Space.com
• Elizabeth Howell, Tariq Malik
On Nov. 9, 1967, NASA launched a Saturn V rocket for the first time, sending the uncrewed Apollo 4 mission into space. The flight marked the debut of the launch vehicle that would carry astronauts on later Apollo missions.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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On Nov. 9, 1967, NASA launched a Saturn V rocket for the first time, sending the uncrewed Apollo 4 mission into space. The flight marked the debut of the launch vehicle that would carry astronauts on later Apollo missions.
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Blue Origin has shifted New Glenn’s planned return to flight from December 2026 to January 2027 while rebuilding Launch Complex 36 after a ground-testing accident. Separately, Boeing has moved NASA’s Artemis III core stage into Kennedy Space Center’s High Bay 3 for final stacking, integration and testing ahead of the mission’s planned 2027 launch.
Rocket propulsion designers have long faced a trade-off between solid and liquid fuels. The reported use of a common food emulsifier could offer a way to address that challenge, although the available article summary does not specify the fuel formulation, performance gains or development stage.
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The Pentagon conditionally committed a $150 million loan to expand Rocket Lab’s Neutron production and launch capacity, as the company also reported more than $515 million in launch contracts. Separately, the USAF awarded Electra $4.7 million for EL9 acoustic testing, while France contracted Airbus and Thales to develop two IRIS reconnaissance satellites.
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The UK Government has completed a £30 million investment in SaxaVord Spaceport, securing an ownership stake of more than 25%. The transaction gives the government a significant equity position in a UK spaceport, though the announcement provides no further details on governance or how the funds will be used.
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Planet has booked multiple launches with Stoke Space on the company’s reusable Nova rocket, adding a new provider as it seeks faster, more responsive access to orbit for its imaging spacecraft. Separately, Stoke has secured access to land north of its Cape Canaveral complex for studies tied to a proposed expansion.
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