Tag: Rocket Lab
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A non-public document reveals that science may not be prioritized on next Mars mission
The US space agency has released a “pre-solicitation” for what is expected to be a hotly contested contract to develop a spacecraft to orbit Mars and relay communications from the red planet back to Earth. Ars covered the intrigue surrounding the spacecraft in late January, which was initiated by US Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9 to launch five Starlink missions, Firefly to launch Alpha
Seven missions are on this week’s launch manifest, with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 dominating the schedule. Falcon 9 is expected to launch five Starlink missions from SpaceX’s launch sites in Florida and California. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab’s suborbital HASTE rocket will launch a hypersonic test vehicle for Hypersonix from Virginia, and Firefly will return its Alpha vehicle…
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Rocket Lab Launches South Korean Disaster-Monitoring Satellite After Delay
Rocket Lab successfully launched a South Korean Earth-observation satellite from New Zealand on Thursday, placing a disaster-monitoring spacecraft into low Earth orbit about six weeks later than originally planned. A 59-foot Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab’s launch site on the Māhia Peninsula at 8:21 p.m. EST (0121 GMT on Friday), carrying the “Bridging…
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Launch Roundup: GPS, Starlink, Electron launches scheduled for last week of January
The last week of January has a busy slate of orbital launches, with flights from Florida, California, New Zealand, and possibly China on the schedule. SpaceX plans to close out the month with the GPS III SV09 mission, along with up to three Starlink launches, while Rocket Lab’s “Bridging the Swarm” mission is being prepared…
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Rocket Lab Marks 80th Electron Launch With Open Cosmos Mission
Rocket Lab has completed its 80th Electron launch and its first mission of 2026, successfully deploying two spacecraft for European space technology company Open Cosmos, the company said. The mission, titled The Cosmos Will See You Now, lifted off at 11:52 p.m. NZDT on Jan. 22 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.…
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Hungry Hippos and Test Tanks – Rocket Lab building towards Neutron
Rocket Lab’s innovative “Hungry Hippo” fairings for the Neutron rocket have arrived at Wallops Island, Virginia, marking a key milestone in preparations for the vehicle’s long-awaited debut flight. The arrival came days after Rocket Lab explained the rupture of a first stage tank during qualification trials. The reusable fairing system—nicknamed “Hungry Hippo” for its distinctive…
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Launch Preview: Falcon 9 set to launch two missions from California, Isar to attempt second launch of Spectrum
The upcoming week will see seven rocket launches from six different launch sites across the globe. SpaceX has two Falcon 9 launches scheduled this week; both are Starlink missions launching from SpaceX’s California launch site. Blue Origin is also expected to fly New Shepard’s 17th crewed mission on Thursday. Internationally, China will launch two missions, while…
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Open Cosmos Wins Liechtenstein Ka-Band Rights for European Satellite Network
Open Cosmos has secured the award to Liechtenstein’s priority Ka-band spectrum filings and plans to deploy a sovereign low-Earth-orbit satellite broadband constellation for Europe, the company said on Wednesday. The Ka-band filings, considered among the most valuable spectrum assets for satellite communications, were previously held by Rivada Space Networks but were rescinded in 2024 after…
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Here are the launches and landings we’re most excited about in 2026
Last year delivered doses of drama and excitement in the space business, with a record number of launches, breathtaking vistas of other worlds, and a multitude of breakthroughs and setbacks. 2026 is shaping up to be another thrilling year in the cosmos. For the first time in more than 54 years, astronauts are training to…
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Our annual power ranking of US rocket companies has changes near the top and bottom
Which US rocket companies achieved the most during 2025? Once again, Ars Technica is here to provide some answers in the form of our annual power ranking of US launch companies. We began doing this in 2022 and have since put out a top-10 list every year (see 2023 and 2024). Our intent, as always,…