Tag: Launch Vehicle Platforms
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Rocket Lab’s Hungry Hippo Fairing Reaches Virginia for Neutron’s Debut Launch
Rocket Lab Corporation, a global leader in launch services and space systems, announced the arrival of its “Hungry Hippo” captive fairing – a world-first for a commercial rocket – to Virginia for its Neutron rocket. After clearing qualification testing late last year, the Hungry Hippo has been delivered to Wallops Island in Virginia and transported…
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ULA Advances Atlas V as a Proven Launch System for Mission-Critical Spaceflight
United Launch Alliance (ULA) advances the Atlas V launch vehicle as a cornerstone of the mission-assured launch portfolio. Already well established in operational service, Atlas V continues to support a wide range of civil, commercial and national security missions that require high reliability, precise orbital insertion and flexible mission design. Atlas V is a two-stage…
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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Mission NG-2 Demonstrates Heavy-Lift Reusable Launch
Blue Origin, a US aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos and focused on expanding access to space, has successfully completed Mission NG-2, the second orbital flight of the New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle. The mission, conducted on November 13, 2025, delivered NASA’s twin ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft into a designated…
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Rocket Lab Ends 2025 with 21 Launches and 100% Mission Success Following iQPS Mission
Rocket Lab, a global leader in launch services and space systems, successfully launched its 21st Electron rocket of the year to deploy the latest satellite into space for multi-launch customer Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company. ‘The Wisdom God Guides’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1…
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Isar Aerospace Advances First Test Flight With Spectrum Launch Vehicle
Isar Aerospace, a European launch-vehicle manufacturer focused on dedicated small-satellite access to space is progressing toward its first test flight of the Spectrum launch vehicle. The test flight represents a major milestone in the company’s development roadmap and forms a critical step toward establishing a commercially available, European-built orbital launch service. The first test flight…
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Rocket Lab Certifies Hungry Hippo Fairing for Inaugural Neutron Launch
Rocket Lab Corporation, a global leader in launch services and space systems, announced that the Neutron launch vehicle’s innovative “Hungry Hippo” captive fairing has successfully completed qualification testing and is en route to Virginia for Neutron’s first launch. Dubbed the Hungry Hippo, Neutron’s fairing halves remain attached to the rocket’s first stage throughout launch and…
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PLD Space Unveils Fully Integrated MIURA 5 Model Ahead of 2026 Orbital Debut
PLD Space, an international space transportation company, has unveiled the first fully integrated MIURA 5 unit, the Qualification Model 1 (QM1), marking a decisive step forward in the orbital launcher validation campaign. This unit will enable the completion of full rocket subsystem testing, such as the first and second stages, under real conditions, to minimise…
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Isar Aerospace and ESA Sign Contract to Launch Mission Under the EU Horizon Program
Isar Aerospace has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch the ΣYNDEO-3 mission under the European Union’s In-Orbit Demonstration and In-Orbit Validation Programme (IOD/IOV). The launch will be carried out from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway from Q4 2026. “Our launch manifest is filling rapidly, as…
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Arianespace Successfully Launches KOMPSAT-7 on Vega C Rocket
Arianespace successfully launched the KOMPSAT-7 (KOrea Multi-Purpose SATellite-7) satellite. The mission, called “VV28”, was performed using an Arianespace-operated Vega C rocket, launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. KOMPSAT-7 was placed in Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 576 km. Spacecraft separation took place 44 minutes after lift-off. David Cavaillolès, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace,…
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Isar Aerospace to Launch SEOPS Mission in 2028 Using Spectrum Rocket
Satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace has signed a launch service agreement with SEOPS, a U.S.-based integration and mission services provider, for a dedicated mission scheduled in 2028. Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’ will deploy multiple payloads into a low Earth orbit (LEO) from its dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway. “The global demand…