, reviving an effort more than two years after it rejected similar concepts. The agency’s renewed solicitation puts private providers back in consideration for extending the observatory’s operational life.
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SpaceX completed all engine testing for Starship Flight 15 within eight days, including three static fires in three days, while also conducting cryogenic proof and catch testing for Flight 16. The company lifted top-deck deluge plates onto Pad 1’s launch mount, marking an unusually busy stretch for the program.
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Boom’s planned supersonic airliner may be delayed as the company pivots toward supplying power for AI data centers, according to the report. That business has also lost a customer, raising questions about the near-term prospects of both initiatives.
K2 Space is positioning its satellite manufacturing business to address growing demand for high-powered spacecraft as communications and computing increasingly move into orbit. The company’s CEO outlined an expansive growth plan, though the available report provides no specific production targets, investment figures or customer commitments.
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MDA Space won an initial antenna contract for 66 IRIS² satellites Thales Alenia Space aims to deliver in 2029, as Eutelsat forecasts $11 billion in IRIS² revenue for 2032–40 and OneWeb approaches EBITDA break-even. Telesat, meanwhile, pushed global Lightspeed service back three months to mid-2028 amid falling revenue and looming debt maturities.
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