Increasing production of Rocket 3 series … “We were really just planning on making about eight of these rockets. Weve increased the production run for the Rocket 3 series to a lots. Rocket 4.0 will consist of a brand-new engine– replacing the Delphin and Aether first- and second-stage engines currently utilized on Rocket 3– with “much higher performance,” according to Kemp.
Launcher unveils orbital transfer vehicle. The little launch company stated Wednesday it is building a “universal orbital transfer vehicle and satellite platform” to accommodate small satellites. The car can carry as much as 150 kg of consumer satellite payloads and, using its independent propulsion system, will deliver customer satellites to wanted orbits.
Double compatibility … The transfer car has actually been developed to be suitable with both the Launcher Light car, under development, as well as SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. The new orbiter is contracted to make its inaugural flight to Sun-synchronous orbit via a Falcon 9 ride-share objective in October 2022. Launchers own small orbital launch car is slated for its first flight in 2024. (sent by Ken the Bin).
Phantom Space names VP of launch ops. The Arizona-based start-up revealed Tuesday that it has worked with Mark Lester to serve as its Vice President of Launch Operations.
Phantom space, real rocket? … “My objective is to move Phantom Space and the total commercial area launch market into a brand-new age of safe, regular, and on-demand access to area for the masses,” Lester said in the news release. Phantom Space, co-founded by Jim Cantrell, is targeting the very first quarter of 2023 for its very first orbital launch. Those familiar with Cantrells past launch ventures may have some hesitation about that date.
China releases first crewed mission in almost five years. The Shenzhou-12 spacecraft docked with Chinas space station module hours after releasing late Wednesday, marking the first crewed see to the brand-new facility, SpaceNews reports. Shenzhou-12 and its team of 3 launched on a Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch. Astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo will spend three months aboard the 16.6-meter-long, 4.2-meter-diameter Tianhe module.
A record-length spaceflight … The crewed objective is the third of 11 launches prepared for the building and construction of the three-module Chinese Space Station, which is called “Harmony of the Heavens.” Chinas seventh crewed flight in general, this mission is prepared to far surpass the Chinese human spaceflight period record of 33 days set by Shenzhou-11 in 2016. (sent by EllPeaTea and Ken the Bin).
Falcon 9 lofts very first national security objective on utilized booster. Shortly before twelve noon on Thursday, regional time, a Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying a GPS III satellite for the United States Space Force. As Ars reports, this is the first time a national security objective has flown on a previously used Falcon 9 first phase. This rocket previously released another GPS satellite in November 2020.
Sending a signal … This represents an important signal from the military that it is all set to welcome recycled rockets for its crucial objectives. The launch is likewise something of a final frontier for SpaceX as it looks for to press forward the reuse of Falcon 9 first phases. NASA has currently launched its highest-value objectives– astronauts– on a recycled first phase with the Crew-2 flight in April.
NASA sets Halloween launch date for Crew-3. NASA said this week it has actually changed target launch and return dates for upcoming crew missions to and from the International Space Station based upon going to automobile traffic. NASAs SpaceX Crew-3 mission will now target a launch on a Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than Sunday, October 31, with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron, and Dr. Tom Marshburn in addition to ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer.
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Welcome to Edition 4.03 of the Rocket Report! This week saw 2 considerable launches back-to-back. On Wednesday night, US time, China launched its first crewed objective to its brand-new spaceport station, which was likewise the countrys first human spaceflight in nearly 5 years. And then, less than a day later, the United States Space Force joined the ranks of reusable launch clients.
As constantly, we invite reader submissions, and if you do not wish to miss out on a problem, please subscribe using the box below (the type will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the website). Each report will consist of info on little-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets in addition to a glance ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.
Blue Origin sells first New Shepard seat for $28 million. A ticket to take a brief trip to space with Amazon creator Jeff Bezos on July 20 has been sold at auction for $28 million.
Two guests yet unnamed … The identity of the winning bidder has actually not yet been made public however will be revealed in the coming weeks, Blue Origin stated. The “last and 4th” passenger will be announced quickly, the company said.
Rocket Lab will develop 2 little Mars spacecraft. Rocket Lab said Tuesday it has been granted a subcontract by the University of California, Berkeleys Space Sciences Laboratory to design 2 Photon spacecraft for a clinical mission to Mars.
Not introducing on an Electron … The two spacecraft are prepared for launch in 2024 to Mars, ride-sharing aboard a NASA-provided launch car. After an 11-month journey to Mars, the Photon spacecraft will place themselves into elliptical orbits around Mars and perform a 1-year main science objective. Needless to say, developing even a small Mars spacecraft is a big step forward for the New Zealand launch company. And NASA, too, is worthy of credit for expanding its Solar System exploration program to alternative approaches. (submitted by platykurtic and Ken the Bin).

