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

Space.com

SpaceX Crew-11 Launches to ISS in Weather-Scrubbed Second Attempt, Marks 25 Years of Continuous Station Occupancy

2025-08-01T09:04:45.185682-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

SpaceX bids farewell to Landing Zone 1 with final Falcon booster touchdown

2025-08-02T19:03:41.762405-07:00

Space.com

Australia’s first homegrown Eris rocket flies then crashes in debut test

2025-07-29T17:52:53.144410-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX Targets Back-to-Back Falcon 9 Missions for Starlink and Kuiper Amid Weather Concerns SpaceX is gearing up for two Falcon 9 launches this weekend: a Project Kuiper broadband satellite mission from Cape Canaveral, weather permitting, and a west-coast flight deploying 24 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into polar LEO, marking its 98th Falcon launch of 2025.

2025-08-08T09:35:07.104637-07:00

SpaceX Targets Back-to-Back Falcon 9 Missions for Starlink and Kuiper Amid Weather Concerns

European Spaceflight

Exploration Company Wraps Up Fourth Huracan Thrust Chamber Hot-Fire Ahead of Lunar Lander Integration The Exploration Company has completed hot fire testing of the fourth iteration of its Huracan rocket engine’s thrust chamber, marking the close of its latest qualification campaign ahead of integrating the propulsion system into its planned lunar lander.

2025-08-08T07:14:45.355252-07:00

Exploration Company Wraps Up Fourth Huracan Thrust Chamber Hot-Fire Ahead of Lunar Lander Integration

Reuters

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Firefly Aerospace’s $868M IPO Surges 34% on Nasdaq Debut Firefly Aerospace raised $868 million in an upsized Nasdaq IPO priced at $45 per share, valuing the company at nearly $8.5 billion. Shares closed their first trading day up 34% despite a 9% premarket dip.

2025-08-08T05:03:40.595575-07:00

Firefly Aerospace’s $868M IPO Surges 34% on Nasdaq Debut

Reuters

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Firefly Aerospace surges 30% in Nasdaq debut, values company at $8.5 billion after historic lunar landing Firefly Aerospace (FLY) shares climbed over 30% on their Nasdaq debut, valuing the Texas-based small-launch and lunar services provider at $8.5 billion following its successful March lunar landing. CEO Jason Kim told CNBC the IPO—the third space listing this year—will accelerate its path to profitability.

2025-08-07T04:32:02.933342-07:00

Firefly Aerospace surges 30% in Nasdaq debut, values company at $8.5 billion after historic lunar landing

Space.com

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Artemis II Crew Conduct Joint Suit-Up and Orion Boarding for First Time NASA's Artemis II moon-bound astronauts teamed up in their launch and entry suits for the first time to board the Orion spacecraft, marking a key step in integrated crew and spacecraft validation ahead of the planned 2026 lunar flyby mission.

2025-08-06T09:11:34.813468-07:00

Artemis II Crew Conduct Joint Suit-Up and Orion Boarding for First Time

NASA Spaceflight

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SpaceX refits Starbase Pad 1 for Starship static-fire tests after Massey’s pad failure After Ship 36’s explosive static-fire anomaly at the Massey’s test pad on June 18, SpaceX accelerated modifications to Starbase Pad 1 to support Starship static-fire testing. Engineers installed new methane and LOX plumbing, flame diverters and sensor networks on Pad 1, enabling continued Ship validation while the primary stand undergoes repairs.

2025-08-05T09:00:11.711316-07:00

SpaceX refits Starbase Pad 1 for Starship static-fire tests after Massey’s pad failure

European Spaceflight

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SpaceForest Qualifies SF-1000 Engine for PERUN Rocket, Sets 2025 Launch Path Polish launch startup SpaceForest has successfully completed the final hot fire test of its SF-1000 engine, officially qualifying the powerplant for integration on the PERUN orbital rocket. The milestone clears a major technical hurdle and sets the stage for PERUN’s inaugural test flight targeted for late 2025.

2025-08-04T13:12:16.948272-07:00

SpaceForest Qualifies SF-1000 Engine for PERUN Rocket, Sets 2025 Launch Path

Bloomberg

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SpaceX Crew Dragon Reaches ISS in Record 15-Hour Transit SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station only 15 hours after lifting off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, beating typical 24- to 36-hour transit windows. The fast track highlights how SpaceX’s matured launch cadence and streamlined rendezvous profile are reshaping crewed spaceflight operations.

2025-08-03T15:09:45.629224-07:00

SpaceX Crew Dragon Reaches ISS in Record 15-Hour Transit

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