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“Ten years ago, governments around the globe forecast a broad swath of new rockets would be in service by now. No one would have predicted that SpaceX would dominate the global launch market, and become the de facto provider for satellite operators looking for an assured ride to space. This year, three new heavy launch vehicles could finally give the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy some competition: From the United States, ULA’s Vulcan and Blue Origin’s New Glenn; and from France, Arianespace’s Ariane 6. All three rockets should have been flying for several years now. Geopolitical events including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, along with technological hiccups or redesigns, forced delays, compounding the current dearth of launch options in the market. That could change very soon”.

Follow me or send me a connection request, Keith King. Boeing is reportedly seeking to sell its stake in United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture with Lockheed Martin that focuses on rocket launches, as the company faces mounting challenges in its aerospace and space divisions. According to reports from Reuters, the sale could fetch between $2 to $3 billion, with Sierra Space emerging as a potential buyer. This move would allow Boeing to concentrate on its core aerospace and defense operations while using the proceeds to fund its ongoing projects. Boeing's decision to explore the sale comes amidst a series of setbacks, particularly in its space ventures. The company has faced numerous difficulties with its Starliner spacecraft, including a recent incident where two astronauts scheduled for an eight-day mission at the International Space Station were stranded for months due to issues with the spacecraft. The astronauts will now be retrieved by a SpaceX rocket, which has been a humiliating turn of events for Boeing's space division. Morale within Boeing’s space team is reportedly at an all-time low, with employees expressing frustration and embarrassment over their reliance on a rival company. The potential sale of ULA signals Boeing's attempt to refocus and possibly recover from its recent troubles, but it remains uncertain how the company will address the broader challenges it faces. The sale could provide a significant boost to Sierra Space, giving it control over its own launches and reducing its dependence on other companies for space missions. However, for Boeing, the road to recovery appears fraught with difficulties, as it grapples with the aftermath of high-profile failures and ongoing competition from companies like SpaceX. Matt Milano, WebProNews

Ariane 6 Maiden Flight Set for Mid-2024 Following Successful Test The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that the highly anticipated inaugural flight of the Ariane 6 rocket is scheduled to take place between June 15 and July 31, 2024. This follows a successful long-firing engine test conducted in French Guiana last week, marking a significant milestone in the rocket's development. Originally slated for launch in 2020, the Ariane 6 has faced delays, but ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher expressed confidence, stating, "It shows that we are on the good track to flight access to space for Europe." The maiden flight will carry smaller satellites, including two from NASA, but as a test flight, it won't carry a major payload. Additional tests will be conducted to ensure the rocket's design is fault-tolerant. ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, is developing the Ariane 6 to compete with U.S. private launch provider SpaceX. With plans for a second flight by the end of 2024 and a target of 9-10 flights per year by 2025, Europe aims to secure independent access to space. #Ariane6 #SpaceLaunch #ESA

New rockets set to launch in 2024, Washington (AFP) Dec 15, 2023 Several new European and American rockets are set for blast off in 2024, at a time the aerospace industry faces a shortage of launch vehicles fueled by the rise of satellite constellations. Here are the maiden flights space watchers can look forward to next year. - Countdown for Ariane 6 - The Ariane 6 rocket, which carries Europe's hopes for space autonomy from the United States and, : Washington (AFP) Dec 15, 2023 Several new European and

