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Spaceflight Now • Stephen Clark

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

SpaceX is preparing a Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base with a south-southwesterly trajectory and an attempt to complete its 600th Falcon 9 booster landing. The effort underscores the company’s cadence-driven reuse operations and ongoing integration of Starlink flights into that landing-recovery loop.

2026-04-17T23:59:22.130000-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

2026-04-16T20:29:50.516542-07:00

Space.com

Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown

2026-04-17T06:14:26.590771-07:00

investors.rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

2026-04-16T13:00:46.067125-07:00

News Timeline

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission SpaceX is preparing a Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base with a south-southwesterly trajectory and an attempt to complete its 600th Falcon 9 booster landing. The effort underscores the company’s cadence-driven reuse operations and ongoing integration of Starlink flights into that landing-recovery loop.

2026-04-17T23:59:22.130000-07:00

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

Space.com

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Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown NASA reports that the Orion “Integrity” heat shield performed “wonderfully” during Artemis II’s lunar return, meeting or exceeding expectations despite extreme reentry conditions (~2,800°C and ~40,000 km/h). Crew inspections shortly after splashdown found the shield in better-than-expected condition, supporting mission readiness for subsequent Artemis flights.

2026-04-17T06:14:26.590771-07:00

Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown

SpaceWatch Global

ESA and Portugal back Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA ONE microlauncher with further milestone support Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) says it has secured additional support from the European Space Agency and Portugal for its RFA ONE microlauncher. The announcement follows continued test activity for the launcher, as the company pursues lower-cost, frequent access to low-Earth orbit for small satellites.

2026-04-16T23:27:39.842071-07:00

ESA and Portugal back Rocket Factory Augsburg’s RFA ONE microlauncher with further milestone support

SpaceWatch Global

Rocket Factory Augsburg inaugurates Swedish test site to advance RFA ONE maiden flight Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) inaugurated a new test site in Sweden, a key step toward its RFA ONE maiden flight targeted for 2022. The move signals acceleration of the German micro-launcher’s ground-test and launch-prep activities in the Nordic launch ecosystem.

2026-04-16T23:27:39.538078-07:00

Rocket Factory Augsburg inaugurates Swedish test site to advance RFA ONE maiden flight

Ars Technica

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NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028 NASA has confirmed its support for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin (ExoMars) mission, selecting SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to launch the European Mars rover in 2028. The decision formalizes a key transatlantic roles mix—NASA backing the mission and SpaceX providing the class-leading heavy-lift ride—after years of program uncertainty.

2026-04-16T20:29:50.516542-07:00

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

ursamajor.com

Ursa Major’s Hadley liquid rocket engine completes 10 consecutive hypersonic Talon-A flights Ursa Major says its Hadley liquid rocket engine has flown 10 consecutive missions supporting Stratolaunch’s reusable Talon-A hypersonic vehicle. The company reported the latest completion on April 16, 2026—an incremental proof point for repeatable, high-cadence hypersonic flight testing using an air-launched rocket system.

2026-04-16T13:03:17.633834-07:00

Ursa Major’s Hadley liquid rocket engine completes 10 consecutive hypersonic Talon-A flights

investors.rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push Rocket Lab unveiled a new electric satellite thruster aimed at high-volume production to serve growing constellation demand. In parallel, the company is entering the thruster market with its Gauss offering, with management highlighting the importance—and cost of—scaling manufacturing beyond small “mom and pop” shops.

2026-04-16T13:00:46.067125-07:00

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

SpaceNews.com

All Points Logistics signs NASA Kennedy Space Center deal for multi-user spacecraft payload processing facilities All Points Logistics has signed an agreement with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to construct satellite payload processing facilities on center property, including an exclusive lease for 64 acres. The project calls for a ~266,000-square-foot Spaceport Logistics Center and a ~275,000-square-foot Spacecraft Processing Center.

2026-04-16T11:18:20.889288-07:00

All Points Logistics signs NASA Kennedy Space Center deal for multi-user spacecraft payload processing facilities

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

SpaceX targets 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on West Coast Starlink mission

NASA commits to SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover in 2028

Artemis II Orion heat shield “aces” lunar reentry after Integrity splashdown

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

News Timeline