Launch
Stories about the companies building a ride to space.
SpaceX Launches Starship V3 for the First Time
SpaceX launched its Starship V3 launch vehicle for the first time on Friday, unveiling a full suite of upgrades during the rocket’s twelfth test flight.
SEOPS Will Start Waymaker LEO Rideshares In 2028
The rideshare is designed to launch time-sensitive or non-standard payloads that can’t be accommodated on existing rideshare options.
The US Needs a New Launch Site, Air Force Secretary Says
Traffic at US military launch sites is approaching max capacity.
CSF Forecasts Launch Supply Running Low
Depending on which scenario comes to fruition, the report predicts the space community will want to launch between 6,000 and 230,000 sats per year—requiring up to 7,000 launches annually, according to a release.
The State of Launch 2026
“You look at things like Golden Dome. There were a couple of capability gates there where you had to demonstrate capability by deadlines in order to be eligible to continue to compete,” Brian Rogers, Rocket Lab’s VP of launch, told Payload. “The constraints around launch can pick winners and losers there if you don’t have a way to get to space by a deadline.”
HyImpulse Signs Launch Agreement with SaxaVord
The second suborbital flight of HyImpulse’s SR75 is expected to lift off from SaxaVord no earlier than Q3 2026.
Modified Vulcan Expected to Launch This Summer
“There were some changes that we actually had in the works before the anomaly, just to improve margins in the nozzle and solid rocket booster,” Elbon said. “So we’re accelerating those, and focusing on getting those into place sooner.”
FAA Ends Part 450 Transition Period
The FAA announced Tuesday that US launchers had all transitioned to the five-year-old licensing requirements, leaving no one still operating under legacy regulations.
Canadian Launchers and Spaceport Get Funding Boost
Canada will invest in a spaceport and three young rocket systems as part of its push to build up sovereign launch capabilities, officials announced Monday.
Firefly’s Alpha Rocket Reaches Orbit
Firefly Aerospace’s ($FLY) Alpha rocket flew the first leg of a redemption arc Wednesday night.