BY JASON SIMPKINS / MAY 20, 2024 China's Space Threat China has more than tripled its space-based intelligence ecosystem in the past five years. This year, alone, it aims to complete a record 100 orbital missions, a 40% increase from 2023. That would make it the world’s second-most-active launcher behind SpaceX. China is also developing an array of anti-satellite defense systems. It’s been using its own defunct satellites as target practice for ground-based ballistics and have made huge strides with hypersonic glide vehicles, which dip into orbit before firing back down on terrestrial targets.  With that, the United States and others are scrambling to respond.  The U.S. itself has ramped up its satellite launches by more than 10-fold over the past decade. It’s resuscitated moon programs like Artemis after decades of neglect. And it’s helping Japan in a bid to put its own astronaut on the moon ahead of China in 2028. In any case, there is growing demand for launch services for a select few companies… One is obviously SpaceX.  However, the days of Elon Musk’s rocket company are numbered. Why? Insiders say dealing with SpaceX is a “nightmare” and that “it sucks.” That’s why SpaceX customers are flocking to the little-known “SpaceX Killer”. The U.S. Air Force, Space Force, DARPA, NASA, and the National Reconnaissance Office are just some of its clients. And unlike SpaceX, this company is publicly traded. The stock is still cheap… only a few bucks… but as this company is “stealing” SpaceX’s customers, shares are destined to soar.

New "Technology" post from THE HILL: Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to launch first crewed mission Boeing’s first crewed mission of its Starliner spacecraft is set to launch Monday night, a milestone for the aerospace manufacturer. The Starliner is scheduled to lift off at about 10:30 p.m. Monday, weather permitting, carrying two NASA astronauts. The Crew Flight Test will be the first time Boeing’s aerospace efforts carry people into space after a decade of development. Boeing hopes the Starliner can take the astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), and plans to rival commercial spacecraft offerings from SpaceX, which has dominated private spaceflight for years. NASA’s Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be on board for Monday’s launch, planning to spend a week at the ISS. The test flight will also see the astronauts take the craft through a series of careful maneuvers to push its capabilities. A successful mission would be a massive success for Boeing, which has consistently fallen behind SpaceX since both companies were selected for commercial space flights in 2014. SpaceX has operated nine crewed missions so far, while Boeing has only run two unmanned flights. Boeing received over $4 billion in federal funds to develop the Starliner, while SpaceX received about $2.6 billion. The Starliner will sit atop the iconic Atlas V rocket, the first time a manned flight will use the Atlas V since the Mercury space flights of the 1960s, led by John Glenn’s famous first orbit in 1962. It will be the 100th launch of the Atlas V system, which has been used for satellite launches since. The flight to the ISS is expected to last about 26 hours, and plans to be docked there for eight days before making a return back to the Western U.S. The company has planned six manned missions for the platform over the next six years, the projected end of the ISS’ operating lifespan. https://bit.ly/44s4fdq

On July 9, the European heavy-lift rocket #Ariane6 is due to lift off from #Kourou for the first time. The economic environment is difficult: SpaceX dominates the global space industry. Of 223 rocket launches last year, the company alone carried out 98. Europe accounted for just 3. This year, SpaceX is aiming for 144 flights whereas a maximum of two Ariane 6 rockets could fly in 2024. #Ariane6 is significantly cheaper than its reliable but expensive predecessor, the launch costs per kilogram are said to be 40 percent lower. But compared to its US competitors, Ariane 6, which cost four billion euros to develop, is still far too expensive. But why are the Europeans building a launcher that is not economically competitive? For strategic reasons in particular. "Independent access to space is a basic requirement for any space power", H. Ludwig Moeller, Director of theEuropean Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, explains. "We must not be dependent on others for such a critical technology," European Space Agency - ESA's DG Josef Aschbacher told me. "Europe therefore needs its own independent access to space." However, Ariane 6 is not only interesting for military satellites and such. Commercial customers could also be prepared to pay higher prices for a flight into orbit. Caleb Henry, Director of Research at Quilty Space, explained to me that launchers are usually selected according to three criteria: Price, reliability and schedule. "The 'Ariane 6' is in competition, but still has a chance of success," says Henry. Reporting from Kourou for DER SPIEGEL (€, in German, awesome and fresh graphics by Max Heber): https://lnkd.in/gNG-Sqch Aline Decadi, Dr.-Ing. Jens Franzeck, Tina Büchner da Costa, Adelina C., Jens Schroeter

