Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

SpaceX Pins Starship Flight 8 Failure on Engine Hardware Fault

SpaceX on May 23 attributed the failure of Starship Flight 8 to a hardware fault in one of the engines, marking a departure from the methane leak that doomed the previous test. The mishap underscores ongoing technical challenges as the company pursues rapid build-test cycles at Starbase.

2025-05-23T16:22:16.872604-07:00

Aviation Week

Dawn Aerospace Opens Sales of Aurora Rocket-Powered Suborbital Spaceplane

2025-05-22T10:21:37.625852-07:00

Space.com

NASA and SpaceX Push Dragon CRS-32 Undocking to Friday Amid Unfavorable Splashdown Weather

2025-05-22T05:03:59.300986-07:00

Florida Today

SpaceX Launches 28 More Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral

2025-05-14T10:26:08.492392-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

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SpaceX Pins Starship Flight 8 Failure on Engine Hardware Fault SpaceX on May 23 attributed the failure of Starship Flight 8 to a hardware fault in one of the engines, marking a departure from the methane leak that doomed the previous test. The mishap underscores ongoing technical challenges as the company pursues rapid build-test cycles at Starbase.

2025-05-23T16:22:16.872604-07:00

SpaceX Pins Starship Flight 8 Failure on Engine Hardware Fault

Space.com

SpaceX Sets May 27 for IFT-9 Starship Launch With First Re-flight of Super Heavy Booster SpaceX plans to launch its ninth Starship Integrated Flight Test on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. EDT (23:30 GMT), marking the first time the company will re-use a Super Heavy booster—the same one that powered IFT-7 and was caught by the launchpad’s mechanical arms.

2025-05-23T15:43:35.762598-07:00

SpaceX Sets May 27 for IFT-9 Starship Launch With First Re-flight of Super Heavy Booster

SpaceNews.com

SES Signs Multi-Launch Deal with Impulse Space to Use Helios Kick Stage for MEO/GEO Deployments SES has become the first commercial customer for Impulse Space’s Helios high-energy kick stage, signing a multi-launch agreement to transport its satellites from low Earth orbit into medium and geostationary orbits more efficiently and reliably.

2025-05-23T12:26:30.790040-07:00

SES Signs Multi-Launch Deal with Impulse Space to Use Helios Kick Stage for MEO/GEO Deployments

European Spaceflight

ArianeGroup Completes Hot-Fire Tests of 3D-Printed 240-N Hydrogen Peroxide Thruster in EC’s SALTO Project ArianeGroup has successfully conducted hot-fire tests of a 240-N 3D-printed monopropellant thruster using hydrogen peroxide, marking a key milestone for the European Commission’s SALTO project. The trials validate additive manufacturing of green propulsion units tailored for small launchers and in-orbit satellite manoeuvres.

2025-05-23T08:06:07.659802-07:00

ArianeGroup Completes Hot-Fire Tests of 3D-Printed 240-N Hydrogen Peroxide Thruster in EC’s SALTO Project

SpaceWatch Global

Astrobotic Qualifies Flight Model of Lunar Wireless Charging System Astrobotic has completed acceptance testing of its wireless charging flight model designed for the lunar environment, meeting environmental and performance benchmarks. The qualification marks a critical step toward enabling continuous, cable-free power transfer to rovers and payloads on upcoming commercial and scientific lunar missions.

2025-05-23T03:02:12.125343-07:00

Astrobotic Qualifies Flight Model of Lunar Wireless Charging System

Aviation Week

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Dawn Aerospace Opens Sales of Aurora Rocket-Powered Suborbital Spaceplane Dawn Aerospace has opened orders for its uncrewed, runway-launched Aurora spaceplane, a rocket-powered vehicle capable of carrying small payloads on suborbital flights beyond the 100 km Kármán line. Customers can place orders now for first deliveries scheduled in 2027.

2025-05-22T10:21:37.625852-07:00

Dawn Aerospace Opens Sales of Aurora Rocket-Powered Suborbital Spaceplane

MSN

ISRO Chief Reaffirms 2027 Gaganyaan Crew Flight Schedule After PSLV-C61 Setback The Indian Space Research Organisation’s chief said his agency still aims to launch its first human mission by 2027 after a propulsion anomaly delayed the PSLV-C61 satellite launch. He signaled an intensified push on human-rating processes, crew module validations and ground rescue systems to keep the Gaganyaan programme on schedule.

2025-05-22T05:51:00.328689-07:00

ISRO Chief Reaffirms 2027 Gaganyaan Crew Flight Schedule After PSLV-C61 Setback

1news.co.nz

Blue Origin Reveals Crew for 12th NS-32 Suborbital Flight, Including First New Zealander Blue Origin has named six passengers for its upcoming NS-32 New Shepard mission, among them Christchurch entrepreneur Mark Rocket, who will become the first Kiwi to cross the Kármán line. The launch date and flight window are yet to be announced.

2025-05-22T05:39:33.244104-07:00

Blue Origin Reveals Crew for 12th NS-32 Suborbital Flight, Including First New Zealander

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