Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline

During a Nov. 21, 2025 pressure proof test at Starbase, SpaceX’s first Version 3 Super Heavy booster (B18) suffered a visible detonation; there were no injuries. The anomaly will delay rollout of Starship v3 upgrades and compress the program’s planned launch cadence and testing schedule.

2025-11-21T04:25:09.639866-08:00

NASA

Orion stacked on SLS as NASA completes major Artemis II integration milestone ahead of early‑2026 crewed flight

2025-11-20T09:32:06.016805-08:00

Reuters

Blue Origin unveils New Glenn upgrades, including '9x4' super‑heavy variant to lift ~50% more to LEO

2025-11-20T09:00:43.070535-08:00

SpaceNews.com

DARPA awards Redwire $44M Phase‑2 contract to advance Otter air‑breathing VLEO demonstrator

2025-11-19T06:28:07.165881-08:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Space Intel Report

Canada commits C$130M in defence budget to develop sovereign orbital-launch capability Ottawa has allocated an initial C$130 million in the defence budget to develop a sovereign orbital-launch capability, with the Department of National Defence calling the program 'a strategic enabler' for national security. The funding signals government intent to secure independent access to space for military and dual-use missions.

2025-11-21T10:42:38.489175-08:00

Canada commits C$130M in defence budget to develop sovereign orbital-launch capability

SpaceNews.com

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ESA selects Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium for €600M Argonaut lunar lander ESA selected a Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium to build Argonaut, a €600 million uncrewed lunar cargo lander to secure Europe’s autonomous access to the Moon. Contracts assign system integration, propulsion, GNC and data handling for a vehicle of roughly 10 tonnes and 6 m, applying lessons from past crashes.

2025-11-21T09:09:12.318971-08:00

ESA selects Thales Alenia Space‑led all‑European consortium for €600M Argonaut lunar lander

Ars Technica

FAA lifts daytime launch curfew as SpaceX next‑gen booster fails; Pegasus to resume flights With the government shutdown over, the FAA has lifted its temporary daytime launch curfew, restoring daylight launch windows for commercial providers. The change comes as SpaceX’s next‑generation booster failed in a recent test and the Pegasus rocket is set to resume flights.

2025-11-21T05:45:56.858165-08:00

FAA lifts daytime launch curfew as SpaceX next‑gen booster fails; Pegasus to resume flights

Ars Technica

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SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline During a Nov. 21, 2025 pressure proof test at Starbase, SpaceX’s first Version 3 Super Heavy booster (B18) suffered a visible detonation; there were no injuries. The anomaly will delay rollout of Starship v3 upgrades and compress the program’s planned launch cadence and testing schedule.

2025-11-21T04:25:09.639866-08:00

SpaceX Starship V3 Super Heavy booster B18 explodes during pressure test at Starbase, delaying upgrade timeline

Space.com

Why Blue Origin’s New Glenn booster returned “lightly used” — it all comes down to the fuel Blue Origin says the New Glenn booster that landed after its recent flight came back “lightly used” because fuel management — tank pressurization, residual propellant and burn profiles — kept thermal and aerodynamic loads low. That condition reduces refurbishment scope and informs the company’s reuse and cadence planning.

2025-11-20T15:09:28.873398-08:00

Why Blue Origin’s New Glenn booster returned “lightly used” — it all comes down to the fuel

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX completes 100th Space Coast orbital launch of 2025 as Falcon 9 logs 149th flight On Nov. 20, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Florida's Space Coast — the vehicle's 149th flight of 2025 — marking the 100th orbital launch from Cape Canaveral/Kennedy this year. The mission, Starlink 6‑78, continues the company's high‑cadence Starlink constellation buildout and underscores sustained operational tempo.

2025-11-20T14:45:43.342523-08:00

SpaceX completes 100th Space Coast orbital launch of 2025 as Falcon 9 logs 149th flight

SpaceQ

T‑Minus Engineering launches Barracuda hypersonic suborbital rocket from Spaceport Nova Scotia T‑Minus Engineering's Barracuda hypersonic suborbital rocket lifted off from Spaceport Nova Scotia at 10:54 a.m. this morning, conducting a dedicated hypersonic suborbital flight test from the eastern Canadian launch site. The mission advances flight‑test activity for the Barracuda program and the nascent Nova Scotia spaceport.

2025-11-20T10:07:43.424815-08:00

T‑Minus Engineering launches Barracuda hypersonic suborbital rocket from Spaceport Nova Scotia

NASA

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Orion stacked on SLS as NASA completes major Artemis II integration milestone ahead of early‑2026 crewed flight NASA stacked the Orion crew module atop the Space Launch System and used Exploration Ground Systems cranes to secure it, completing a major integration milestone. The assembly advances Artemis II toward a crewed flight targeted for early 2026, no later than April.

2025-11-20T09:32:06.016805-08:00

Orion stacked on SLS as NASA completes major Artemis II integration milestone ahead of early‑2026 crewed flight

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