Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
July 13, 2025
ROCKET SCIENCE
PLD Space selected as leading contender for ESA sovereign launch initiative



Elche Spain (SPX) Jul 11, 2025
PLD Space has been chosen by the European Space Agency (ESA) as a preselected participant in the European Launcher Challenge (ELC), a major initiative designed to strengthen Europe's independent launch capabilities. Backed by up to euro 169 million per company, the ELC represents one of Spain's most significant space contract opportunities and will culminate in final selections following ESA's Ministerial Conference this November in Bremen. Launched this year, the ELC includes both institutional ... read more

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ROCKET SCIENCE
Orbex advances as UK contender in ESA launcher competition
London, UK (SPX) Jul 08, 2025
Orbex, a UK-based provider of orbital launch services, has been pre-selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for participation in the European Launcher Challenge (ELC), marking a significant reco ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China launches international association to boost global access to deep space research
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 02, 2025
China will inaugurate the International Deep Space Exploration Association (IDSEA) next Monday, marking its first international academic body dedicated to aerospace. Based in Hefei, Anhui province, ... more
DRAGON SPACE
International deep space alliance launched in Hefei China
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 08, 2025
The International Deep Space Exploration Association (IDSEA), the first global scientific body solely focused on deep space initiatives, was officially inaugurated Monday in Hefei, Anhui province. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
K2 Space validates satellite systems in orbit and fires record-breaking thruster
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2025
K2 Space Corporation has marked two major milestones as it advances toward its first full satellite launch, the GRAVITAS mission, set for early 2026 to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). The company su ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Wave-tested airbag system boosts safety for ocean spacecraft landings
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 08, 2025
As space agencies and private companies ramp up reusable spacecraft and deep-space missions, returning safely to Earth-especially via ocean splashdowns-has become a pressing challenge. A new study f ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Competing wave patterns may unlock turbulent secrets in hypersonic vehicle design
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jul 09, 2025
Recent progress in hypersonic aerodynamics has shed light on one of the field's longest-standing puzzles: the unpredictable transition from smooth to turbulent airflow around blunt-nosed vehicles. T ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Gilmour Space again delays launch of Australia's first orbital rocket
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 2, 2025
The Australian aerospace firm Gilmour Space has again delayed the launch of its Eris 1 rocket, the country's first orbital rocket. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches second mission in 2 days from same pad, breaks own record
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 28, 2025
SpaceX early Saturday launched another 27 Starlink satellites, breaking its own record by preparing the launchpad for another liftoff two days after a launch from the same pad in Florida. ... more

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS


ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA prepares sensor breakthrough for upcoming hypersonic rocket flights
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 30, 2025
NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center is preparing for the first hypersonic test flights of its Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS), a compact and lightweight technology that measures temperature an ... more
DRAGON SPACE
Chinese Long March Rockets Make International Debut at Paris Air Show
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jun 30, 2025
The Long March 6A and Long March 12 rockets have made their first international appearance at the 55th Paris Air Show, signaling China's expanding role in global space launch capabilities. These med ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab sets new turnaround record with back-to-back launches from New Zealand site
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jun 30, 2025
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has successfully launched its 68th Electron mission, marking a new record for the company with two missions from the same site in under 48 hours. The late ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Varda unveils W4 spacecraft with first FAA Part 450 reentry license and new satellite bus
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 26, 2025
Varda Space Industries launched its fourth mission, W-4, on Sunday, marking the inaugural flight of a fully integrated spacecraft built entirely in-house at its El Segundo facility. The mission, whi ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Mexico president threatens to sue over SpaceX rocket debris
Mexico City (AFP) June 25, 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday threatened legal action over falling debris and contamination from billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launches across the border in the United States. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA to Gather In-Flight Imagery of Commercial Test Capsule Re-Entry
Hampton VA (SPX) Jun 23, 2025
A NASA team specializing in collecting imagery-based engineering datasets from spacecraft during launch and reentry is supporting a European aerospace company's upcoming mission to return a subscale ... more
TECHNOLOGY NEWS


