SpaceX's Next-Gen Booster Fails in Testing, Blue Origin's New Glenn to Get Upgrades.
Blue Origin announced that the next-generation booster for its New Glenn rocket will receive several upgrades, including a new variant with more main engines and a super-heavy lift capability. The company revealed the roadmap for these upgrades, which will be phased in over time, starting with the third launch of New Glenn.
However, SpaceX's Starship program faced setbacks as well. The first of its third-generation Super Heavy boosters failed early on during cryogenic proof testing at a nearby test site.
Blue Origin's New Glenn booster recently landed safely back at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida after launching exactly one week prior. The rocket was lowered horizontally late Wednesday morning, and officials from Blue Origin guided the 188-foot-long booster to the space force station.
In other news, Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket has been selected by Katalyst Space Technologies to send a robotic rescue mission for NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in low-Earth orbit. The launch is expected to take place next year.
Aerospace and defense startup Ursa Major Technologies landed a $600 million valuation in a new fundraising round, the latest sign that investors are willing to back companies developing new rocket technology. The company secured $50 million in debt financing and has received investments from several venture capital firms.
Rocket Lab launched a payload for an undisclosed commercial customer Thursday using its Electron rocket. The launch was just hours after Rocket Lab announced plans for the mission, which was nicknamed "Follow My Speed."
Blue Origin announced that the next-generation booster for its New Glenn rocket will receive several upgrades, including a new variant with more main engines and a super-heavy lift capability. The company revealed the roadmap for these upgrades, which will be phased in over time, starting with the third launch of New Glenn.
However, SpaceX's Starship program faced setbacks as well. The first of its third-generation Super Heavy boosters failed early on during cryogenic proof testing at a nearby test site.
Blue Origin's New Glenn booster recently landed safely back at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida after launching exactly one week prior. The rocket was lowered horizontally late Wednesday morning, and officials from Blue Origin guided the 188-foot-long booster to the space force station.
In other news, Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket has been selected by Katalyst Space Technologies to send a robotic rescue mission for NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in low-Earth orbit. The launch is expected to take place next year.
Aerospace and defense startup Ursa Major Technologies landed a $600 million valuation in a new fundraising round, the latest sign that investors are willing to back companies developing new rocket technology. The company secured $50 million in debt financing and has received investments from several venture capital firms.
Rocket Lab launched a payload for an undisclosed commercial customer Thursday using its Electron rocket. The launch was just hours after Rocket Lab announced plans for the mission, which was nicknamed "Follow My Speed."