Space.com
• Mike Wall
SpaceX launched its Starfall return capsule for the second time on Oct. 20, flying it as part of the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. The launch marks another flight for the capsule, though the available report provides no further details on its payload, objectives or return schedule.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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SpaceX launched its Starfall return capsule for the second time on Oct. 20, flying it as part of the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. The launch marks another flight for the capsule, though the available report provides no further details on its payload, objectives or return schedule.
Europe’s push for strategic autonomy in space is running up against fragmented programs and insufficient launch capacity. The commentary asks whether the region can turn its sovereignty ambitions into action, pointing to a gap between strategic intent and the industrial and operational capabilities needed to deliver it.
French in-orbit servicing startup Infinite Orbits has raised €52 million ($58.4 million) across two financing rounds. It also has four firm launch contracts with Impulse Space, using its orbital transfer vehicle on Falcon 9 rockets through 2029.
Spanish startup UARX Space is troubleshooting anomalies identified during the maiden flight of OSSIE-D, its orbital transfer vehicle. The vehicle launched in October; the available report does not specify the nature of the anomalies or their effect on the mission.
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Evidence points to debris found in a Minnesota cornfield coming from a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket that deorbited over the state. The recovery connects a reentering launch vehicle to material reaching the ground, though the available reporting provides no further details on the debris or its impact.
Spanish launch provider PLD Space has started system-level testing of its MIURA 5 orbital rocket, following completion of manufacturing on its first three vehicles. The campaign includes final subsystem validation and comes alongside expanded industrial capabilities as the company prepares for a first demonstration flight in 2027.
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SpaceX is set to report third-quarter results after the bell on Oct. 20, its second earnings report as a public company. Investors are focused on revenue and EBITDA, whether AI spending exceeds the $15.8 billion reported for the prior quarter, and the timing of results ahead of a major financing round.
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