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ROCKET SCIENCE
Next generation engine initiative launched by ArianeGroup with CNES support
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 23, 2025
ArianeGroup has signed a new agreement with the French Space Agency (CNES) to spearhead the development and validation of next-generation, high-thrust rocket engines. These engines are expected to d ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA completes full-duration 'hot fire' test of new RS-25 engine
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 23, 2025
NASA fired up a full-duration test of its new RS-25 engine that will power the Space Launch System rocket on Artemis missions to the moon, the space agency announced Monday. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Space X set to launch Transporter-14 rideshare mission
Washington DC (UPI) Jun23, 2025
SpaceX is set to launch its Transporter-14 rideshare mission, carrying multiple satellites and human DNA. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX's Starship explodes in pre-flight test
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 19, 2025
A SpaceX heavy-lift Starship launch vehicle exploded late Wednesday during a pre-flight test at Starbase in Texas. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Honda hails successful test of reusable rocket
Tokyo (AFP) June 18, 2025
Japan's second-biggest carmaker Honda has successfully tested an experimental reusable rocket, the company said, as it seeks to expand into the space sector. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
India grants licence to Musk's Starlink
New Delhi (AFP) June 18, 2025
New Delhi had granted a licence to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, opening India's "next frontier of connectivity", according to the country's communications minister. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab books two responsive Electron missions for 2025 including launch this week
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jun 17, 2025
Rocket Lab has confirmed it will launch two dedicated Electron missions in 2025 for an undisclosed commercial client, with the first liftoff scheduled for as early as June 20. This rapid turnaround ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China Shenzhou XX crew advances cognitive and biotech research aboard Tiangong
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jun 17, 2025
Imagine living and working hundreds of miles above Earth for more than 50 days. That has been the reality for China's Shenzhou XX crew-Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie-currently aboard the Tia ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
UP Aerospace debuts Spyder rocket with successful hypersonic test launch
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 17, 2025
UP Aerospace has completed the inaugural launch of its Spyder hypersonic rocket, marking a major advancement in rapid-response flight capabilities. The launch occurred at 7:00 AM MST from Launch Com ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Kinetica 2 engine test hits milestone with successful multi-engine trial
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jun 16, 2025
CAS Space has completed a significant ground test of its Kinetica 2 carrier rocket engines, achieving key developmental goals in the process. The successful trial was conducted Wednesday at the comp ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
PLD Space advances MIURA 5 launch capability with TEPREL C engine tests
London, UK (SPX) Jun 12, 2025
PLD Space has reached a critical milestone in the development of its MIURA 5 orbital launcher by completing integrated testing of its TEPREL-C rocket engines. This progress marks a significant step ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab completes eighth Electron launch of 2025 deploying fifth iQPS satellite
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 12, 2025
Rocket Lab has successfully executed its 66th Electron mission, deploying the QPS-SAR-11 satellite for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS). The launch marks Rocket Lab's second mission ... more
TECHNOLOGY NEWS


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DRAGON SPACE
Chinese rocket delivers e-commerce packages in sea recovery test
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jun 11, 2025
A Chinese private rocket firm has successfully tested transporting packages from Taobao, one of the country's largest e-commerce platforms, using a reusable rocket. The rocket was later recovered fr ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Axiom-4 mission launch scrubbed as SpaceX detects leak in Falcon 9 rocket
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 10, 2025
The Axiom-4 mission launch, the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, was canceled for a second time Tuesday after SpaceX detected a liquid oxygen leak in its Falcon 9 rocket. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
In row with Trump, Musk says will end critical US spaceship program
Washington (AFP) June 6, 2025
SpaceX chief Elon Musk said Thursday he would begin "decommissioning" his company's Dragon spacecraft - vital for ferrying NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station - after US President Donald Trump threatened to terminate his government contracts. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab Schedules Third Electron Launch in 24 Days to Deploy Next Mission for iQPS
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 04, 2025
Rocket Lab has announced the launch window for its next mission for multi-launch customer, Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company. The mission, ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Maritime Launch and T-Minus Engineering Announce Plans for Hypersonic Suborbital Launches from Spaceport Nova Scotia
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 04, 2025
Maritime Launch Services Inc. (Cboe CA: MAXQ) (OTCQB: MAXQF) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with T-Minus Engineering B.V., a leading Dutch aerospace company, to launch the Barracuda, a h ... more
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