Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Payload • Tim Fernholz

Billions Spent, No Challenger: Why SpaceX Remains the Master of Launch

Despite billions in investments across Blue Origin, ULA, Europe’s Ariane initiatives and new market entrants, no rival has matched SpaceX’s blend of reusability, operational cadence and unit costs. The Falcon family’s 2024 performance — including a record 78 launches at sub-$50 million each — underscores its enduring launch dominance.

2025-06-13T05:32:02.953231-07:00

Via Satellite

Dawn Aerospace to Base Aurora Suborbital Spaceplane at Oklahoma Spaceport

2025-06-13T05:42:22.041018-07:00

orlandosentinel.com

Liquid oxygen leak in Falcon 9 delays Axiom Mission 4 private astronaut launch to ISS

2025-06-10T18:26:55.952700-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX Readies Falcon 9 Launch for Axiom Mission 4, Fourth Private Crew Flight to ISS

2025-06-09T03:07:18.895674-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

popularmechanics.com

One-day-built lightsail and ultra-powerful laser promise 20% light-speed interstellar flight A team of researchers has designed and built a lightsail in 24 hours that — when struck by a record-power laser — could reach up to 20% of light speed, advancing laser-propulsion capabilities. If successful, this system would mark a major milestone toward interstellar probe missions beyond the solar system.

2025-06-14T13:23:57.939600-07:00

One-day-built lightsail and ultra-powerful laser promise 20% light-speed interstellar flight

balerionspace.substack.com

SpaceX shifts focus to Starship, Mars and Jupiter moons as Altspace rises to fill LEO gap Having underpinned the new space economy, SpaceX is now shifting resources from Falcon 9 operations toward Starship, Mars missions and exploration of Jupiter’s moons. That pivot opens opportunities in low Earth orbit services, and orbital startup Altspace is positioning itself to capture emerging commercial demand.

2025-06-13T18:11:12.992120-07:00

SpaceX shifts focus to Starship, Mars and Jupiter moons as Altspace rises to fill LEO gap

Bloomberg

Relativity Space Executes 1-for-10 Reverse Split Following Schmidt Takeover Relativity Space Inc. carried out a 1-for-10 reverse stock split after former Google CEO Eric Schmidt acquired control of the 3D-printed rocket manufacturer. The move significantly diluted existing investors and employee equity as the company aims to bolster its share price and prepare for future funding.

2025-06-13T16:55:33.052675-07:00

Relativity Space Executes 1-for-10 Reverse Split Following Schmidt Takeover

Space.com

SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites from Florida Falcon 9 SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral at 11:29 a.m. EDT on June 13, deploying 23 satellites to its Starlink megaconstellation. The mission underscores SpaceX’s strategy to rapidly expand its global broadband network and maintain heavy Falcon 9 flight cadence.

2025-06-13T09:27:05.113623-07:00

SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites from Florida Falcon 9

European Spaceflight

POLARIS Spaceplanes Raises €5.4M to Accelerate AURORA Spaceplane Development and Commercial Rollout Germany’s POLARIS Spaceplanes has secured €5.4 million to advance its AURORA spaceplane and underpin planned commercial services. The funding will support development milestones and prepare the company to offer runway-launched suborbital launch services to customers.

2025-06-13T07:47:56.687042-07:00

POLARIS Spaceplanes Raises €5.4M to Accelerate AURORA Spaceplane Development and Commercial Rollout

Via Satellite

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Dawn Aerospace to Base Aurora Suborbital Spaceplane at Oklahoma Spaceport Dawn Aerospace will establish its Aurora reusable, rocket-powered suborbital aircraft at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port in Burns Flat under a partnership with the state’s Space Industry Development Authority, aiming for runway-launched flights by 2027 and filling a gap in interior US space access.

2025-06-13T05:42:22.041018-07:00

Dawn Aerospace to Base Aurora Suborbital Spaceplane at Oklahoma Spaceport

Payload

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Billions Spent, No Challenger: Why SpaceX Remains the Master of Launch Despite billions in investments across Blue Origin, ULA, Europe’s Ariane initiatives and new market entrants, no rival has matched SpaceX’s blend of reusability, operational cadence and unit costs. The Falcon family’s 2024 performance — including a record 78 launches at sub-$50 million each — underscores its enduring launch dominance.

2025-06-13T05:32:02.953231-07:00

Billions Spent, No Challenger: Why SpaceX Remains the Master of Launch

SpaceNews.com

CAS Space Completes Kinetica-2 First Stage Hot-Fire Test Ahead of Orbital Debut China’s CAS Space has successfully conducted a hot-fire test of Kinetica-2’s first stage ahead of a planned orbital launch and cargo demonstration later this year. The milestone marks a critical step toward validating the rocket’s propulsion and readiness for commercial payload missions.

2025-06-13T03:25:12.688791-07:00

CAS Space Completes Kinetica-2 First Stage Hot-Fire Test Ahead of Orbital Debut

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