European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
SaxaVord has abandoned plans for a shared suborbital launch rail, leaving HyImpulse to bring and operate its own launch system for the second flight of its SR75 rocket. The change adds infrastructure responsibility to HyImpulse’s launch campaign and alters the planned operating model at the spaceport.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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SaxaVord has abandoned plans for a shared suborbital launch rail, leaving HyImpulse to bring and operate its own launch system for the second flight of its SR75 rocket. The change adds infrastructure responsibility to HyImpulse’s launch campaign and alters the planned operating model at the spaceport.
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Demand for launch capacity is intensifying as SpaceX begins winding down its flagship rocket, while competitors work to increase their own flight cadence. The resulting supply crunch is making it more difficult for customers to secure rides to orbit and could sharpen competition among launch providers.
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SpaceX plans to wind down commercial Falcon 9 launches in the next few years, forcing satellite operators and launch customers to reassess access to orbit. The shift could reshape launch procurement, scheduling and competitive dynamics across the commercial space market.
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SpaceX is preparing Starship’s first orbital flight, with the Super Heavy booster at the launch pad and liftoff targeted for Sept. 28 pending FAA approval. Separately, Exolaunch and Space Cargo have contracted to fly the disk-shaped Starfall reentry capsule on commercial Starship missions in 2028 and 2029.
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Synspective successfully deployed its 12th StriX synthetic-aperture radar satellite following a Rocket Lab Electron launch, while signing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for a future H3 mission. The milestones extend the Japanese Earth-observation company’s constellation strategy and diversify its launch options beyond Electron.
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ESA has confirmed delays to Ariane 6 following a turbopump anomaly identified during ground testing. The issue is expected to constrain the launcher’s 2026 schedule, potentially allowing only one or two additional missions and reducing Europe’s near-term access to space.
Canada and France will ask their space agencies and defense departments to develop and share infrastructure, including space-launch systems, Prime Minister Mark Carney said during a visit to French territory near Newfoundland and Labrador. The initiative signals closer bilateral cooperation spanning civil space and defense capabilities.
China launched four different rockets within a 45-hour period last week, underscoring the breadth of its increasingly capable launch sector. The rapid sequence showcased the country’s expanding range of launch vehicles and its growing ability to sustain a high-tempo orbital cadence.
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