Space.com
• Hanneke Weitering, Tariq Malik
NASA launched the first test flight of its Saturn I rocket on Oct. 27, 1961. The successful flight marked an early milestone in the development of the launch vehicles that would ultimately enable the United States’ crewed lunar program, including the Saturn V.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
NASA launched the first test flight of its Saturn I rocket on Oct. 27, 1961. The successful flight marked an early milestone in the development of the launch vehicles that would ultimately enable the United States’ crewed lunar program, including the Saturn V.
Bernstein projects SpaceX will generate $424 billion in revenue in 2028, below the company’s own growth ambitions, while an analyst sees 82% upside for its stock without a Tesla merger. Separate coverage examines SpaceX’s exposure to Anthropic and how possible future S&P 500 inclusion could affect index investors.
A Falcon 9 lifted off from California overnight on Oct. 27, carrying 27 additional Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. The launch adds another batch to SpaceX’s constellation, extending its deployment cadence through a mission launched in the early morning hours.
Cowboy Space has revealed Big Iron, a launch vehicle whose upper stage is designed to remain in orbit and operate as a megawatt-class data center. The concept links launch vehicle architecture with orbital computing infrastructure, making the vehicle’s upper stage part of its intended on-orbit mission.
The Pentagon has conditionally committed $150 million in financing to Stoke Space to build a second launchpad at Cape Canaveral. The commitment links federal support to the startup’s launch-infrastructure expansion, though the announcement provides no further details on the conditions or project timeline.
SpaceX has begun preparations for Starship’s fifteenth test flight, targeted for early November pending FAA authorization, after a Super Heavy booster static-fire test. Separately, three Falcon 9 missions are scheduled to carry Starlink satellites and a classified U.S. Space Force payload, alongside a GSLV launch from India.
Astranis says its fourth launch contract with SpaceX has been upgraded to a dedicated Falcon 9 mission in 2028. The flight is set to carry all satellites in the company’s Block 4 production run, replacing the prior launch arrangement with a mission reserved for the group of MicroGEO spacecraft.
High activity
As SpaceX prepares for Starship Flight 15 in November, the company completed a static-fire test at Starbase on Sunday and is seeking to fly Flight 16 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A as soon as possible. The effort also includes a possible expansion at Roberts Road.
Create a free account to see more recent Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