Not releasing on an Electron … The two spacecraft are prepared for launch in 2024 to Mars, ride-sharing aboard a NASA-provided launch automobile. … “My goal is to move Phantom Space and the overall business area launch market into a brand-new era of safe, regular, and on-demand access to space for the masses,” Lester said in the news release. Shenzhou-12 and its team of three introduced on a Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch. The core phase for NASAs very first Space Launch System rocket has actually been set up between two solid-fueled boosters on a mobile launch platform at the Kennedy Space Center, Spaceflight Now reports. NASA hopes to introduce the SLS and Orion crew pill on an uncrewed test flight around the Moon as quickly as late November, however this launch, in all likelihood, will slip into 2022.

One crew gets here, one leaves … Following Crew-3s arrival, Crew-2 NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Aki Hoshide, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet are targeting early- to mid-November for a return to Earth inside Crew Dragon Endeavour off the coast of Florida. The next crew-rotation mission is targeted for no earlier than mid-April 2022, but whether this will be a SpaceX or Boeing mission will be figured out at a later date. (sent by Ken the Bin).
Space Force stands up “Space Safari” program. The US Space Force just recently created the Space Safari Program Office to rapidly acquire, integrate, and execute specific launch requirements. “These objectives are not typically a part of an enduring program of record, but react to high concern requires to release space systems rapidly to react to emerging dangers,” the Space and Missile Systems Center stated in a news release.
Three weeks to get all set … The launch of the Odyssey objective on a Pegasus XL rocket last Sunday provides an example of this type of ability. The Space Forces technology demonstration satellite was developed in less than a year, and Pegasus operator Northrop Grumman was provided simply 3 weeks to prepare yourself for the flight. “The Space Safari team means to forge ahead when it concerns the US Space Forces capability to quickly prepare and perform all aspects of future area objectives,” said Col. Dennis Bythewood, Director of Special Programs. The armed force has long desired have a quick, responsive launch ability. (sent by Ken the Bin and Rendgrish).
SLS core stage bolted to strong boosters. The core phase for NASAs first Space Launch System rocket has been set up between two solid-fueled boosters on a mobile launch platform at the Kennedy Space Center, Spaceflight Now reports. A “soft mate” between the core phase and strong rocket boosters, longer variations of the solid-fueled motors utilized on the space shuttle bus, was completed in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building on Saturday evening, followed by a “difficult mate” on Sunday.
The SLS main phase is suspended between the Northrop Grumman-made boosters, which are stacked on mounting pins on the mobile launch platform. NASA hopes to introduce the SLS and Orion team capsule on an uncrewed test flight around the Moon as soon as late November, however this launch, in all possibility, will slip into 2022.
Blue Origin looks for chief engineer for New Glenn. In a new task posting on LinkedIn, Blue Origin is working with a chief engineer for the first phase of its New Glenn rocket. Amongst the duties, per the job posting, is to “Provide independent evaluation of restorative actions for major failures at the program/product level and work with functional supervisors in attending to systemic problems.”.
Just basic language … So is the wording of this publishing reflective of major problems with New Glenn or simply boilerplate language? Its the latter, a spokeswoman for the company told Ars, saying, “We couldve done a much better job phrasing that bullet point in the task description– this is not an indication of any failures, its a part of a chief engineers function to address, prevent and alleviate any prospective failures.”.
On Friday, June 11, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz wrote to SpaceX Senior Director Shyamal Patel regarding the companys closure of 2 county roadways near its Starship build site in South Texas. When personnel members from the DAs workplace tried to drive on these public roads, they were disallowed by SpaceX security.
” The actions of SpaceX and its personnel … may make up criminal activities in the state of Texas,” Saenz composed. The original complaint came from the “Save RGV” organization, which seeks to decrease impacts from SpaceXs activities on the Rio Grande Valley. SpaceX was asked to respond to the issues raised in Saenzs letter by Monday, June 14.
Next three launches.
Three Yaogan satellites
Transporter 2 ride-share objective

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Minotaur 1 rocket makes a rare look. For the very first time in almost 8 years, a Minotaur 1 rocket released into area Tuesday from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The rocket, which is stemmed from Cold War-era surplus missiles, brought 3 categorized satellites into orbit for the United States National Reconnaissance Office, Ars reports.
Not old area, but oldest area … The Minotaur 1, which has the capability to launch a little more than 500 kg into low Earth orbit, is a mix of decades-old technology and modern avionics. The lorrys 2nd and first phases are taken from a repurposed Minuteman II missile, the 2nd generation of land-based, solid-fuel global ballistic rockets. The Minuteman II rockets were retired in 1970.
The California companys CEO, Chris Kemp, told NASASpaceflight.com that Astra will release its next booster, Rocket 3.3, as early as this summer. By the end of the year, the Rocket 3 series is planned to introduce on a regular monthly basis, Kemp stated. Far, Astra has actually reached space, with the launch of Rocket 3.2 last December.
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Increase the size of/ A Falcon 9 rocket goes supersonic on Thursday, releasing a GPS III satellite for the Space Force.