Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Associated Press • Marcia Dunn

SpaceX completes 11th Starship test, retires Version 2 ahead of upgraded lunar/Mars prototype

SpaceX flew a nearly flawless suborbital test—its 11th Starship flight—deploying test satellites and returning the vehicle largely intact. It was the final flight of the Version 2 Starship–Super Heavy before the company begins test-launching an upgraded prototype configured for lunar and Mars missions.

2025-10-13T17:07:45.617123-07:00

Space.com

Study: surge in satellite launches sharply raises collision risk in low Earth orbit

2025-10-13T14:09:45.755855-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

Starship Flight 11 marks end of one development era and opens a new phase

2025-10-12T13:41:22.449965-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX delays KF-03 Kuiper launch to Oct. 11; 24 Amazon satellites moved to Cape Canaveral evening window

2025-10-09T09:29:35.715597-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Space.com

Rocket Lab to launch 'Owl New World' — Japanese Earth‑imaging satellite — today at 12:30 p.m. ET Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch 'Owl New World' today, Oct. 14, at 12:30 p.m. ET, carrying a Japanese Earth‑imaging satellite into low Earth orbit. The mission will be watched for orbital insertion and subsequent payload commissioning updates.

2025-10-13T21:03:03.378335-07:00

Rocket Lab to launch 'Owl New World' — Japanese Earth‑imaging satellite — today at 12:30 p.m. ET

Associated Press

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SpaceX completes 11th Starship test, retires Version 2 ahead of upgraded lunar/Mars prototype SpaceX flew a nearly flawless suborbital test—its 11th Starship flight—deploying test satellites and returning the vehicle largely intact. It was the final flight of the Version 2 Starship–Super Heavy before the company begins test-launching an upgraded prototype configured for lunar and Mars missions.

2025-10-13T17:07:45.617123-07:00

SpaceX completes 11th Starship test, retires Version 2 ahead of upgraded lunar/Mars prototype

SpaceNews.com

Surprise Long March‑2D launch places Shiyan‑31 optical test satellite into orbit On Oct. 13, 2025 China conducted an unannounced Long March‑2D launch from Jiuquan, placing the Shiyan‑31 optical remote‑sensing test satellite into orbit. State reports say the spacecraft will trial new imaging and sensor technologies over the coming weeks.

2025-10-13T14:55:49.037768-07:00

Surprise Long March‑2D launch places Shiyan‑31 optical test satellite into orbit

Space.com

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Study: surge in satellite launches sharply raises collision risk in low Earth orbit A new study warns that the accelerating pace of satellite launches is sharply increasing collision risk in low Earth orbit, raising the frequency of close approaches and heightening the danger of cascading debris incidents that could disrupt satellites, services and on‑orbit operations.

2025-10-13T14:09:45.755855-07:00

Study: surge in satellite launches sharply raises collision risk in low Earth orbit

Ars Technica

Hans Koenigsmann, who investigated all of SpaceX’s rocket failures, is going to space Hans Koenigsmann, the longtime SpaceX engineer who led investigations into the company’s rocket failures, will fly to space, saying he’s “always been interested to experience Max Q from the inside.” The trip places a veteran flight‑reliability investigator aboard a commercial crewed mission.

2025-10-13T08:40:35.388347-07:00

Hans Koenigsmann, who investigated all of SpaceX’s rocket failures, is going to space

European Spaceflight

DLR delivers qualification model of CALLISTO landing leg to Bremen for testing The DLR Institute of Structures and Design has delivered the qualification model of the CALLISTO reusable rocket demonstrator’s landing leg to Bremen, where it will undergo structural and qualification testing. The hardware marks a key verification step for CALLISTO’s recovery and reusability validation campaign.

2025-10-13T07:53:28.320835-07:00

DLR delivers qualification model of CALLISTO landing leg to Bremen for testing

SpaceNews.com

Momentus and Solstar team up to deliver communications, transport and infrastructure in LEO Momentus and Solstar have formed a partnership to provide integrated communications, orbital transportation and on‑orbit infrastructure services in low‑Earth orbit. The tie-up pairs Momentus’s in‑space transport and logistics capabilities with Solstar’s satellite communications expertise to serve commercial and government LEO customers.

2025-10-13T05:08:35.468238-07:00

Momentus and Solstar team up to deliver communications, transport and infrastructure in LEO

Bloomberg

NASA revises ISS visit for Sierra Space, deepening uncertainty over Dream Chaser NASA revised plans to send Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spacecraft to the International Space Station, a move that marks a fresh setback for Sierra Space and deepens uncertainty over the program’s scheduling and future ISS access. The change raises fresh questions about the vehicle’s near‑term role in LEO operations.

2025-10-12T21:28:53.023692-07:00

NASA revises ISS visit for Sierra Space, deepening uncertainty over Dream Chaser

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