Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

ABC News • Marcia Dunn

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

Four astronauts—NASA’s Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos’ Kirill Peskov—returned to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on Aug. 9, completing a 167-day mission at the International Space Station. Their capsule touched down off Southern California, marking the end of NASA’s tenth Commercial Crew rotation flight.

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

Payload

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

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

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

chosun.com

South Korea develops 35-ton methane engine for reusable launcher; defence-led push raises KASA oversight concerns South Korea has developed a 35‑ton‑thrust methane engine for a reusable orbital launch vehicle in a defence‑led programme, prompting questions about the Korea Aerospace Administration’s role and oversight of next‑generation space propulsion as Seoul accelerates national launch and lunar ambitions.

2025-09-10T15:02:06.604656-07:00

South Korea develops 35-ton methane engine for reusable launcher; defence-led push raises KASA oversight concerns

SpaceNews.com

The grief of a fandom: Starship, Elon Musk and the fading of public enthusiasm The article probes why devoted Starship fans continue defending Elon Musk despite controversies and program setbacks, and how that loyalty masks a broader loss of the emotional spark that once powered public enthusiasm for SpaceX's flagship launch program. It examines the human dynamics behind technological fandom.

2025-09-10T04:02:27.906507-07:00

The grief of a fandom: Starship, Elon Musk and the fading of public enthusiasm

Ars Technica

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SpaceX pins Starship setback on tile sealing; next‑gen orbital attempt pushed to next year SpaceX says post‑flight inspections found Starship needs thermal‑tile sealing after its last flight and is targeting an orbital attempt with a next‑generation vehicle next year. The announcement highlights ongoing refinement of heat‑shield and integration work on the Super Heavy–Starship stack.

2025-09-09T12:51:10.366325-07:00

SpaceX pins Starship setback on tile sealing; next‑gen orbital attempt pushed to next year

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

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