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• Jeff Foust
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.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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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 rolled a Super Heavy booster to the Starbase launch pad ahead of Starship’s first planned orbital flight, targeted for Sept. 28 pending FAA approval. Separately, European integrators Exolaunch and Space Cargo signed contracts for Starfall commercial in-orbit manufacturing 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.
MIT PhD candidate Lanie McKinney is developing technology to convert chemicals in the Martian atmosphere into rocket propellant, potentially enabling astronauts to produce the resources needed for their return journey on Mars rather than transporting all return propellant from Earth.
Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on Sept. 18, marking the fifth Electron mission in roughly six weeks. The flight underscores the company’s accelerating launch cadence as it supports commercial Earth-observation customers with dedicated small-launch services.
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