European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
ESA has confirmed that the proposed Ariane 6 Block 3 evolution, including the lightweight ICARUS upper stage, has been shelved. The decision removes a planned pathway for upgrading Europe’s heavy-lift launcher, with implications for future Ariane 6 performance and development priorities.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
Latest source-backed stories
Phantom Space has named Worth Wray chief operating officer, assigning him responsibility for day-to-day operations, efficiency, capital formation and business-process expansion. The appointment comes as the company works to increase production and establish a more consistent launch cadence.
Rocket Lab announced an agreement on June 29 to acquire Iridium, a move that would significantly broaden the launch company’s position in the satellite sector. Analysts are assessing how the transaction could accelerate Rocket Lab’s strategy to build a next-generation space company.
SpaceX is likely to attempt the first catch of a Starship upper stage using the launch tower within the next few months, CEO Elon Musk said. Musk previously identified late August as a potential window for the milestone, which would advance the company’s reusability ambitions for its next-generation launch system.
High activity
ESA has confirmed that the proposed Ariane 6 Block 3 evolution, including the lightweight ICARUS upper stage, has been shelved. The decision removes a planned pathway for upgrading Europe’s heavy-lift launcher, with implications for future Ariane 6 performance and development priorities.
High activity
Portal Space Systems has secured a Falcon 9 launch for its first Supernova spacecraft and plans to use roughly half the fairing for the mission, selling the remaining capacity through Maverick Space Systems. The company is also preparing its first Starburst satellite for a milestone launch from Florida.
SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets from Florida and California on Aug. 15, delivering payloads for Globalstar and the U.S. Space Force just 38.5 minutes apart. The milestone comes as SpaceX prepares its 75th Starlink mission of 2026, underscoring the company’s high-tempo launch operations.
Rocket Lab is preparing to launch a Japanese QPS-SAR Earth-imaging satellite for iQPS on its Electron rocket, with the launch window opening Thursday. The mission is the ninth Electron flight for the private Japanese company, which is expanding its satellite constellation for Earth observation.
High activity
Stoke Space has completed first-stage engines and conducted second-stage fit checks for Nova, its fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle. The milestones, including vehicle mating, mark further progress toward the startup’s potential 2026 maiden launch as attention remains focused on SpaceX’s Starship program.
Create a free account to see more recent Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
