LaunchOpinion

Opinion: Space Launch Could Falter…Big Time

This opinion piece is written by Nicholas Francoeur, an active-duty officer in the US Space Force. Most recently, he was the director of LEO and GEO operations, and was previously a senior range operations commander at Cape Canaveral. These views are his own, and do not represent the views of Payload or the military.  It’s […]

LaunchPolicy

FCC Opens Spectrum For Commercial Launch

The FCC adopted a new rule on Thursday that will ensure commercial launchers have access to the spectrum they need to communicate with the rocket during and after liftoff. The successful vote to approve the rule represents the conclusion of a multi-year push to set aside specific spectrum bands for commercial launch after FCC Chairwoman […]

Launch

Stoke Completes Static Fire for its Reusable Second Stage Rocket, Looks to Hop

While all eyes remain on Starship, another rocket startup is quietly ticking off milestones in its pursuit of full reusability. Stoke Space completed a static fire of its fully reusable second-stage rocket earlier this week. The prototype—which looks more like a fiery Tin Man than a final product—also underwent avionics, power systems, navigation, heat shield, […]

Launch

FAA Completes Starship Mishap Report Review, Launch License is Next

The FAA has completed its review of SpaceX’s Starship mishap report—a key milestone for Starship to hit the skies again for the first time since its April 20 integrated flight test that ended with a bang (literally).   “The FAA has been provided with sufficient information and accepts the root causes and corrective actions described in […]

Launch

China’s Galactic Energy Launches Rocket from the Sea

Chinese rocket startup Galactic Energy launched its Ceres-1 solid rocket from a mobile sea platform yesterday, becoming China’s first commercial rocket to achieve the feat.  The launch, which transported four IOT birds to LEO, took place off the coast of Haiyang in the Yellow Sea. Sea launcher: With this launch, China has now completed five […]

LaunchMilitary

Firefly and Millennium Ready to Launch VICTUS NOX

The DoD wants rockets on deck to launch at a moment’s notice. Firefly is rising to the challenge. The startup announced yesterday that it is officially on standby to launch the VICTUS NOX tactically responsive mission for US Space Systems Command (SSC). The Texas-based launcher and Millennium Space Systems, the payload provider for the mission, […]

Launch

Rocket Lab Aims to Launch Electron with Nine Reusable Engines

For Rocket Lab ($RKLB), the well-worn proverb is proving true: Everything old is new again. The startup is planning to launch its Electron rocket with only reused engines on a future mission TBD, the company’s CEO Peter Beck said Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter.  Beck announced the first stage full reusability goal just […]

LaunchMoon

Russia’s Luna-25 Hard Lands on the Moon

The lunar surface has claimed another victim.  Russia’s Luna-25 crash-landed on the Moon this weekend after the spacecraft fired its engines in an attempt to maneuver into its pre-landing orbit. The failed mission is a blow to the Russian space program, which hoped for a triumphant return to the lunar surface after a 47-year absence. […]

LaunchStartups

For The Spaceport Company, the Water is Calling

When Tom Marotta founded The Spaceport Company last year, he knew he was entering a domain usually reserved for governments or large corporations.  “I said I think I want to go build a spaceport,” Marotta told Payload. “Which is a weird thing to say, right? “It’s like saying I want to go build a railroad […]

Launch

Northrop Grumman Says Goodbye to Russian Engines

Northrop Grumman’s farewell launch of its Antares 230+ rocket on Tuesday marked the end of an era for Russian tech on the company’s launch vehicles. The Antares 230+ was powered by Russia’s RD-181 engines. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the US intensified sanctions against Moscow and rocket technology transfers—including the RD-181—came to a screeching […]

Launch

SpaceX Tests its Starship Water Deluge Flame Deflector

SpaceX completed the first full-throttle test of its water deluge system at Starbase on Friday, setting the stage for a Super Heavy booster static fire on the new system.  “New water deluge system to protect against the immense heat & force of Starship launch,” Elon Musk tweeted after the test.  The system: The water-cooled steel […]

LaunchPolicy

House Approves FAA Reauthorization Bill

Lawmakers are trying to make sure the growing pace of commercial space launches can peacefully coexist with commercial air travel. The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which addresses the fight over shared airspace, passed the House on Thursday by a 351-69 vote, sending the bill to be considered by the Senate. […]