{"id":51981,"date":"2024-01-23T01:47:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T17:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/will-2024-be-a-year-of-rocket-debuts\/"},"modified":"2024-01-23T01:47:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T17:47:57","slug":"will-2024-be-a-year-of-rocket-debuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/will-2024-be-a-year-of-rocket-debuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Will 2024 Be a Year of Rocket Debuts?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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. <\/p>\n<p>This year, three new heavy launch vehicles could finally give the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy some competition: From the United States, ULA\u2019s Vulcan and Blue Origin\u2019s New Glenn; and from France, Arianespace\u2019s Ariane 6. <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ro1MRZYaRGqOwyVFW8pu_VS_010124_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ro1MRZYaRGqOwyVFW8pu_VS_010124_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ro1MRZYaRGqOwyVFW8pu_VS_010124_DGTL_Cover-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ro1MRZYaRGqOwyVFW8pu_VS_010124_DGTL_Cover-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ro1MRZYaRGqOwyVFW8pu_VS_010124_DGTL_Cover.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the January\/February 2024 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>All three rockets should have been flying for several years now. Geopolitical events including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia\u2019s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, along with technological hiccups or redesigns, forced delays, compounding the current dearth of launch options in the market.<\/p>\n<p>That could change very soon.<\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 8, ULA successfully launched its Vulcan rocket for the first time from Cape Canaveral, Florida \u2014 a major milestone for the long-awaited heavy-lift rocket.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e2bb0;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e2bb0 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e2bb1').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e2bb1'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Vulcan\u2019s development began one decade ago in 2014, meant to replace ULA\u2019s two existing launchers and to respond to growing competition in the launch market prompted by the emergence of SpaceX.<\/p>\n<p>ULA has sold more than 70 Vulcan missions to date, with roughly half of the missions for government customers including the Space Force and NASA, and half for commercial missions, such as Project Kuiper, says ULA CEO Tory Bruno. Vulcan will see \u201ca handful\u201d of launches in 2024, per Bruno, but in 2025, ULA plans to increase that cadence to a rate of every two weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Arianespace is preparing to achieve full qualification of Ariane 6 by April, and expects the rocket\u2019s maiden launch to take place between mid-June and the end of July, CEO St\u00e9phane Isra\u00ebl says.<\/p>\n<p>Ariane 6 will undergo one final test in January, before the launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana is freed up to prepare for the inaugural flight, Isra\u00ebl says. Meanwhile, some flight elements are under final assembly to be delivered to the CSG by the end of the same month. <\/p>\n<p>Ariane 6\u2019s current order book counts 28 launches, including 18 launches for Kuiper, as well as three launches for commercial operators Eutelsat, Intelsat, and Optus, per the company. Seven launches are for the French military, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA)\u2019s Galileo navigation satellite system, and the intergovernmental weather monitoring body EUMETSAT.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Blue Origin\u2019s New Glenn space vehicle was expected to have launched by now. A company spokesperson confirmed that the rocket is expected to launch in 2024, but did not provide further details on the vehicle\u2019s status or an expected launch date. <\/p>\n<p>The rocket\u2019s manifest reflects orders worth \u201cbillions of dollars\u201d over the next several years, with customers including NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program and Project Kuiper, the spokesperson said in an email.<\/p>\n<h3>\u201cA Decade in the Making\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>The eventual launches of these three vehicles could break through the burgeoning bottleneck of requests for rides to space. Governments have a growing list of launches for their own missions, but must also now compete with the flourishing commercial market.<\/p>\n<p>For the U.S. Space Force, it\u2019s been \u201ca decade in the making to get to where we are today,\u201d says Col. Doug Pentecost, Assured Access to Space deputy program executive officer at Space Systems Command.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e33ba;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e33ba = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e33bb').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e33bb'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>2024 is significant, not only for the new launch vehicles coming online, but for the swan song journey for a longtime rocket workhorse for the U.S. military, he notes. ULA\u2019s Delta IV Heavy will launch its final mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in March, two decades after first taking off in 2004. