SpaceX turned down three military launch contracts offered by the US Space Force, while a NASA safety panel said Starship could require up to 22 refuelings for a lunar landing. This estimate reflects the complexity of in‑orbit refueling operations.
Canadian startup Reaction Dynamics is raising $350 million to grow its workforce from 68 to more than 350 people. It plans to launch the small‑lift Aurora rocket in 2028 and a medium‑lift Borealis vehicle in 2031. Aurora aims to reach orbit in 2028, while Borealis promises sovereign access to orbit at scale by 2031. Borealis can lift 6 tons to low‑Earth orbit, roughly half the payload of Rocket Lab’s Neutron.
Rocket Lab is set for its 98th Electron launch, carrying three HAWK satellites for Hawk Eye 360, scheduled as early as 07:00 UTC on Friday, October 23. The mission, nicknamed “We’re Not Hawking Around,” underscores the company’s role as only the second firm to regularly fly a purely commercial rocket.
SpaceX also declined to provide rides for three future Space Force satellite missions, according to Politico, reinforcing its decision to avoid government launch contracts.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing