Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
January 02, 2025
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches final mission of 2024 with 21 Starlink satellites



Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 31, 2024
SpaceX successfully completed its final launch of a record-breaking year early Tuesday morning, deploying 21 Starlink satellites into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 12:39 a.m. EST, marking the company's 134th orbital mission in 2024. "This is the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, BlueBird-1, USSF-124, mPOWER-B, and 11 Starlink missions," SpaceX noted. ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX winds down 2024 with a pair of Falcon 9 launches
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 29, 2024
SpaceX completed back-to-back missions of two Falcon 9 rockets over the weekend, delivering 22 Starlink satellites and Astranis's One to Many Mission into orbit, the 132nd and 133rd missions of the year. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
XBow Systems expands defense contract for hypersonic solid rocket motors
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 23, 2024
X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a key innovator in solid rocket motor (SRM) production and defense technology, has announced an expansion of its U.S. Department of Defense contract to supply large SRMs ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Second Ariane 6 components assembled at Europe's Spaceport
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 25, 2024
The assembly of Europe's second Ariane 6 rocket, designated VA263, is underway at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana following the arrival of its primary components. The core and upper stages were ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Improving precision landing of reusable rockets
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
Powered descent guidance (PDG) plays a critical role in enabling reusable rockets to achieve precise landings on Earth. Unlike lunar or planetary landings, endoatmospheric PDG must contend with comp ... more
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China's human spaceflight program achieves key milestones in 2024
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 28, 2024
China concluded a busy year in its human spaceflight program with the launch of the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft on November 16, marking the completion of the country's 2024 space missions. This year ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Fit for service Themis reusable rocket stage reaches key development milestone
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 25, 2024
In December 2024, Europe's Themis reusable rocket first-stage demonstrator successfully completed a critical 'full fit-check' at ArianeGroup's Les Mureaux facility in France. This significant ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
India rocket launches space docking mission
New Delhi (AFP) Dec 30, 2024
India launched a rocket Monday carrying two small spacecraft to test docking in space, a critical step for the country's dreams of a space station and a manned Moon mission. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Launch of China's Lijian 1 Y6 commercial rocket ends in failure
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 28, 2024
China's Lijian-1 Y6 carrier rocket, a cornerstone of the nation's growing commercial space ambitions, failed during its launch on Friday. The mission was conducted at a commercial aerospace innovati ... more

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS


ROCKET SCIENCE
Vega poised for expanded operations and next-gen development
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 25, 2024
ESA has signed a series of contracts with Avio to enhance the operational capacity of the Vega-C rocket and push forward the development of its successor, Vega-E. These agreements aim to increase th ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX ends 2024 with new round of Starlink satellites
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 31, 2024
After a one-day delay, SpaceX launched a new round of Starlink satellites from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab closes record year with successful Synspective satellite deployment
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 27, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced the successful deployment of a satellite for Synspective, marking the company's 16th mission of 2024 and closing a record-breaking year with a 60% i ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Hotfire test prepares Blue Origin's New Glenn for maiden flight
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 28, 2024
Blue Origin announced today that its New Glenn rocket has successfully completed an integrated launch vehicle hotfire test, marking the final significant milestone before its inaugural flight. Sched ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China's CERES 1 rocket launches satellites from sea
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 26, 2024
Galactic Energy, a Beijing-based private rocket manufacturer, successfully conducted its fourth sea-based launch of the Ceres 1 carrier rocket on Thursday. According to the company, the rocket ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
First integration of European reusable stage demonstrator Themis
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 31, 2024
ArianeGroup has successfully completed the initial mechanical integration of Themis, the European reusable launcher first stage demonstrator, at its Les Mureaux facility in France. Standing 28 ... more
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ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX scrubs launch from Florida, but one lifts off from California
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 21, 2024
One of two scheduled Falcon 9 rocket launches lifted off early Saturday with one going up in California but aborted in Florida. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 23, 2024
Shortly after midnight on Monday, SpaceX launched a new round of 21 Starlink satellites into lower Earth orbit, 13 of which can contact cell phones directly. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Venus Aerospace ignites VDR2 engine in major milestone
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 20, 2024
Venus Aerospace, a prominent innovator in hypersonic technology, has successfully ignited its VDR2 engine, achieving a critical milestone in its development of advanced high-speed propulsion. The VD ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China's space journey continues apace
Beijing, China (SPX) Dec 20, 2024
The first-ever samples retrieved from the moon's far side, an iconic feat achieved by China's most recent lunar expedition, Chang'e 6, were on display at the 15th China International Aviation and Ae ... more
DRAGON SPACE
Shenzhou XIX crew completes successful spacewalk outside Tiangong station
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2024
Shenzhou XIX mission crew members completed their first extravehicular activity (EVA) on Tuesday, working for nearly nine hours outside the Tiangong space station, the China Manned Space Agency repo ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX Launches SES O3b mPOWER Satellites to Expand Global Communications Network
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 18, 2024
SpaceX successfully launched the SES O3b mPOWER mission on Tuesday afternoon, delivering two advanced communications satellites into medium Earth orbit (MEO). Liftoff occurred at 5:26 p.m. ET from L ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Trump-Musk alliance should boost 'space economy'
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 18, 2024
Next year could be a transformative one for U.S. space exploration, as the election of Donald Trump to the presidency and his close relationship with SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk promises to cha ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
FAA issues License Authorization for SpaceX Starship Flight 7
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 18, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a license modification permitting SpaceX to conduct multiple missions of its Starship/Super Heavy vehicle under the Flight 7 mission profile. The ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Japanese startup's space rocket launch fails
Tokyo (AFP) Dec 18, 2024
A space rocket built by a Japanese startup blasted off on Wednesday but was later seen spiralling downwards in the distance as the company said the launch attempt had failed. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab delivers second spacecraft and completes third for Varda Space Industries
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 18, 2024
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has successfully delivered its second Pioneer spacecraft to Vandenberg Space Force Base and finalized production and testing of a third spacecraft for Varda Space ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Orion Spacecraft Tested in Ohio After Artemis I Mission
Cleveland OH (SPX) Dec 18, 2024
Making the voyage 1.4 million miles around the Moon and back - the farthest a spacecraft built for humans has ever gone - the Orion spacecraft has faced a battery of tests over the years. Though Ori ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Japanese start-up says space rocket launch attempt fails
Tokyo (AFP) Dec 18, 2024
A start-up aiming to become Japan's first private firm to put a satellite into orbit said Wednesday that the second launch attempt of its Kairos rocket failed shortly after lift-off. ... more
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ROCKET SCIENCE
China successfully tests XZY 1 verification rocket engine
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 13, 2024
China's XZY 1 verification rocket has successfully completed a static firing test at Haiyang Oriental Aerospace Port in Shandong province, marking a major milestone for the nation's aerospace innova ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Undeterred by Friday the 13th, SpaceX plans pair of launches
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 13, 2024
SpaceX plans to launch 23 Starlink communications satellites into low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California Friday morning, weather permitting. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Artemis II core stage positioned for integration
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 13, 2024
NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) Moon rocket core stage is now vertical inside High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The maneuver was completed on Tu ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Equatorial Launch Australia shifts focus to new Queensland spaceport site
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 13, 2024
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced the immediate cessation of operations at the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, citing unresolved lease negotiations. The company will rel ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China Long March 8A prepares for first flight in January 2025
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 13, 2024
The Long March 8A rocket, developed to become China's primary launch vehicle for medium- and low-Earth orbit missions, is set to make its maiden flight in January 2025, as announced by the China Aca ... more
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