SpaceX has finally broken the record for most Falcon 9 launches in a single year, surpassing the total number of shuttle launches achieved by NASA over its 30-year space shuttle program. The achievement was marked by SpaceX's launch of Starlink satellites on Saturday morning, which brought the company's total Falcon 9 launches to 135 for the year.
Meanwhile, Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian startup based in Hyderabad, is targeting a series of commercial satellite launches in the coming months, with plans to launch every three months next year and every month from 2027. The company aims to generate nearly $5 million per launch, with ambitions that have sparked both excitement and skepticism.
In other news, Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched a new spacecraft, HTV-X, which will replace the country's H-II Transfer Vehicle as its cargo freighter. The mission marked an upgrade in Japan's space capabilities, with a larger capacity and improved design.
NASA is also working to keep its Artemis II mission on schedule despite the ongoing government shutdown, with employees at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida continuing to work behind the scenes. However, officials are sounding the alarm that inefficiencies will soon impact the schedule if left unchecked.
China is also making progress towards its lunar ambitions, with plans to conduct the first launch of its Long March 10 rocket and a lunar-capable crew spacecraft next year. The mission is expected to mark a significant step forward for China's space program, which appears on track for a pre-2030 landing on the moon.
The upcoming week will see several launches, including the Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites, as well as the Long March 2 rocket carrying the Shenzhou 21 crewed flight. Additionally, SpaceX is expected to launch a Bandwagon-4 satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Meanwhile, Skyroot Aerospace, an Indian startup based in Hyderabad, is targeting a series of commercial satellite launches in the coming months, with plans to launch every three months next year and every month from 2027. The company aims to generate nearly $5 million per launch, with ambitions that have sparked both excitement and skepticism.
In other news, Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched a new spacecraft, HTV-X, which will replace the country's H-II Transfer Vehicle as its cargo freighter. The mission marked an upgrade in Japan's space capabilities, with a larger capacity and improved design.
NASA is also working to keep its Artemis II mission on schedule despite the ongoing government shutdown, with employees at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida continuing to work behind the scenes. However, officials are sounding the alarm that inefficiencies will soon impact the schedule if left unchecked.
China is also making progress towards its lunar ambitions, with plans to conduct the first launch of its Long March 10 rocket and a lunar-capable crew spacecraft next year. The mission is expected to mark a significant step forward for China's space program, which appears on track for a pre-2030 landing on the moon.
The upcoming week will see several launches, including the Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites, as well as the Long March 2 rocket carrying the Shenzhou 21 crewed flight. Additionally, SpaceX is expected to launch a Bandwagon-4 satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.