📈 Lodestar Space Secures $2.5M Pre-Seed Funding To Safeguard Space Infrastructure Co-led by Inflection.xyz and Lunar Ventures, this round also saw participation from notable investors like Charlie Songhurst, Zehan Wang, and Mehdi Ghissassi, with additional non-dilutive funding from the UK Space Agency. Key Highlights: 🔹Innovative Solutions: Developing a platform-agnostic robotic system for inspecting and repairing satellites. 🔹Recent Achievements: Conducted successful zero-gravity tests with MIT and The Aurelia Institute. 🔹Future Plans: Demonstrating robotic arm capabilities in orbit by the end of 2025. 🔹Strategic Roadmap: Developing a flight-ready model scheduled to fly as a hosted payload next year. 🔹Expansion Goals: Plans to expand operations to the U.S. and attract the Department of Defense's attention. Thomas Santini and Neil Buchanan, the founders, aim to revolutionize space security by creating versatile robotic systems. With advisors like former SpaceX VP Lee Rosen and former Spaceflight Inc. CEO Curt Blake, Lodestar is on track to enhance the safety and longevity of orbital assets. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/dJWTqNvi #SpaceTech #Innovation #FundingNews #SpaceSecurity #Robotics

Nearly five years following the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) declaration of its inaugural human spaceflight initiative, Gaganyaan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently disclosed the identities of the initial group of astronaut candidates poised for the groundbreaking three-day space voyage. The astronaut candidates set for training at Bengaluru's Astronaut Training facility include Group Captain P Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander S Shukla. Selected for the mission, three of these candidates will board ISRO's most robust rocket – the LVM Mk-3, modified for human space travel, to be launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an elevation of around 400 km for a duration ranging from one to three days. The mission's significant challenge lies in the safe return of these astronauts to Earth. Cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, who journeyed to space aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984, continues to be the sole Indian who has ventured into space. Ahead of its first-ever manned space mission, ISRO is rigorously working to guarantee the astronauts' safety. To date, only three nations – the Soviet Union (now Russia), the US, and China – have successfully executed human spaceflight missions. India's success in this endeavor would position it as the fourth nation globally to accomplish such a milestone. The launch is scheduled for late 2025, with ISRO planning more than 20 intricate tests, including test vehicle flights and unmanned flights with robotic payloads, ahead of the primary mission. This preparation involves four test-abort missions — TV-D1, D2, D3, and D4, along with two unmanned missions (LVM3-G1 and G2) to thoroughly test each flight system. Preparations for the next Test Vehicle (TV-D2) mission are underway, as confirmed by ISRO chairman S Somanath in January, with the inaugural unmanned flight carrying robotic payloads expected later this year. The completion of the engine test for the first unmanned mission has been announced, which will fuel the upper stage of LVM-Mk3 vehicle. #isro #science #latestnews #space #spaceexploration #spaceindustry #india #sciencecommunication #gagnyaan #astronauts #spacetechnology

🚀 Breaking News! SpaceX just took a giant leap in space safety! 🌌 They've acquired Pioneer Aerospace, the parachute pros, for $2.2M! 💰 🛰️ Why is this big? Pioneer is all about those crucial chutes that make space travel safer. 🪂 Imagine returning from space without a hitch - that's the goal here! 🌍 With this move, SpaceX isn't just thinking about rockets; they're ensuring every part of the journey is top-notch. 🌠 It's all about those details, right? ⚙️ Think parachute tech isn't cool? Think again! This stuff is high-tech and vital for those epic space missions. 🛸 Stalk Us: Karmactive 🔗 Want to know more about this cosmic deal? Tap "Read More" and zoom into the full story. Don't miss out on this stellar update! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/dDTJWAQM 🔥 #SpaceX #PioneerAerospace #SpaceSafety #SpaceTechnology #MissionSuccess #InnovationInSpace #AerospaceNews #TechUpdate #OutofThisWorld