New Small Launchers are in Decline
Outside of the established companies, investment in small US launchers has slowed to a crawl, forcing dozens of companies to go dormant, or pivot to defense.
Rockets
Stories about rockets, and the companies that build them.
SpaceX’s Starship Flight Ends Early in Somersaults
SpaceX lost its Starship second stage nine minutes into its eighth test flight Thursday, scattering debris over the Carribean—a scene nearly identical to its last failed test flight in January.
Space-Related Traffic Could Choke Port Canaveral
The rise of reusable rockets launching from the world’s busiest spaceport has led to an inconspicuous side effect on Earth: a traffic jam at Port Canaveral.
SpaceX Loses Starship on Seventh Test Flight
This was the first flight of a new version of Starship.
Texas Space Incubator Awards Rocket Club Grants
A nonprofit working to develop the space workforce pipeline in Texas has awarded its first two grants to rocket teams at Rice University and Texas A&M, the cofounders of the group told Payload.
Rocket Lab Does the Daily Double
The company has now flown 14 Electron missions this year.
Blue Origin Flies Six on 28th New Shepard Mission
New Shepard’s four flights in 2024 match 2022 as the second-busiest year for the vehicle since 2021.
Is Relativity On The Rocks?
The rocketmaker has has raised more than $2B since 2015.
Ursa Major Wins New US Industrial Base Funding
The end goal is to produce 50 to 100 liquid-fueled rocket engines a year.