Last Thursday and Friday, we asked readers: “Now that Starship is moving forward in South Texas, we want to hear your predictions. When will Starship make its first orbital flight attempt?” We received 145 votes in total.
The results:
SpaceX Announces New Starbase, Louisiana Spaceport
Gwynne Shotwell joined Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Tuesday to announce a high-cadence launch site for future Starship operations.
Letara Raises ¥2.6B to Build its Hybrid Rocket Engine Tech
Japanese propulsion startup Letara closed a ¥2.6B ($16M) pre-Series A round to fund the development of its low-cost, hybrid engine tech.
Portal Books Dedicated Falcon 9 Amid Constrained Launch Market
While Thornburg said Portal is expected to take up about half of the fairing with its own spacecraft, it’s working with launch integrator Maverick Space Systems to sell the other half to customers looking for rideshare opportunities in a turbulent market.
SEOPS Doubles Down on Waymaker Dedicated Rideshare Program
The end of SpaceX’s Transporter program could leave a giant hole for space startups looking for cost effective rides to orbit. SEOPS is trying to fill it.
There’s a new intelligence unit in town.
On Friday, the US Space Force announced the establishment of Space Delta 18 and the National Space Intelligence Center, which will begin supplying US lawmakers with intelligence about the space domain.
Space Delta 18, so named because USSF is the 18th US entity to join the intelligence community, will employ 345 personnel in two former Air Force units:
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