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, ULA\u2019s Atlas V has only 17 launches remaining on its manifest, with its final mission scheduled in 2030. The Atlas V was the poster child for the U.S. military\u2019s push to cut ties with the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine, following Moscow\u2019s invasion of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. <\/p>\n<p>The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program was created to support the development and operations of at least two launch vehicles that could carry critical Defense Department (DoD) missions into space.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy definition, assured access space is having more than one way to get into space, to have at least two, if not more, families of systems in space,\u201d says Pentecost.<\/p>\n<p>The Space Force is currently winding down Phase 2 of the NSSL program, where ULA provided about 60 percent of launch missions, and SpaceX provided the remaining 40 percent. The service just closed the door on bids for Phase 3; contracts will be awarded by the end of 2024, and launches will begin in fiscal year 2025. <\/p>\n<p>Phase 3 will expand the NSSL program by adding a third launch provider for the more traditional, national security-oriented missions, but also include a separate procurement lane that focuses on smaller launch startups that can support more \u201ccommercialized, risk-tolerant\u201d missions, per Pentecost.<\/p>\n<p>The more traditional, three-contractor track is set to include 48 missions, but that number could change, Pentecost stresses \u2014 the Space Force originally planned to buy 34 launch missions under the Phase 2 contract, but ended up buying 48, due to emergent proliferated constellation developments.<\/p>\n<p>The clock is ticking for new U.S. launch vehicles to get off the ground, and Pentecost is watching that clock. <\/p>\n<p>The Vulcan rocket in particular will be in high demand now that it has successfully launched, as the Space Force is planning to fly three key missions on the rocket in 2024, including the seventh GPS-III satellite. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e39e1;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e39e1 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e39e2').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e39e2'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>And with the Space Force awarding Phase 3 NSSL missions next year, and planning for missions in 2026 and 2027 \u2014 \u201cI need Blue Origin flying by October 2026,\u201d Pentecost says.<\/p>\n<h3>Are Microlaunchers Ready for Liftoff?<\/h3>\n<p>Heavy-launch vehicles may not be the only rocket debutantes in 2024. Microlaunch companies ABL Space Systems and Germany\u2019s Isar Aerospace are each preparing new vehicles to take flight this year. <\/p>\n<p>Isar\u2019s inaugural rocket, dubbed Spectrum, is currently in the middle of assembly in the company\u2019s manufacturing facilities in Munich, says Stella Guillen, the company\u2019s chief commercial officer.<\/p>\n<p>Once assembled, it will be delivered to the company\u2019s launch pad at And\u00f8ya Spaceport in Norway, sometime during the first quarter of 2024, and launch once lower and upper stage fire testing is completed, she notes.<\/p>\n<p>Spectrum is designed to provide launch services to the small satellite market \u2013 up to 1 metric tonne (1,000 kilograms) of capacity \u2013 to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), per Guillen. The company has contracts for operations at two launch sites: its exclusive pad in And\u00f8ya, Norway, and at CSG in French Guyana, in order to service a variety of orbits and inclinations. Isar currently has 17 confirmed customers for Spectrum. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, California-based ABL Space Systems is preparing for the inaugural flight of its RS-1 microlauncher in 2024. Dubbed \u201cFlight 2,\u201d it will be a production variant of the rocket that initially flew in January 2023, which failed shortly after liftoff. <\/p>\n<p>Flight 2, which will launch from the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on Kodiak Island, will include manufacturing upgrades, operational and general performance upgrades, says Harry O\u2019Hanlon, company founder and CEO. Last fall, the rocket completed a series of integrated test activities alongside ABL Space System\u2019s GS0 modular orbital launch site in Long Beach, and the ABL team is now activating the GS0 site in Alaska, with a ground test campaign planned in early 2024 ahead of Flight 2.<\/p>\n<h3>The European Launch Context<\/h3>\n<p>The launch market is still recovering from the supply chain disruption prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Europe in particular continues to reel from the fallout of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. <\/p>\n<p>While the COVID-19 pandemic affected global supply chains, it was the geopolitical situation introduced by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent dropped use of Soyuz rockets in Europe, that led to a loss of launch sovereignty in Europe.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e404f;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e404f = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e4050').