Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

ArianeGroup, GKN Aerospace ink frame contract for Ariane 6 operational phase

ArianeGroup has secured a new multi-year frame contract with GKN Aerospace to support Ariane 6’s transition from development to routine operations. The deal cements GKN’s role in manufacturing critical launcher components, bolstering Europe’s independent access to orbit as Ariane 6 ramps up to operational cadence.

2025-07-10T03:33:31.216255-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9’s 22nd flight

2025-07-07T18:00:27.338583-07:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches EUMETSAT’s MTG-S1 weather and Sentinel-4 air quality satellite, lands Falcon 9 at sea

2025-07-01T09:45:45.498646-07:00

Associated Press

Japan’s H-IIA Rocket Retires after 50th Launch with GOSAT-GW Climate Satellite

2025-06-28T10:03:00.053295-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

avio.com

ESA Designates Avio as Official Vega Launch Service Provider On July 10, 2025, ESA approved its new Launcher Exploitation Declaration (LED) at its Paris headquarters, officially designating Avio as the launch service provider for the Vega launcher family. The move crystallizes Europe’s efforts to overhaul its mid-lift orbital launch capability and streamline Vega operations.

2025-07-10T21:09:32.854653-07:00

ESA Designates Avio as Official Vega Launch Service Provider

Defense Daily

Rocket Lab Taps Bollinger to Retrofit 400-ft Vessel for Neutron Booster Recovery Rocket Lab has awarded Bollinger Shipyards a contract to modify a 400-foot vessel into an ocean landing platform for its reusable Neutron rocket’s first stage. The retrofit will enable sea-based booster recovery operations, advancing Neutron’s reusability demonstration and cost-cutting goals.

2025-07-10T14:04:50.647792-07:00

Rocket Lab Taps Bollinger to Retrofit 400-ft Vessel for Neutron Booster Recovery

United Press International

SpaceX to Launch Israel’s Dror-1 Comms Satellite on Falcon 9 Using New GTO-1 Adapter SpaceX is set to deploy Israel Aerospace Industries’ Dror-1 geostationary communications satellite aboard a Falcon 9 later this year, integrating the spacecraft via its new “Commercial GTO-1” payload adapter. Dror-1, built with predominantly Israeli technology, will secure national satellite comms capacity for 15 years.

2025-07-10T12:25:26.060888-07:00

SpaceX to Launch Israel’s Dror-1 Comms Satellite on Falcon 9 Using New GTO-1 Adapter

SpaceNews.com

Space VC investment rebounds to $3.2 billion in Q2 2025 as exits return Venture investments in core spacetech surged to $3.2 billion in Q2 2025, the highest quarterly total since early 2024, according to Space Capital. The uptick was driven by renewed exit activity and growing appetite for infrastructure startups spanning launch services, satellite systems and on-orbit support.

2025-07-10T05:06:29.997908-07:00

Space VC investment rebounds to $3.2 billion in Q2 2025 as exits return

SpaceNews.com

Orienspace Completes First-Stage Engine Hot Fire, Aims Gravity-2 Debut in Late 2025 Chinese commercial launch startup Orienspace has successfully hot-fired the first-stage engine of its Gravity-2 rocket, marking a key technical milestone. The company now targets a late-2025 inaugural test flight for the new launch vehicle.

2025-07-10T03:45:09.014935-07:00

Orienspace Completes First-Stage Engine Hot Fire, Aims Gravity-2 Debut in Late 2025

SpaceWatch Global

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ArianeGroup, GKN Aerospace ink frame contract for Ariane 6 operational phase ArianeGroup has secured a new multi-year frame contract with GKN Aerospace to support Ariane 6’s transition from development to routine operations. The deal cements GKN’s role in manufacturing critical launcher components, bolstering Europe’s independent access to orbit as Ariane 6 ramps up to operational cadence.

2025-07-10T03:33:31.216255-07:00

ArianeGroup, GKN Aerospace ink frame contract for Ariane 6 operational phase

SpaceNews.com

Japan’s Interstellar Secures $62M Series F to Accelerate Zero Rocket and Satellite Systems Tokyo-based Interstellar Technologies has closed a ¥8.9 billion ($61.8 million) Series F round to accelerate development of its Zero orbital launch vehicle and fund R&D on satellite platforms. The latest funding will support flight tests of Zero’s next stage and expand in-house satellite capabilities.

2025-07-10T01:20:04.836853-07:00

Japan’s Interstellar Secures $62M Series F to Accelerate Zero Rocket and Satellite Systems

Reuters

Northern Europe’s Spaceports Race to Deliver First Mainland Orbital Launch Sweden’s Esrange Space Center and Norway’s Andøya Space are vying to conduct Europe’s inaugural mainland orbital satellite launch, targeting late 2024 liftoffs. The dueling projects seek to bolster the EU’s strategic autonomy in space and reduce dependence on U.S. launch services.

2025-07-10T00:10:57.795493-07:00

Northern Europe’s Spaceports Race to Deliver First Mainland Orbital Launch

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