SpaceNews.com
• Andrew Parsonson
SpaceForest completed the fourth launch of its PERUN suborbital rocket, describing the flight as the vehicle’s most successful test to date. The launch marks another test milestone for the Polish rocket builder’s suborbital program; the available report provides no further flight results or schedule details.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
Latest source-backed stories
SpaceForest completed the fourth launch of its PERUN suborbital rocket, describing the flight as the vehicle’s most successful test to date. The launch marks another test milestone for the Polish rocket builder’s suborbital program; the available report provides no further flight results or schedule details.
Amazon Leo says it remains on track to begin initial broadband service this year, with its first launch on ULA’s Vulcan and its third flight on Europe’s Ariane 6 in the 64-booster configuration expected “in the coming weeks.” The missions are part of the constellation’s deployment sequence.
High activity
SpaceX has sent Ship 42, assigned to Flight 15, back to Massey’s for additional cryogenic proof testing as it accelerates vehicle production. Ship 40, used on Flight 13, has returned to Texas after 75 days at sea and is expected to go back to the production site.
Small-satellite operators targeting a 2029 launch may already be struggling to secure a ride, while the lowest-cost rideshare option is no longer accepting bookings. The shift puts renewed focus on whether dedicated small-launch providers can attract anchor customers and establish viable demand.
A speaker quoted in a Rocket Report says they are “weeks away” from launching on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket. The article’s headline also notes a rare Falcon 9 scrub, but the available summary provides no launch date, payload or further details about the Vulcan mission.
Day two of Germany’s ND conference focused on dual-use systems, launch, the IRIS² satellite network and intelligence needs. An industry panel identified security clearances as the central constraint on progress, shifting attention from satellite availability to the ability to access and use space capabilities.
At a summit in Berlin, the UK and Germany agreed to expand space cooperation, including work on launch, assured access to space and defense. They identified Scotland’s SaxaVord Spaceport as a focal point and are targeting a memorandum of understanding in early 2027.
A European Space Agency study presented at the IAC26 finds that developing a reusable, two-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle is technically and financially feasible for Europe. The proposal encompasses two configurations, putting European launch capability and the investment required to build it on the conference agenda.
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