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e4050'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the biggest lessons learned in Europe is, we no longer want to have one launch supply chain,\u201d says Maxime Puteaux, a principal advisor for Euroconsult based in Paris. <\/p>\n<p>Arianespace is the only launcher in Europe capable of launching to Geostationary Orbit (GEO). The majority of planned missions for the EU or ESA were designed for launch on either Ariane 6 or Vega C. Still, \u201cpeople don\u2019t want to recreate such a situation looking forward,\u201d he notes. <\/p>\n<p>To that end, the ESA plans to launch a competition seeking new launch vendors, and embrace a more U.S.-style procurement process, officials shared at the EU Space Summit last November in Seville, Spain. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can be sure that all of these microlaunchers are already betting on a second generation, which will be by far more capable,\u201d Puteaux adds. The question then becomes, which companies are capable of raising the capital for such investments, and actually deliver on their promise.<\/p>\n<p>European launch providers and experts warn against comparing the U.S. and European markets too closely. <\/p>\n<p>The need for institutional launch is much more important in the United States than in Europe, with its human spaceflight mission set, and the much larger military space apparatus, says Isra\u00ebl.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very important to be inspired by what has been done in the United States, but we cannot cut and paste the U.S. model,\u201d he notes. \u201cWe must find our European way to space.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>2024 Marks \u201cNew Light in the Darkness\u201d for the Launch Market<\/h3>\n<p>If even only a portion of the planned rocket launches occur in 2024, their success would still do much to ease the current supply shortage, says Dafni Christodoulopoulou, a research analyst with NSR, an Analysys Mason company. <\/p>\n<p>NSR forecasts that about 200 launches will take place globally in 2024, to send around 1,900 satellites into orbit. \u201cThere is a lot of demand, but when new launch vehicles come online, delays and failures are expected, as well,\u201d limiting the growth in launch cadence, says Christodoulopoulou.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e463b;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e463b = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e463c').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e463c'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The sectors that are most at risk of losing their launch slot if these rockets don\u2019t succeed as expected are emerging markets and new technology testers \u2013 customers that don\u2019t have a high budget and are not already proven, says Christodoulopoulou. <\/p>\n<p>But 2024 should bring \u201cnew light in the darkness that we are currently experiencing in terms of access to space,\u201d says Puteaux.<\/p>\n<p>Euroconsult forecasts that by 2032, about 2,800 satellites will be launched globally on a yearly basis, representing about four metric tonnes of payloads. About 50 percent of those satellites will be part of megaconstellations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose projects are kingmakers, and should one project be delayed or canceled, it will impact the forecast,\u201d says Puteaux. <\/p>\n<p>Launch providers that traditionally catered primarily to government customers are pivoting toward commercial missions. ULA is preparing for a more commercial-centric future by developing a \u201cLEO-optimized\u201d version of the Vulcan\u2019s Centaur V upper stage, intended to improve the rocket\u2019s competitiveness for commercial megaconstellations, notes Bruno.<\/p>\n<p>Isra\u00ebl forecasts nine to 10 launches per year for Ariane 6, with four out of those yearly launches dedicated to ESA and European institutional customers. The other five to six are dedicated to the commercial market, he says. <\/p>\n<p>The increased cadence of commercial space missions has presented operators with an underestimated challenge in spaceport capacity.<\/p>\n<p>The majority of current planned launches will occur from legacy sites, such as Cape Canaveral or CSG. The infrastructure at those sites is decades old, and will be increasingly stressed by providers aiming to launch on a weekly, or eventually, daily basis. While launch providers are still securing pads at these sites, companies like Isar are investing in exclusive access to smaller spaceports like And\u00f8ya, while ABL Space Systems is betting its GS0 \u201claunch site in a box,\u201d which the company says will serve as its differentiator among launch providers.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the Space Force is investing $1.3 billion over the next five years for launch range improvements, meant to bring the largely 1960s-era infrastructure into modern times, says Pentecost. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e4ce4;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bfc69e4ce4 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e4ce5').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bfc69e4ce5'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Launch capacity is critical as the commercial market has placed increased demand on the U.S. military\u2019s two main spaceports, he notes. The Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral hosted 74 launches in 2023 \u2014 twice as many launches as in 2021, when it hosted just 32. The Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base hosted 37 launches in 2023; in 2021, only 11 missions were launched. <\/p>\n<p>The new year brings an opportunity to end the \u201cde facto monopoly\u201d by SpaceX, which has absorbed much of the launch demand in Western nations, says Euroconsult\u2019s Puteaux. Vulcan\u2019s launch this month is a step in that direction, but Ariane 6 and New Glenn still need to succeed, too.