SpaceNews.com
• Andrew Jones
A new group of Chinese commercial launch companies is pursuing electric-pump-fed liquid engines, signaling an emerging propulsion trend in the country’s private space sector. The effort could broaden the technology base available to Chinese launch providers as they develop competing commercial space transportation systems.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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A new group of Chinese commercial launch companies is pursuing electric-pump-fed liquid engines, signaling an emerging propulsion trend in the country’s private space sector. The effort could broaden the technology base available to Chinese launch providers as they develop competing commercial space transportation systems.
France’s CNES has published a call for proposals to replace ageing launch-tracking equipment at the Guiana Space Centre with three automated optical tracking turrets. The upgrade is intended to modernize optical monitoring capabilities supporting rocket launches from Europe’s primary spaceport.
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The U.S. Space Force and Defense Innovation Unit are pursuing commercial capabilities for geosynchronous-orbit monitoring, maneuverable satellite communications, and low-cost intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones. In parallel, DARPA is planning a larger-payload drone competition, while Mission Delta 2 develops software to accelerate tracking across all orbital regimes.
Meridian Space is separating from kinetic launch technology developer SpinLaunch to independently pursue flat, reflect-array satellites designed to launch up to 250 at a time on a Falcon 9. The company is targeting governments, regional satellite operators and telecom companies with turnkey networks priced below $1 billion.
Star Catcher says its prototype orbital power node is prepared for launch on a SpaceX Transporter mission targeted for no earlier than Oct. 1. The mission will demonstrate the company’s power-beaming technology in orbit.
Chinese launch startup Deep Blue Aerospace has secured nearly $300 million to support development of its reusable Nebula rocket family. The company is also testing an upgraded rocket engine, combining fresh capital with propulsion work as it advances its commercial launch ambitions.
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Starship reached orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight and deployed 26 V3 Starlink satellites using its “Pez dispenser” system. An engine shutdown forced SpaceX to end the planned 10-hour mission early, bringing the fully reusable vehicle home ahead of schedule.
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Indian startup TakeMe2Space plans to launch its sub-50-kilogram MOI-1A satellite on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission on Oct. 1. Equipped with Nvidia Orin NX processors, the spacecraft is designed to run AI models in orbit and process Earth-observation data before transmission to ground stations.
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