Welcome to Edition 6.01 of the Rocket Report! We’re celebrating five years of publishing this newsletter, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. Whether you’ve submitted a story or shared the newsletter with a friend, your contributions have been invaluable. And now, we have some exciting news to share. Starting next week, our new space hire, Stephen Clark, will be joining me in alternating the publication of the newsletter. With this new addition, we’re confident that there will be no missed issues going forward.
As always, we love hearing from our readers. If you have any stories or news to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. And if you don’t want to miss an issue, be sure to subscribe using the box below. Each report will cover small, medium, and heavy-lift rockets, as well as a sneak peek at the next three launches on the calendar.
Virgin Galactic flies commercial mission. Richard Branson’s space tourism company made history on June 29 with its first commercial flight to the edge of space. Three Italian researchers and three company employees were onboard as the spacecraft reached an altitude of over 279,000 feet. This is higher than NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration’s recognized boundary of space at 50 miles. (submitted by EllPeaTea)
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Next flight in August … Virgin Galactic’s CEO, Michael Colglazier, hailed this flight as the beginning of a “new era of repeatable and reliable access to space for private passengers and researchers.” However, the company still faces challenges. Another commercial flight is planned for August, followed by monthly revenue-earning suborbital missions.
Vega C rocket still struggling. A recent static fire test of the Vega C rocket’s second stage ended in failure. The rocket’s manufacturer, Avio, reported a reduction in overall pressure performance during the test. This setback comes as the rocket attempts to return to flight after a failure in December 2022. The European Space Agency has launched an investigation into the failure, delaying the rocket’s return until at least the first quarter of 2024. (submitted by Ken the Bin and EllPeaTea)
Astra creates spacecraft engine subsidiary. Astra is making changes to its corporate structure by creating a wholly owned subsidiary for its spacecraft engine business. This restructuring will provide greater flexibility in hiring and financing, allowing the company to attract well-qualified employees from around the world. (submitted by Ken the Bin)
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Finding new hires … Astra recently acquired electric propulsion company Apollo Fusion, but many employees from Apollo Fusion have since moved on from Astra. The impact of this on Astra’s launch business and its Rocket 4 vehicle remains uncertain. We’ll remain skeptical until we see the vehicle on the launch pad.
PLD Space postpones debut launch. Spanish launch vehicle startup PLD Space has rescheduled its suborbital test flight to September. Previous launch attempts were scrubbed due to weather and technical issues. The company cited compliance with Spanish laws and military directives as the reason for the delay. (submitted by Ken the Bin and EllPeaTea)
It’s probably more than the wildfires … During a previous launch attempt, the vehicle’s engine shut down immediately after ignition due to a failure in the separation of umbilical cables. The Miura 1 rocket is designed to splash down under a parachute and be recovered. (submitted by Ken the Bin and EllPeaTea)
Canadian spaceport hosts its first launch. Arbalest Rocketry, a rocketry team from York University in Ontario, successfully launched its amateur ‘Goose 3’ rocket from the Spaceport Nova Scotia launchpad. This event showcases the progress and excellence of Canadian rocketry and engineering education. The development of the spaceport is still in its early stages, and there are no firm plans for orbital rocket launches at this time. (submitted by Joey-SIVB)
SpaceX, the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company, has recently announced a collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to withdraw a lawsuit focused on the companies ambitious goal of launching a shuttle service in Las Vegas.
The lawsuit involved the FAA’s decision to deny the company’s license application for a rocket shuttle service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. SpaceX was accused of violating an aviation safety regulation which requires licensed operators to obtain a license from the FAA in order to transport passengers between certain cities.
Despite the setback, the SpaceX and FAA agreed to settle the lawsuit which allowed both parties to re-examine SpaceX’s application.
As the leading force in space exploration and transportation technology, SpaceX is eager to introduce its rocket tech to the skies above the Las Vegas strip. The company has stated that its goal in Las Vegas is to offer a safer, faster, and more efficient transportation option. The rocket service will be powered by SpaceX’s advanced rocket technology and allow passengers to traverse the 500 miles between Las Vegas and Los Angeles in less than half an hour.
The collaboration between SpaceX and the FAA is a step in the right direction towards introducing its groundbreaking shuttle service, and could serve as a model for how the two entities can work together in the future.
Not only does SpaceX plan to develop a shuttle service between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, but it also looks to use Las Vegas as a sort of laboratory for future technological breakthroughs. The company hopes the collaboration will result in the creation of a “revolutionary” transportation system with its technology as the centerpiece.
From the settlement, we can understand that while some high-risk ventures with SpaceX and the FAA may face some challenges, the two entities are willing to collaborate to advance a common goal: introduce a safer, more efficient way to travel.
With its ambitious goals set to take flight in the near future, SpaceX’s collaboration with the FAA could be a blueprint for the successful use of rocket technology in public transportation.