<\/p>\n<p>If they don\u2019t, Puteaux warns, \u201cIt shows that if you need access to space as a Western customer, you don\u2019t have a choice except to go for SpaceX.\u201d <strong class=\"Annotation -strong\">VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em class=\"Annotation -emphasis\">Vivienne Machi is an award-winning journalist based in Los Angeles. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404821:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ps4G28dnSOgwx52vtESo_VS_010124_DGTL_10_Defining_Moments-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ps4G28dnSOgwx52vtESo_VS_010124_DGTL_10_Defining_Moments-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ps4G28dnSOgwx52vtESo_VS_010124_DGTL_10_Defining_Moments-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ps4G28dnSOgwx52vtESo_VS_010124_DGTL_10_Defining_Moments-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ps4G28dnSOgwx52vtESo_VS_010124_DGTL_10_Defining_Moments.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t10 Defining Moments in Cybersecurity and Satellite in 2023<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404824:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jcJ0GRq1TlOrV1qT6fJL_VS_010124_DGTL_Earth_Observation-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jcJ0GRq1TlOrV1qT6fJL_VS_010124_DGTL_Earth_Observation-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jcJ0GRq1TlOrV1qT6fJL_VS_010124_DGTL_Earth_Observation-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jcJ0GRq1TlOrV1qT6fJL_VS_010124_DGTL_Earth_Observation-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jcJ0GRq1TlOrV1qT6fJL_VS_010124_DGTL_Earth_Observation.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tEarth Observation CEOs Analyze 2023, a Seismic Year in EO<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404815:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5h1Fu6sQmOidqWSJkDYB_VS_010124_DGTL_Dan_Hart-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5h1Fu6sQmOidqWSJkDYB_VS_010124_DGTL_Dan_Hart-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5h1Fu6sQmOidqWSJkDYB_VS_010124_DGTL_Dan_Hart-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5h1Fu6sQmOidqWSJkDYB_VS_010124_DGTL_Dan_Hart-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5h1Fu6sQmOidqWSJkDYB_VS_010124_DGTL_Dan_Hart.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tFormer Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart on the Milestones, Hopes, and Heartbreaks of Virgin Orbit\u2019s Journey<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404827:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ezv3DXpkTCqOgJUtSUGB_VS_010124_DGTL_WRC-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ezv3DXpkTCqOgJUtSUGB_VS_010124_DGTL_WRC-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ezv3DXpkTCqOgJUtSUGB_VS_010124_DGTL_WRC-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ezv3DXpkTCqOgJUtSUGB_VS_010124_DGTL_WRC-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ezv3DXpkTCqOgJUtSUGB_VS_010124_DGTL_WRC.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSatellite Issues Take Center-Stage at WRC-23<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404834:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jYLG1FGgSXCEZDZga6dH_ED_Note-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jYLG1FGgSXCEZDZga6dH_ED_Note-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jYLG1FGgSXCEZDZga6dH_ED_Note-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jYLG1FGgSXCEZDZga6dH_ED_Note-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jYLG1FGgSXCEZDZga6dH_ED_Note.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tShadows and Light<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404812:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bkIaNzwQZGZtL3L1YxD_VS_010124_DGTL_New_Space-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bkIaNzwQZGZtL3L1YxD_VS_010124_DGTL_New_Space-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bkIaNzwQZGZtL3L1YxD_VS_010124_DGTL_New_Space-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bkIaNzwQZGZtL3L1YxD_VS_010124_DGTL_New_Space-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2bkIaNzwQZGZtL3L1YxD_VS_010124_DGTL_New_Space.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe New Space Spark: Retrospective of the Start of a Revolution<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 404831:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iknjRmPrRzaxFxx65zsC_53347060359_2f83f61846_k-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iknjRmPrRzaxFxx65zsC_53347060359_2f83f61846_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iknjRmPrRzaxFxx65zsC_53347060359_2f83f61846_k-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iknjRmPrRzaxFxx65zsC_53347060359_2f83f61846_k-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iknjRmPrRzaxFxx65zsC_53347060359_2f83f61846_k.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tWRC-27: A Three-Course Meal from a Very Slow Kitchen<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51983,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51981"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51981"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51981\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}