Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
OHB SE says Ariane 6 could lose German, European government and commercial launch business unless political authorities quickly approve a sharp expansion of capacity at Europe’s spaceport. The German space hardware provider argues that investment must come first if Europe is to capture growing demand and keep work within its space industry.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
Latest source-backed stories
OHB SE says Ariane 6 could lose German, European government and commercial launch business unless political authorities quickly approve a sharp expansion of capacity at Europe’s spaceport. The German space hardware provider argues that investment must come first if Europe is to capture growing demand and keep work within its space industry.
Rocket Lab launched the Japanese Earth-observing satellite on the mission “The Grain Goddess Provides,” following a five-week delay. The company had first attempted to launch the mission on June 30; the launch was documented with video and photographs.
A Redwire subsidiary focused on space biotechnology and pharmaceuticals has agreed to fly dedicated microgravity research payloads aboard SpaceX’s Starfall reentry vehicle. The mission will provide a purpose-built platform for biotech and pharmaceutical experiments in the space environment.
High activity
Recent missions deployed or advanced satellites for high-precision hyperspectral observation, synthetic-aperture radar imaging, weather monitoring and small-satellite experimentation. Launch providers included China’s Smart Dragon-3, Rocket Lab’s Electron and Alba Orbital, reflecting continued diversification in orbital access and Earth-observation capability across commercial and government programs.
Chinese commercial launch company Orienspace has begun preparations for an IPO coaching process and is closing a funding round to accelerate development of its reusable Gravity-2 rocket. The moves signal parallel efforts to strengthen the company’s capital base and advance its next-generation launch vehicle.
High activity
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said a problem with one of New Glenn’s BE-4 engines triggered the rocket’s massive May explosion. The company is investigating the failure while preparing repairs and targeting a return to flight later this year, a schedule that will depend on vehicle and pad readiness.
France’s CNES is targeting 2028 for the initial hot-fire test of a subscale prototype for a future reusable, high-thrust rocket engine. The milestone marks an early development step in Europe’s effort to advance reusable launch-vehicle propulsion technology.
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