NASA Spaceflight
• Sean Yoder
A Long March 7A rocket exploded less than 90 seconds after launching from Wenchang, apparently losing an unidentified payload believed to be bound for geostationary orbit. Separately, SpaceX scrubbed a planned Falcon 9 launch and retargeted it for the following day amid a busy August schedule.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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China’s latest rocket launch ended in failure on Aug. 10 when the vehicle exploded less than 90 seconds after liftoff, lighting up the sky. The available reporting does not identify the rocket or payload, or provide details on the cause, damage or broader impact.
Japan plans to launch the Michibiki 7 navigation satellite aboard its H3 No. 9 rocket on Aug. 10, with live coverage available. The mission will place the 10,800-pound spacecraft into orbit, adding another satellite to Japan’s regional positioning and navigation system.
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A Long March 7A rocket exploded less than 90 seconds after launching from Wenchang, apparently losing an unidentified payload believed to be bound for geostationary orbit. Separately, SpaceX scrubbed a planned Falcon 9 launch and retargeted it for the following day amid a busy August schedule.
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Rocket Factory Augsburg’s first orbital launch attempt has been delayed by a tank problem, but the company’s majority owner remains confident the German startup can reach the launch pad later this year. The setback adds pressure to its development and launch schedule.
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Lithuanian optical communications company Astrolight and German space logistics firm ATMOS Space Cargo have signed a memorandum of understanding to demonstrate an in-flight optical communications link between a re-entry spacecraft and an orbiting low Earth orbit satellite. The test is planned for 2027.
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SpaceX shares have rebounded toward their roughly $135 IPO price after a sharp post-listing decline, supported by better-than-expected second-quarter revenue. The move coincides with retail investors selling the stock for the first time since its June debut, raising questions about sentiment toward aerospace equities.
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NASA’s latest Artemis updates span commercial robotic lunar landers, technology demonstrations for future surface habitats, and hardware development for the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. The agency’s progress report provides a cross-program view of preparations for Artemis III and subsequent missions to the Moon.
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SpaceX launched 24 Starlink internet satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from California’s central coast, continuing a surge of West Coast missions. The flight extends the company’s ongoing effort to expand its low-Earth-orbit constellation through frequent, repeatable launches.
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