SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
SpaceX and outside analysts judged Starship’s first orbital flight broadly successful despite technical issues during the mission. The assessment provides an early indication that the vehicle is advancing toward its intended role as a fully reusable launch system, while highlighting areas requiring further development.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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SpaceX and outside analysts judged Starship’s first orbital flight broadly successful despite technical issues during the mission. The assessment provides an early indication that the vehicle is advancing toward its intended role as a fully reusable launch system, while highlighting areas requiring further development.
Portugal-based Omnidea has acquired Orbex’s assets and technology, strengthening its presence in the UK as it develops a new launcher roadmap. The transaction gives Omnidea access to Orbex’s existing capabilities and positions the company for a broader role in Europe’s commercial launch market.
UK launcher Skyrora is moving its anticipated orbital launch timeline to 2030, arguing that being first to market is not necessarily the decisive advantage. The company is defending a deliberate approach to rocket development as it works toward entering the orbital launch market.
SpaceX launched its Transporter-18 rideshare mission on Oct. 1, carrying 130 spacecraft and underscoring the scale and flexibility of its recurring launch service. The mission comes as the industry confronts the impending end of such rideshare opportunities, increasing the significance of available shared-launch capacity.
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A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts from the United States, Canada and Russia docked with the International Space Station less than eight hours after launching from Florida. The rapid transit marked the fastest journey to the ISS by a U.S. spacecraft, according to the reports.
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Canada Rocket Company plans to develop Canada’s first large-scale rocket engine test facility at London International Airport. The $30 million complex will support static-fire testing of the company’s methalox engines as it works toward a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle.
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The Norwegian government plans to invest almost €60 million to fund construction of a second orbital launch pad at Andøya Spaceport. The proposal would expand the spaceport’s launch infrastructure and strengthen Norway’s role in Europe’s emerging commercial orbital launch market.
China completed its ninth and tenth orbital launches of September, placing Guowang and Yaogan-40 satellites into orbit. The missions underscore an intense launch tempo and set the stage for a crowded fourth-quarter manifest as Beijing expands its satellite infrastructure and space activity.
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