Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Ars Technica • Stephen Clark

Competitors Challenge SpaceX’s Starship Florida Plans — Who’s Interfering With Whom?

Competitors and local stakeholders are contesting SpaceX's plans to base Starship operations in Florida, urging regulators to treat liquid‑oxygen/methane vehicles as carrying “100 percent TNT blast equivalency” — a designation that could force stricter safety regimes and slow launch activity.

2025-11-24T15:04:56.907886-08:00

Reuters

NASA trims Boeing Starliner crew missions to four, converts next flight to cargo as ISS nears retirement

2025-11-24T10:27:44.947231-08:00

Space.com

China launches uncrewed Shenzhou-22 to Tiangong as contingency lifeboat for stranded crew

2025-11-24T09:15:05.915938-08:00

Ars Technica

Rocket Lab CEO on Neutron delays, New Glenn's ascent and NASA's need to 'capture the public's imagination'

2025-11-24T07:02:58.047180-08:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

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BlackSky confirms latest Gen‑3 imaging satellite in orbit after confidential Rocket Lab Electron launch BlackSky says its latest Gen‑3 Earth‑imaging satellite is in orbit following a confidential Rocket Lab Electron launch and has already returned first images. The mission demonstrates immediate operational capability and continues BlackSky’s steady constellation growth via dedicated small‑launch services.

2025-11-25T05:50:32.599401-08:00

BlackSky confirms latest Gen‑3 imaging satellite in orbit after confidential Rocket Lab Electron launch

SpaceNews.com

BlackSky announces latest Gen-3 satellite in orbit after confidential Electron launch

2025-11-25T05:50:32.599401-08:00

BlackSky announces latest Gen-

European Spaceflight

Polish consortium conducts successful test of three-stage suborbital rocket in EU-funded programme A Polish consortium conducted a successful flight test on 24 November of a three-stage suborbital rocket developed under an EU-funded programme, launching from the Central Air Forces Training Ground in Ustka. Participants included Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 1 (lead), the Military Institute of Armament Technology and GAMRAT.

2025-11-25T05:11:14.060579-08:00

Polish consortium conducts successful test of three-stage suborbital rocket in EU-funded programme

Ars Technica

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Competitors Challenge SpaceX’s Starship Florida Plans — Who’s Interfering With Whom? Competitors and local stakeholders are contesting SpaceX's plans to base Starship operations in Florida, urging regulators to treat liquid‑oxygen/methane vehicles as carrying “100 percent TNT blast equivalency” — a designation that could force stricter safety regimes and slow launch activity.

2025-11-24T15:04:56.907886-08:00

Competitors Challenge SpaceX’s Starship Florida Plans — Who’s Interfering With Whom?

rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab schedules 'Raise And Shine' — first of two dedicated Electron launches for JAXA Rocket Lab announced a launch window opening Dec. 5 UTC for Raise And Shine, the first of two dedicated Electron missions contracted by JAXA, to lift from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The flight extends a busy year of Electron operations for the company.

2025-11-24T13:50:57.876998-08:00

Rocket Lab schedules 'Raise And Shine' — first of two dedicated Electron launches for JAXA

Reuters

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NASA trims Boeing Starliner crew missions to four, converts next flight to cargo as ISS nears retirement NASA has revised Boeing's Commercial Crew contract, cutting Starliner missions from six to four and reassigning the upcoming Starliner flight in April to an uncrewed cargo-only mission. The move follows last year’s crew‑stranding anomaly and coincides with agency planning as the International Space Station approaches retirement.

2025-11-24T10:27:44.947231-08:00

NASA trims Boeing Starliner crew missions to four, converts next flight to cargo as ISS nears retirement

Space.com

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China launches uncrewed Shenzhou-22 to Tiangong as contingency lifeboat for stranded crew China launched the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft to the Tiangong space station on Nov. 24, flying an earlier-than-planned mission to deliver supplies and act as a contingency 'lifeboat' after a suspected orbital-debris strike damaged Shenzhou-20's return vehicle and left three astronauts temporarily unable to undock.

2025-11-24T09:15:05.915938-08:00

China launches uncrewed Shenzhou-22 to Tiangong as contingency lifeboat for stranded crew

European Spaceflight

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The Exploration Company opens French facility to build Europe’s cargo‑return capability The Exploration Company has opened a new facility in France, calling it “a new permanent home for building Europe’s cargo return capability.” The site will centralize work on its cargo‑return spacecraft, advancing an indigenous European capability to return payloads from orbit.

2025-11-24T09:03:06.082158-08:00

The Exploration Company opens French facility to build Europe’s cargo‑return capability

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