NASA Spaceflight
• Chris Bergin, Martijn Luinstra
Relativity Space has begun integrating engines with the first-stage thrust structure of its reusable Terran R launch vehicle, marking a further development milestone for the company’s next-generation rocket as it advances the vehicle toward flight readiness.
Commercial Space
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Relativity Space has begun integrating engines with the first-stage thrust structure of its reusable Terran R launch vehicle, marking a further development milestone for the company’s next-generation rocket as it advances the vehicle toward flight readiness.
SpaceX plans to build factories on the Moon, with robots handling much of the heavy lifting, Elon Musk said during the company’s first-ever quarterly earnings call on Aug. 4. The comments outline a longer-term lunar industrialization concept, but provide no further detail on timing, scope or execution.
SpaceX’s Starship is likely to be lost at sea roughly two weeks after its 13th test flight, according to Elon Musk. Despite the expected loss, teams obtained close-up images of critical heat-shield and engine regions that could inform future vehicle upgrades.
The private LINK spacecraft, launched last month on a mission to save a NASA space telescope, has itself encountered trouble. Engineering teams report progress as they work to recover the spacecraft, adding a second layer of operational risk to an already complex in-space rescue effort.
Chinese commercial launch company Landspace is preparing for its second attempt to catch an orbital rocket, with liftoff and the recovery maneuver targeted for Aug. 10. The test will put both the company’s launch architecture and its recovery approach under scrutiny.
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SpaceX shares advanced for a second consecutive day and nearly reclaimed their $135 IPO price after insider lock-up provisions expired. The rally followed a first public earnings report showing 92% year-over-year Q2 revenue growth and strong Starlink and AI momentum, despite substantial cash demands.
Redwire subsidiary SpaceMD will fly up to 32 mini-labs aboard a future SpaceX Starfall mission, marking the reentry vehicle’s first dedicated mission. The agreement expands Redwire’s role in commercial microgravity research and establishes an initial payload commitment for Starfall’s planned operations.
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The European Commission has agreed with an industrial consortium to expand and accelerate IRIS², its sovereign secure-connectivity constellation, with first launches targeted for 2029. Indra’s Hispasat will lead a services contract worth more than €1.6 billion, while total program investment is expected to exceed $18 billion.
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