Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Arc spacecraft aims to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth in an hour

Arc is a new spacecraft concept designed to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth in about an hour. Developers say the "key discriminator" will be whether the system "makes a difference in the moment it’s needed," framing Arc as a test of truly responsive global logistics.

2025-10-01T19:28:55.859061-07:00

nasawatch.com

Government shutdown furloughs ~15,000 NASA staff; Kennedy, science work halted while ISS and select missions continue

2025-09-30T18:38:36.250173-07:00

Space.com

Perseverance's potential biosignature sample raises stakes as China's Tianwen‑3 aims to return Mars material

2025-10-01T05:08:11.589447-07:00

Space.com

ESA awards €40m to Avio for reusable upper-stage demonstrator to boost European launcher competitiveness

2025-10-01T06:05:09.122469-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Exploration Company continues probe into Mission Possible reentry loss The Exploration Company is continuing an investigation into the final phases of a test flight three months ago that destroyed its Mission Possible spacecraft during reentry. Engineers are analysing telemetry and recovery data to identify failure modes and decide remediation steps for the firm's reusable reentry architecture.

2025-10-01T20:46:26.304485-07:00

Exploration Company continues probe into Mission Possible reentry loss

Ars Technica

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Arc spacecraft aims to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth in an hour Arc is a new spacecraft concept designed to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth in about an hour. Developers say the "key discriminator" will be whether the system "makes a difference in the moment it’s needed," framing Arc as a test of truly responsive global logistics.

2025-10-01T19:28:55.859061-07:00

Arc spacecraft aims to deliver cargo anywhere on Earth in an hour

SpaceNews.com

Lockheed Martin studies private-astronaut mission to commercialize Orion Lockheed Martin is studying a private-astronaut mission using an Orion spacecraft under an agreement that moves the company toward offering the capsule as a commercial "spacecraft-as-a-service." The study will assess mission feasibility, operational interfaces and market potential for private crewed flights aboard Orion.

2025-10-01T14:53:11.050967-07:00

Lockheed Martin studies private-astronaut mission to commercialize Orion

CNBC

NASA allows Artemis work with SpaceX and Blue Origin to continue during government shutdown NASA has granted an exception allowing agency personnel and contractors supporting Artemis missions with SpaceX and Blue Origin to continue work through the current government shutdown. The decision preserves integration, testing and launch preparations tied to upcoming Artemis milestones despite a lapse in appropriations.

2025-10-01T13:16:43.528434-07:00

NASA allows Artemis work with SpaceX and Blue Origin to continue during government shutdown

SpaceNews.com

Germany’s $41B space investment reshapes Europe’s industry and security Germany’s $41 billion space investment accelerates military procurement, hardens satellite resilience and aims to scale national industrial capacity, reshaping Europe’s supply chain and procurement priorities. The package will drive demand for satellites, secure communications and launch services while prompting consolidation among European suppliers.

2025-10-01T09:56:29.325959-07:00

Germany’s $41B space investment reshapes Europe’s industry and security

European Spaceflight

INCAS qualifies Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model ahead of Sardinia drop campaign Romania’s INCAS has qualified the Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model (DLRM), completing a certification milestone ahead of a planned final drop-test campaign in Sardinia. The qualification validates key descent and landing systems and prepares the demonstrator for the next phase of flight-test verification.

2025-10-01T08:05:19.886675-07:00

INCAS qualifies Space Rider Descent and Landing Test Model ahead of Sardinia drop campaign

Space.com

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ESA awards €40m to Avio for reusable upper-stage demonstrator to boost European launcher competitiveness The European Space Agency has awarded Avio a €40m contract to develop and demonstrate a reusable upper-stage for European launchers. The demonstrator aims to validate technologies and operational concepts for upper-stage recovery and reuse to lower launch costs and improve Europe's competitiveness in the small-satellite launch market.

2025-10-01T06:05:09.122469-07:00

ESA awards €40m to Avio for reusable upper-stage demonstrator to boost European launcher competitiveness

Space.com

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Perseverance's potential biosignature sample raises stakes as China's Tianwen‑3 aims to return Mars material Perseverance's recent analysis of Jezero's 'Sapphire Canyon' mudstones finds organics plus iron‑phosphate and iron‑sulfide nodules that resemble microbial textures, but definitive identification requires Earth laboratory study. China’s Tianwen‑3 sample‑return campaign could be the first mission to deliver Martian material to Earth for that analysis.

2025-10-01T05:08:11.589447-07:00

Perseverance's potential biosignature sample raises stakes as China's Tianwen‑3 aims to return Mars material

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