Tag: Orbital Manufacturing
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SpaceX Debuts Starfall Reentry Vehicle for Microgravity Research and In-Space Manufacturing
SpaceX has conducted the first demonstration flight of Starfall, a new reentry spacecraft designed to support microgravity research, in-space manufacturing, and the return of payloads from orbit. The Starfall demonstration mission launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday, marking the first public flight of the vehicle.…
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Japanese Reentry Startup ElevationSpace Raises $40 Million Series B to Expand Global Operations
Japanese space technology startup ElevationSpace has raised $40 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to approximately $63.5 million as the company advances its satellite reentry and space transportation technologies. The latest round included participation from existing investors SPARX Asset Management and Beyond Next Ventures, alongside several corporate investors, including automotive…
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Varda Successfully Reenters W-5 Capsule, Marks First Fully Integrated Mission
Varda Space Industries said it has successfully completed the reentry and recovery of its W-5 capsule, marking the first time the company has flown a mission using its own vertically integrated satellite bus from launch through atmospheric return. The capsule, which carried a payload for the U.S. Navy, landed within a designated recovery zone at…
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CAS Space Tests Suborbital Vehicle for Space Tourism and Microgravity Research
Chinese commercial aerospace firm CAS Space has completed a successful test flight of its Lihun-1 Y1 suborbital vehicle, a step toward developing space tourism and commercial microgravity applications, according to a report by Xinhua. The test flight saw the capsule reach a maximum altitude of 120 kilometres before returning safely to the Jiuquan launch site…
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Acme Space to Test Balloon-Rocket Hybrid Vehicle in 2026 Ahead of Orbital Manufacturing Plans
London-based Acme Space said it plans to begin flight testing its balloon-rocket hybrid launch vehicle in the new year, as it prepares for commercial in-orbit manufacturing missions targeted for 2027. The company said it is already working with two unnamed pharmaceutical firms to develop protein crystal growth payloads for its first operational flights. The vehicle,…