Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Payload • Tim Fernholz

India’s GSLV Rocket Successfully Deploys $1.5B NASA-ISRO NISAR Earth Radar Satellite

India’s ISRO placed the NASA-ISRO NISAR Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite into orbit aboard its GSLV rocket, marking the launch of a first-of-its-kind $1.5 billion Earth science mission set to scan the planet twice every 12 days for climate and disaster monitoring.

2025-07-30T05:43:45.505224-07:00

ABC News

Crew-10 Astronauts Splash Down in Pacific After Five-Month ISS Rotation

2025-08-09T10:55:51.181690-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Trump Signs Executive Order to Ease Commercial Rocket Launch Regulations

2025-08-13T16:40:33.939906-07:00

Wall Street Journal

SpaceX's 10th Starship/Super Heavy test scrubbed after ground‑systems issue; follows three upper‑stage failures

2025-08-24T08:22:33.376901-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Ars Technica

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Launch lull for Falcon Heavy creates window for SpaceX to build new landing pads With no Falcon Heavy launches scheduled this year, SpaceX has a narrow operational window to build or upgrade heavy‑lift landing pads without disrupting active launch campaigns. The pause offers time for construction, integration and testing of recovery infrastructure ahead of the rocket’s next return to flight.

2025-09-04T08:41:37.378468-07:00

Launch lull for Falcon Heavy creates window for SpaceX to build new landing pads

NZ Herald

Syos to triple Mount Maunganui workforce as New Zealand launcher scales toward orbit Syos will triple its Mount Maunganui workforce within 12 months to support its transition toward orbital launch capability. The hiring push is aimed at scaling manufacturing, propulsion and launch operations for the company's small launcher as it moves from development toward flight testing and commercial operations.

2025-09-03T20:06:38.749718-07:00

Syos to triple Mount Maunganui workforce as New Zealand launcher scales toward orbit

thespaceportcompany.com

Maine Space Corporation pivots to sea-based launches after local pushback Maine Space Corporation — a Brunswick-based small‑rocket developer that says it uses non‑toxic biofuel — is shifting focus to sea‑based launches after recording the first U.S. waters launch in 2023. The move aims to avoid municipal bans and community opposition that have blocked land-based activity.

2025-09-03T06:05:06.843884-07:00

Maine Space Corporation pivots to sea-based launches after local pushback

Ars Technica

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SpaceX eyes on-site propellant plants at Starbase to solve Starship fuel bottleneck SpaceX has identified propellant supply as a bottleneck to Starship operations and is revisiting plans to install on‑site propellant‑generation plants at its Starbase facility. Building local production capacity would reduce logistical dependence and could materially increase launch cadence for Starship test and operational flights.

2025-09-02T11:58:43.979816-07:00

SpaceX eyes on-site propellant plants at Starbase to solve Starship fuel bottleneck

Space.com

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NASA to deploy lunar fission reactor by 2030 to power resource extraction NASA plans to deploy a compact fission reactor on the Moon by 2030, prioritizing nuclear surface power as the enabling capability to extract and refine lunar resources for Artemis-era operations. The move elevates high‑capacity, continuous power over smaller RPS and solar approaches to enable sustained ISRU.

2025-08-31T07:01:51.321181-07:00

NASA to deploy lunar fission reactor by 2030 to power resource extraction

Space.com

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NASA unveils Orion mission control annex ahead of Artemis II lunar flyby NASA has opened a dedicated Orion mission control room — an annex to the historic Mission Control — to manage the technology‑dense Orion capsule ahead of Artemis II’s crewed lunar flyby. The upgrade centralizes new telemetry, avionics and mission systems needed for deep‑space operations.

2025-08-28T06:05:12.219623-07:00

NASA unveils Orion mission control annex ahead of Artemis II lunar flyby

Ars Technica

With Starship, SpaceX encounters an obstacle that haunted NASA’s space shuttles

2025-08-26T14:11:30.194549-07:00

With Starship, SpaceX encounters an obst

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX Dragon docks at ISS with 5,000+ lb of supplies and boost trunk for 2025 reboosts An unpiloted SpaceX Dragon cargo ship docked at the International Space Station early Monday carrying more than 5,000 pounds of equipment and supplies, including 1,500 tortillas. The mission added a boost trunk that will enable Dragon to perform periodic reboost burns beginning in September and through fall 2025.

2025-08-25T06:47:19.533007-07:00

SpaceX Dragon docks at ISS with 5,000+ lb of supplies and boost trunk for 2025 reboosts

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