Two-stage-to-orbit, SpaceX’s reusable launch vehicle
Blue Origin has lost a New Glenn rocket in a catastrophic engine test at Cape Canaveral, producing a fireball that damaged the LC‑36A pad and generated seismic waves. Jeff Bezos and CEO Dave Limp have said key propellant tanks and some hardware survived and the company has begun a pad rebuild, while NASA is offering technical support for Artemis-related schedules.
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.
India’s Skyroot Aerospace has successfully placed payloads into orbit with Vikram-1, marking the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit. The mission validates propulsion, avionics, and control systems and signals a push to grow India’s private space sector. The launch signals a new era for small-satellite launches and cab-service style 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.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage has struck the Moon near Einstein Crater at about 5,400 mph, carving a new crater and launching a dust plume. South Korea’s Danuri orbiter has photographed the site and released images. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is scheduled to image the impact next week while scientists begin analysing ejecta and crater formation.
The Federal Communications Commission has added "advanced robotic devices" — including humanoid robots, four‑legged machines and some connected power inverters — to a list that blocks new foreign-made models from US markets on national‑security and cybersecurity grounds. The rule has taken effect for models not yet authorised; existing authorised devices remain allowed while exemptions can be requested.
SpaceX has posted a 7.8 billion revenue for Q2, but a net loss of hundreds of millions as it continues heavy investment in AI, Starship, and Starlink. The company faces pressure from a looming post-IPO lock-up expiry and ongoing investor scrutiny of its high cash burn and ambitious plans.
SpaceX has released its first quarterly earnings since going public. Revenue has grown, but AI-related capex has surged, raising questions about sustainability as the stock price remains volatile. Investors warn that rapid spending could outpace revenue growth, while Starlink and data centres continue to drive cash flow.
Tech giants and startups envisage a future where data centers orbit Earth. Insurers question pricing and risk; space debris and regulatory hurdles loom as hundreds of billions of dollars in hardware move into space.
Starcloud has secured a funding extension valuing the company at $2.3 billion to expand manufacturing and advance Starcloud-3, a spacecraft intended to ride on SpaceX’s Starship. The company plans two 8 kW satellites for 2027 launches, with aims to sign additional launch contracts as SpaceX’s Starship rollout could lower costs. Nvidia and others back the round, underscoring growing space compute ambitions.
SpaceX is set to launch the secret USSF-366 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg AFB, California. The two-stage Falcon 9 will carry a classified payload into low Earth orbit, with a live stream planned about 10 minutes before liftoff. If scrubbed, another launch window is scheduled for the following day.