Author: starpathwp-production
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ESA Delays First Themis Hop Test Until Spring as Sweden Site Remains Snowbound
The European Space Agency (ESA) said it is waiting for spring conditions to conduct the first hop test of its Themis reusable rocket booster demonstrator, after winter weather delayed preparations at the launch site in northern Sweden. The Themis vehicle has been stationed at the Esrange Space Centre near Kiruna since mid-2025, but heavy snow…
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U.S. Space Force Awards Rhea Space Contract to Advance Autonomous Satellite Navigation
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Rhea Space Activity Inc. (RSA) a contract to further develop its autonomous navigation software, AutoNav, as part of a project aimed at improving satellite maneuverability and resilience in contested space environments. The project, known as VANGUARD—short for Vision-based Autonomous Navigation and Guidance for Unassisted Approach, Rendezvous, and Deployment—was selected…
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ESA considers righting the wrongs of Ariane 6 by turning it into a Franken-rocket
It took a while, but a consensus has emerged in Europe that the continent’s space industry needs to develop reusable rockets. How to do it and how much to spend on it remain unresolved questions. Much of the discourse around reusable rockets in Europe has focused on developing a brand-new rocket that might eventually replace…
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South Korea’s Innospace Signs Deal to Launch Hanbit Rockets From Portugal’s Santa Maria
South Korean launch services provider Innospace has signed an agreement with the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) to conduct launches of its Hanbit rocket family from the Malbusca Spaceport on the Portuguese island of Santa Maria, expanding Europe’s emerging commercial launch infrastructure. The agreement, signed on Jan. 8, makes Innospace the first company planning orbital launches…
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China’s Landspace Secures Launch Contracts for Guowang and Qianfan Megaconstellations
Chinese commercial launch startup Landspace has secured formal contracts to launch satellites for China’s two main low Earth orbit megaconstellation projects, a move expected to help ease launch capacity constraints as deployment accelerates. Chinese media reported on Jan. 7 that Landspace had won launch service contracts for the Guowang constellation, led by state-owned China Satellite…
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MaiaSpace Says 2026 Maiden Flight Will Test ‘Minimum Viable’ Rocket Configuration
French launch startup MaiaSpace said an initial flight of its Maia rocket planned for 2026 will focus on validating core flight phases using what the company described as a “minimum viable product,” as it works toward commercial launch services from 2027. MaiaSpace, founded in 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup, is developing a…
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NASA sets milestones on the path to Artemis II crew launch
NASA has confirmed the upcoming milestones for its historic Artemis II mission—the first crewed flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, sending four astronauts on a lunar flyby for the first time in over 50 years—with rollout and Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) to set the stage for a potential launch in…
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flyExclusive Set to Bring Starlink IFC to its Fleet
Private jet operator flyExclusive is now an authorized reseller for SpaceX‘s Starlink in-flight connectivity (IFC), and is set to begin installing Starlink on its fleet. The company said Jan. 8 that installations on its Bombardier Challenger 350 fleet will begin in early 2026. flyExclusive operates more than 90 light to heavy jets and says it…
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L3Harris announces $845 million majority sale of Space Propulsion and Power Systems business
A Dual Engine Centaur upper stage for Atlas V nears completion at the factory in Decatur, Alabama. The RL10 engine marked 60 years of flight on Nov. 27, 2023. Image: United Launch Alliance On Monday, L3Harris Technologies, announced the intended sale of a majority stake in its Space Propulsion and Power Systems business to AE…