News

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

The Exploration Company completes hot-fire test campaign for Huracan lunar lander engine

The Exploration Company says it has completed its Huracan rocket engine hot-fire test campaign, aimed at powering the company’s future lunar lander. The milestone advances development toward integration and subsequent flight readiness for its Moon mission plans.

2026-05-07T07:50:44.970360-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Starfighters hires ex–Blue Origin New Glenn managers to speed air-launch flight demos

2026-05-07T05:33:56.952620-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Skyroot Aerospace raises $60M, values company above $1B ahead of first orbital launch attempt

2026-05-07T04:55:32.056446-07:00

Ars Technica

SpaceX ramps Vandenberg cadence with Starlink mission 17-29, now its busiest launch site for 2026

2026-05-06T16:03:06.625023-07:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

The Exploration Company completes hot-fire test campaign for Huracan lunar lander engine The Exploration Company says it has completed its Huracan rocket engine hot-fire test campaign, aimed at powering the company’s future lunar lander. The milestone advances development toward integration and subsequent flight readiness for its Moon mission plans.

2026-05-07T07:50:44.970360-07:00

The Exploration Company completes hot-fire test campaign for Huracan lunar lander engine

SpaceNews.com

Starfighters hires ex–Blue Origin New Glenn managers to speed air-launch flight demos Starfighters Space has brought on two former Blue Origin New Glenn managers to support its air-launch system as it pushes toward flight demonstrations and an operational launch cadence. The hires signal an acceleration push on execution talent for an air-launched approach to reaching orbit.

2026-05-07T05:33:56.952620-07:00

Starfighters hires ex–Blue Origin New Glenn managers to speed air-launch flight demos

SpaceNews.com

Skyroot Aerospace raises $60M, values company above $1B ahead of first orbital launch attempt Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace has secured a $60 million funding round that places its valuation at more than $1 billion. The capital boost comes as the company prepares for its first orbital launch attempt, a key milestone for scaling its launch capabilities.

2026-05-07T04:55:32.056446-07:00

Skyroot Aerospace raises $60M, values company above $1B ahead of first orbital launch attempt

SpaceNews.com

Speed over price in national security contracting: smallsat propulsion firms face faster delivery clocks Stellar Exploration’s experience building, testing and delivering a small satellite propulsion system in roughly three years underscores a key shift in national security contracting decisions: speed is increasingly prioritized over lowest cost. The implied trade-off is tighter delivery schedules as procurement officials seek operational readiness sooner.

2026-05-07T04:30:26.928719-07:00

Speed over price in national security contracting: smallsat propulsion firms face faster delivery clocks

Ars Technica

❗️

SpaceX ramps Vandenberg cadence with Starlink mission 17-29, now its busiest launch site for 2026 SpaceX is increasing its West Coast tempo at Vandenberg Space Force Base, which is set to become its busiest launch site for now. Mission 17-29 launches 24 Starlink satellites, marking the 44th dedicated constellation flight of 2026 from Vandenberg SFB.

2026-05-06T16:03:06.625023-07:00

SpaceX ramps Vandenberg cadence with Starlink mission 17-29, now its busiest launch site for 2026

Breaking Defense

Space Force raises Andromeda contract ceiling to $6.2B for GEO inspection and classified SILENTBARKER surveillance The U.S. Space Force increased the ceiling for the Andromeda IDIQ space monitoring contract from $1.8B to more than $6.2B, covering replacements for the current GSSAP on-orbit inspection satellites and funding the classified SILENTBARKER space surveillance “birds.”

2026-05-06T14:03:44.782116-07:00

Space Force raises Andromeda contract ceiling to $6.2B for GEO inspection and classified SILENTBARKER surveillance

Space.com

ESA Space Rider advances qualification and testing toward first flight readiness as Dassault VORTEX pursues runway-return reusab ESA’s Space Rider is progressing through key test and qualification milestones designed to move the reusable spacecraft concept closer to flight readiness. In parallel, Dassault is developing the VORTEX runway-return spaceplane concept for LEO capability, with the effort positioned as an emerging European reusability path pending funding and demonstrations.

2026-05-06T12:57:24.365123-07:00

ESA Space Rider advances qualification and testing toward first flight readiness as Dassault VORTEX pursues runway-return reusab

NASA Spaceflight

Launch pad transition: Pad 1 demolished as conversion to Pad 2 design advances, with trench excavation imminent Six months after Flight 11 concluded operations for the former configuration, Pad 1 has been demolished. Crews are now converting the site to the newer pad design (Pad 2), with major progress reported—excavation of the trench is about to begin.

2026-05-05T12:02:39.325380-07:00

Launch pad transition: Pad 1 demolished as conversion to Pad 2 design advances, with trench excavation imminent

Menu

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

The Exploration Company completes hot-fire test campaign for Huracan lunar lander engine

Starfighters hires ex–Blue Origin New Glenn managers to speed air-launch flight demos

Skyroot Aerospace raises $60M, values company above $1B ahead of first orbital launch attempt

SpaceX ramps Vandenberg cadence with Starlink mission 17-29, now its busiest launch site for 2026

News Timeline