US Space Force launch hub on Florida’s Cape
JAXA has flown the RV-X, lifting it 11 metres and landing it upright 16 metres away at Noshiro, marking Japan’s first successful launch and landing of a rocket. China’s Long March-10B has achieved a sea-based net catch on its maiden flight, signaling a major step toward reusable launch technology. The stories show growing momentum in global efforts to reduce space-launch costs and expand access to space.
Northrop Grumman has launched MRV, a robotic vehicle with 10-foot arms to service geostationary satellites. It attaches electric jetpacks to aging assets, enabling in-orbit upgrades and life extensions of up to eight years per satellite. First operations are expected in the coming weeks once GEO reach is achieved.
Amazon has filed with the FCC to launch a Direct-to-Device satellite network intended to provide global mobile connectivity, competing with SpaceX's Starlink. The plan leverages Globalstar’s spectrum and envisions service for unserved regions and emergency operations, with initial service slated for later this year and full deployment by 2028. Several partnerships and regulatory waivers accompany the filing.
SpaceX has pledged $100 billion to build a 125,000‑acre Starbase in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, that it says will support thousands of Starship launches a year, add about 3,000 direct jobs and include propellant production, power generation and deep‑water shipping. Construction is scheduled to start in 2027; SpaceX targets initial launches by 2029 while state officials give a 2030 timeline.
Isar Aerospace has reached orbit on its second Spectrum flight and has deployed small satellites, making it the first purely commercial European launcher to do so. The success has prompted company plans to scale production and expand launch capacity as European governments and private firms ramp up investment in sovereign space capability.
SpaceX has launched Crew-13 to the International Space Station, led by Jessica Watkins, making her the first Black woman to command a spacecraft. The eight-hour transit set a record for fastest launch-to-docking for an American mission. The crew includes Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov, who will replace four astronauts and will stay aboard for six months.
SpaceX’s Starship has reached orbit in its 14th test flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The mission marks a milestone in reusable, high-frequency access to space, while Starship’s successful orbital phase follows a string of suborbital tests. The mission will continue to advance NASA’s moon and Mars initiatives and could reshape commercial space activity.