Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

CNBC • Samantha Subin

Musk publicly attacks acting NASA chief after agency reopens Artemis lander competition

Elon Musk publicly attacked acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy, calling him “Sean Dummy” and accusing him of “trying to kill NASA” after Duffy said SpaceX was behind schedule and moved to reopen the Artemis III Human Landing System competition, inviting other contractors to bid.

2025-10-21T10:42:39.665691-07:00

Ars Technica

NASA reopens Artemis III lunar-lander competition, putting SpaceX award back into play

2025-10-20T15:13:10.980624-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Orion stacked atop SLS as Artemis II advances despite U.S. government shutdown

2025-10-21T05:00:03.368507-07:00

Reuters

NASA to reopen Artemis 3 lunar lander competition, putting SpaceX award back into play

2025-10-20T06:28:25.249950-07:00

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News Timeline

Runway Girl

Viasat to launch ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 on ULA Atlas V551, more than doubling fleet capacity Viasat will soon launch ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 (F2) atop a ULA Atlas V551 from Cape Canaveral's SLC‑41 in mid–late October 2025. Built by Boeing on the high‑power 702MP+ bus with all‑electric propulsion, F2 will more than double Viasat's global broadband capacity when operational.

2025-10-22T06:59:09.960300-07:00

Viasat to launch ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 on ULA Atlas V551, more than doubling fleet capacity

Payload

Quantum Space to launch Ranger Prime in 2026 to validate Golden Dome technologies Quantum Space will launch its Ranger Prime maneuverable spacecraft in 2026 for an orbital demonstration to validate technologies necessary for the Pentagon’s Golden Dome space‑based missile‑defense concept. The flight will exercise Ranger’s propulsion, maneuvering and payload integration capabilities ahead of potential defense applications.

2025-10-22T05:16:50.775554-07:00

Quantum Space to launch Ranger Prime in 2026 to validate Golden Dome technologies

SpaceWatch Global

Space Forge Successfully Deploys Origami-Based 'Pridwen' Heat Shield in Zero Gravity Space Forge Inc. successfully trialed deployment of its Pridwen heat shield, an origami-based stowable thermal protection system, during a zero-gravity flight. The test demonstrated Pridwen can unfurl and lock in microgravity, validating the concept's basic in-space deployment mechanics ahead of further thermal and reentry evaluations.

2025-10-22T01:48:18.408615-07:00

Space Forge Successfully Deploys Origami-Based 'Pridwen' Heat Shield in Zero Gravity

SpaceWatch Global

Global space‑tech VC rebounds in September 2025 — $1.5B invested across 39 deals September 2025 saw a rebound in global space‑tech venture capital, with investors committing more than $1.5 billion across 39 disclosed deals worldwide. The month’s activity signals renewed investor appetite for startups across launch, satellite and downstream space services.

2025-10-22T01:16:31.511522-07:00

Global space‑tech VC rebounds in September 2025 — $1.5B invested across 39 deals

The War Zone

Lockheed to test a Golden Dome space‑based missile interceptor in orbit by 2028 Lockheed Martin will test a space‑based missile interceptor in orbit by 2028 as part of the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile‑defense concept. Space‑based interceptors are central to Golden Dome’s architecture but remain among its most technically and operationally challenging elements to develop and field.

2025-10-21T14:23:00.603761-07:00

Lockheed to test a Golden Dome space‑based missile interceptor in orbit by 2028

CNBC

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Musk publicly attacks acting NASA chief after agency reopens Artemis lander competition Elon Musk publicly attacked acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy, calling him “Sean Dummy” and accusing him of “trying to kill NASA” after Duffy said SpaceX was behind schedule and moved to reopen the Artemis III Human Landing System competition, inviting other contractors to bid.

2025-10-21T10:42:39.665691-07:00

Musk publicly attacks acting NASA chief after agency reopens Artemis lander competition

SpaceNews.com

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Orion stacked atop SLS as Artemis II advances despite U.S. government shutdown NASA installed the Artemis II Orion crew capsule atop its Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center as teams continue prelaunch processing during a U.S. federal government shutdown. The stacking advances preparations for the crewed lunar flyby NASA is targeting for February 2026.

2025-10-21T05:00:03.368507-07:00

Orion stacked atop SLS as Artemis II advances despite U.S. government shutdown

Universe Today

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Claims of a NASA 'cover‑up' and an ESA leak fuel debate over interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as missions mobilise Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb alleges NASA concealed data on interstellar object 3I/ATLAS and a purported ESA whistleblower claims an 'engine‑like' signature; scientists rebut sensational interpretations while agencies task telescopes and spacecraft to study the comet's growing tail.

2025-10-21T04:16:43.269633-07:00

Claims of a NASA 'cover‑up' and an ESA leak fuel debate over interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as missions mobilise

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