Satellite Launch Business

The Arianespace and ESA-set up independent inquiry commission has disclosed its conclusions on the reasons for the loss of the Vega-C VV22 mission after its launch in French Guiana on Tuesday, 20 December 2022. According to the Commission, after the nominal functioning of the Vega-C first stage P120C and nominal ignition of the second stage (Zefiro 40), a progressive decrease in the chamber pressure 151 seconds after lift-off led to the loss of the mission.

INNOSPACE has announced that it has set a new launch window from March 7 to March 21 (Brasilia Time, BRT) for the HANBIT-TLV first test flight from Brazil soil. The test will verify the flight performance of the 15-ton thrust single-stage hybrid engine from INNOSPACE.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. a launch services and space systems company, announced on the 28th of February that it has established a new wholly-owned subsidiary - Rocket Lab Australia - to explore opportunities to support the expansion of Australia’s national space capabilities. 

2023 is a pivotal year for European space domain. With several challenges knocking at its doors -among others, the necessity to sever itself from Russia and to defend its communication assets, and the lack of a heavy rocket launcher -which makes the Union dependent on the American SpaceX for constellation launches- the discussion on how and where Europe should strategically invest to remain in the game is of pivotal relevance. The debate often focuses on the amount of funding available and the magnitude of difference between Europe and the US. However, this might be an incomplete way to look at the picture. What if there are smarter ways to be independent and competitive, even with a smaller budget?

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has set May 4 for the maiden launch of its Vulcan rocket. The flight will launch Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine spacecraft to land on the Moon as well as two other payloads.

GHGSat has announced the upcoming launches of six additional satellites in 2023. The first three are GHGSat satellites, named Mey-Lin (C6), Gaspard (C7) and Océane (C8), which will travel into orbit this Spring onboard SpaceX’s Transporter-7 rideshare mission.

ClearSpace and its industrial partners have passed their first major program review with the European Space Agency (ESA) for its mission to remove a large debris object from Earth orbit. With this milestone, ClearSpace has shown the ability to meet the technology requirements this mission demands

Japan will test its next-generation rocket from Tanegashima Space Centre this Thursday. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a prime contractor have developed the H-III rocket.

SpaceWatch.Global is pleased to present: The Space Café Podcast #74: Carissa Christensen of BryceTech talks commercial potentials in the space industry and its latest innovations

Axiom Space has announced the full crew complement for Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the second all-private mission to the International Space Station (ISS).