Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Space Intel Report • Peter B de Selding

SpaceX tells FCC it will use EchoStar spectrum to deploy ~15,000‑satellite LEO network at 330 km

SpaceX told the FCC it plans to use mobile‑satellite spectrum rights it is buying from EchoStar to field a roughly 15,000‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit broadband constellation operating near 330 km altitude. The filing frames the EchoStar purchase as central to Starlink's next large‑scale capacity expansion.

2025-09-22T09:02:23.259440-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX set to launch classified NROL‑48 from Vandenberg; booster return could produce sonic booms

2025-09-22T03:30:42.556688-07:00

NASA

NASA revives VIPER, awards Blue Origin $190M to deliver rover to Moon south pole in 2027

2025-09-19T13:32:50.812454-07:00

New York Times

Critics: SpaceX Starship test failures leave U.S. at risk of falling behind on Moon return

2025-09-20T02:10:21.545494-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

opb.org

Oregon's Aerostar Tillamook stitches high‑tech fabrics for balloons, spacecraft membranes and splashdown airbags Oregon-based Aerostar Tillamook assembles advanced textile systems for high-altitude balloons, airtight spacecraft membranes and inflatable airbags that ensure capsules remain upright during ocean splashdowns. Its high-precision fabric integration supports both near‑space platforms and recovery hardware used in commercial and government space programs.

2025-09-22T11:15:07.203190-07:00

Oregon's Aerostar Tillamook stitches high‑tech fabrics for balloons, spacecraft membranes and splashdown airbags

Space.com

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SpaceX launches NROL-48 from Vandenberg — 11th 'proliferated architecture' batch of U.S. spy satellites On Sept. 22, SpaceX launched NROL-48 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying the 11th tranche of U.S. 'proliferated architecture' spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission advances deployment of distributed military sensing and communications nodes in low Earth orbit.

2025-09-22T11:04:20.853376-07:00

SpaceX launches NROL-48 from Vandenberg — 11th 'proliferated architecture' batch of U.S. spy satellites

science.nasa.gov

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NASA, NOAA and SpaceX target Sept. 24 launch of three L1 space‑weather probes NASA and NOAA, with SpaceX, are targeting 7:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 24 for a Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral carrying three space‑weather probes — including NASA’s IMAP — to the Earth–Sun L1 point to map the heliosphere, track solar wind and improve space‑weather forecasting.

2025-09-22T09:44:44.659788-07:00

NASA, NOAA and SpaceX target Sept. 24 launch of three L1 space‑weather probes

Space Intel Report

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SpaceX tells FCC it will use EchoStar spectrum to deploy ~15,000‑satellite LEO network at 330 km SpaceX told the FCC it plans to use mobile‑satellite spectrum rights it is buying from EchoStar to field a roughly 15,000‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit broadband constellation operating near 330 km altitude. The filing frames the EchoStar purchase as central to Starlink's next large‑scale capacity expansion.

2025-09-22T09:02:23.259440-07:00

SpaceX tells FCC it will use EchoStar spectrum to deploy ~15,000‑satellite LEO network at 330 km

Space.com

Rocket Lab Eyes Mars and Venus Missions with Small‑Rocket Interplanetary Strategy Rocket Lab is pitching a small‑rocket path to interplanetary missions, explicitly eyeing Mars and Venus as destinations and positioning itself to launch modest planetary payloads. Executives said, "If you want to build a little rocket to get off a little planet, [Rocket Lab is] probably a good place to start."

2025-09-22T08:08:27.029750-07:00

Rocket Lab Eyes Mars and Venus Missions with Small‑Rocket Interplanetary Strategy

Aviation Week

Beehive prepares to ship first additively manufactured Frenzy engine to AFRL after four‑engine, six‑month test campaign Beehive Industries is preparing to ship its first additively manufactured Frenzy engine to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for altitude testing after completing a comprehensive test campaign of four engines in six months, with performance reported above requirements and development timelines compressed from years to months.

2025-09-22T04:39:39.012684-07:00

Beehive prepares to ship first additively manufactured Frenzy engine to AFRL after four‑engine, six‑month test campaign

SpaceNews.com

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Quantum Space acquires Phase Four propulsion technologies and facilities to support Ranger maneuverable spacecraft Quantum Space has acquired propulsion technologies and physical facilities from Phase Four to accelerate development of its Ranger maneuverable spacecraft. The transfer gives Quantum Space control of Phase Four's propulsion IP and factory/test infrastructure to integrate, qualify and scale Ranger's on‑orbit maneuvering capabilities.

2025-09-22T03:58:54.288813-07:00

Quantum Space acquires Phase Four propulsion technologies and facilities to support Ranger maneuverable spacecraft

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX set to launch classified NROL‑48 from Vandenberg; booster return could produce sonic booms SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg SFB in a one‑hour window opening at 10:23 a.m. PT for the classified NROL‑48 mission. The flight will carry the NRO’s 11th batch of small reconnaissance satellites—believed to be Starshield variants—and the booster return could generate sonic booms.

2025-09-22T03:30:42.556688-07:00

SpaceX set to launch classified NROL‑48 from Vandenberg; booster return could produce sonic booms

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