ULA had a strong week with a major NASA contract and Vulcan nearing return-to-flight. Meanwhile, Cowboy Space Corporation revealed its new medium-lift rocket, Big Iron, named after the classic Marty Robbins song. While the name draws attention, the startup lacks substantial hardware to back its claims, lagging behind competitors nearing launch readiness.
Virgin Galactic's Delta-class rocket plane, named Apeiron, left Arizona for Spaceport America, New Mexico, for test preparations. The first commercial spaceflight is projected for Q2 2027, though such timelines remain uncertain. With Blue Origin exiting suborbital flights and SpaceX retiring Dragon, Virgin Galactic is positioned as the sole provider for near-term commercial passenger space travel.
ESA's Themis reusable rocket demonstrator faces winter delays in Sweden, casting doubt on its planned 2026 first flight. Originally slated for 2022, the methane-fueled rocket continues to miss targets. Ariane Group leads the project, aiming to test technologies for a future reusable Ariane 6 replacement.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing