Tag: reusable rockets
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From Precision Landings to Rapid Turnaround: Key Technologies Behind Reusable Rocket Engines
With the successful recoveries of the Long March 10B and Zhuque-3, rocket recovery and reuse have become one of the hottest topics in the space industry. Yet the real value lies not in the dramatic moment of recovery, but in the underlying economics: reducing the cost per launch by reusing high-value components. As the most…
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NASA Adds Relativity Space’s Terran R to Launch Services Roster
NASA added Relativity Space’s Terran R rocket to its NASA Launch Services II contract on September 9, making the still-unflown vehicle eligible to compete for future agency launch orders. The award expands NASA’s pool of launch providers as Relativity prepares Terran R for its first flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in late 2026.…
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Besxar Secures 12 Falcon 9 Flights to Develop Orbital Semiconductor Factory
Besxar, a space manufacturing startup founded by former OpenAI employee Ashley Pilipiszyn, has reached an agreement with SpaceX to prototype an orbital semiconductor factory across 12 Falcon 9 flights. The company aims to manufacture critical precursor materials for advanced semiconductors in the vacuum of space and return them to Earth, targeting a market currently served…
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Stoke Space Raises $1 Billion, Targets Early 2027 Debut for Fully Reusable Nova Rocket
Stoke Space announced on September 8 that it completed the initial closing of a $1 billion Series E financing round, bringing its total capital raised to $2.3 billion. The Kent, Washington-based company will use the funding to prepare its fully reusable Nova Pathfinder rocket for a first orbital launch in early 2027, expand production and…
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China’s Private Rockets Accelerate Toward Orbit: Who Has Made It—and Who Is Next in Line
On September 1, PALLAS-1 Y1 lifted off from Jiuquan. Galactic Energy is no longer a company with only small solid-fueled rockets: its 52-meter-tall, medium-to-heavy liquid launch vehicle, powered by seven clustered liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, has now completed its first orbital flight. PALLAS-1 Y1 lifts off. Image source: Galactic Energy website, September 2, 2026. Less than…
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i-Space’s Xie Hongjun: Why Is a Rocket Company Moving Into Space Computing?
In 2026, space computing emerged as an important new frontier in commercial space. What problems is it intended to solve, and where is the industry heading? Hello Space has launched its Space Computing Interview Series, speaking with leading Chinese players to examine the real progress being made in this emerging sector. Our guest in this…
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SpaceX Expands Starbase as Flight 14 Vehicles Complete Testing
SpaceX is expanding assembly, testing and launch infrastructure across Starbase, Texas, as Ship 41 and Booster 21 move through final checkout for Starship Flight 14. Recent aerial imagery shows simultaneous work at Massey’s test site, the Gigabay assembly building and both orbital launch pads, while hardware for Flight 15 and later vehicles is already entering…
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China Commercial Space Industry Monthly Report — August 2026
In August 2026, China and the United States continued to dominate the global launch market. The United States maintained its lead through the high-cadence reuse and launch operations of Falcon 9, while China saw parallel advances by both its state-owned space sector and commercial space companies. A total of 26 orbital launches were conducted worldwide…
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SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites on 103rd Falcon 9 mission of 2026 (Video)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 27 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sept. 6, 2026. It was the 80th Starlink satellite mission of the 2026. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX launched 27 Starlink broadband satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on September 6, 2026,…
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PALLAS-1 Completes Successful Maiden Flight: Why Did Galactic Energy Stick With LOX/Kerosene?
On the morning of September 1, PALLAS-1 Y1 lifted off from Jiuquan and successfully entered its planned orbit. For Galactic Energy, the mission marked not only the debut of a new launch vehicle, but also the company’s transition from small solid-fuel rockets to a medium-lift liquid-fuel rocket. The rocket also embodies a choice that is…