SpaceX concluded another successful Transporter ridesharing mission on Saturday (November 11), with Transporter-9 carrying over 110 satellites and payloads into orbit for companies including Planet Labs, GHGSat, and FoxConn into orbit following a successful launch at Vandenberg Air Force base in California.  Transporters, Launchers, and Tugs The “Transporter” SmallSat ridesharing missions are intended to democratize access to space by bundling together a large number of small satellites, many of them […] The post Transporter-9 Carries Over 100 Satellites to Space appeared first on Parabol ..read more

Welcome to the Launch Roundup! In this edition, SpaceX sent a NASA spacecraft on a journey to an asteroid and continued to deploy its Starlink broadband constellation. China might be preparing to launch a new crew to the Tiangong space station later this month. Recent Launches A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched NASA’s Psyche spacecraft to the asteroid 16 Psyche from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 13. Psyche will […] The post Launch Roundup – SpaceX Sends Psyche to an Asteroid appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

Welcome to Biz Briefs! In this edition, SpaceX filed to launch nearly 30,000 additional communications satellites, and received an investment from Italy’s largest bank, Intelsat signed a multi-launch deal with Relativity Space, Axiom and the European Space Agency (ESA) deepened their partnership, Arnhem Space Centre got a new general manager, and much more. SpaceX SpaceX files to deploy nearly 30,000 satellites SpaceX has filed paperwork with the International Telecommunications Union to […] The post Biz Briefs – SpaceX Files to Launch 30,000 Additional Satellites appeared first on Parabo ..read more

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Friday (September 8) that it closed the investigation into the failure of SpaceX’s Starship/Super Heavy rocket in April and that SpaceX must make 63 corrective actions before the booster can launch for a second time. “Corrective actions include redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness, incorporation of additional reviews in the design […] The post FAA Closes Starship Mishap Investigation appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

Welcome to Biz Briefs! In this edition, the FAA told SpaceX there’s more work to do before Starship can be launched again, ICEYE and Viasat won contracts, an Indian Earth observation company raised $15 million, Redwire 3D-printed human knee meniscus in orbit, and much more. SpaceX’s Next Starship Launch Date Uncertainty “Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X on September 5. The post […] The post Biz Briefs – SpaceX Starship Launch on Hold, India’s EO Company SatSure Closes Series A appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

Welcome to the Launch Roundup! In this edition, SpaceX set a new record for the number of launches in a year, Japan’s Moon mission is ready to go, India launched a solar observatory, Amazon was sued over its decision to award launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX and Firefly won launch contracts, the timing of Ariane 6’s maiden flight remains as uncertain as ever, and much more. Booster bytes Recent launches […] The post Launch Roundup – SpaceX Sets New Record, Japanese Moon Mission Rescheduled appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

Welcome to the Launch Roundup! In this edition, a new crew arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX has now launched more than 5,000 Starlink satellites, Rocket Lab reused an engine, weather delayed the launch of Japan’s Moon mission and an American military satellite, and there was no joy in North Korea following a recent launch failure. Recent launches NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, European Space Agency […] The post Launch Roundup – New Crew Arrives at ISS, Starlink Hits 5K appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

Welcome to the Launch Roundup! In this week’s edition, crew and cargo ships are heading for the International Space Station, a Japanese spacecraft will be launched to the moon, and SpaceX reached one milestone in deploying its Starlink constellation and should reach another one later today (August 22). But, first some Flight Bytes about Virgin Galactic’s next launch, skepticism about Spaceport America, India’s new spaceport, and Rocket Lab’s latest contract. […] The post Launch Roundup – New Space Station Crew Prepares for Flight appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

In addition to this week’s Launch Roundup, we thought we would look at how China’s leading launch provider is facing competition while SpaceX has consolidated its hold on the US market. Chinese launchers Launches: 31-0 (through July 27)Launch Providers: 7 The government-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has long dominated the Chinese launch market with its Long March family of boosters. In recent years, however, the government has […] The post CASC Faces Competition in Chinese Launch Market, SpaceX Dominates in US appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more

The rise of SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic is opening up the thrills of riding rockets, floating in microgravity, and staring open-mouthed at spectacular views of Earth to those wealthy or lucky enough to book a flight. But while more private companies are flying individuals into space, governments around the world remain key to the success of commercial flight providers and future private space stations. Consider the case of […] The post Government Remains Crucial for Private Human Spaceflight Companies appeared first on Parabolic Arc ..read more