Welcome to the 6.24 version of the Rocket Report! This will be the final edition of the newsletter until January 4 – space enthusiasts need a holiday too! Considering everything that is expected to happen in 2024 in the launch world, taking a break seems like a smart decision. We wish everyone a happy holiday and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Until then!
Top 10 U.S. Launch Companies of 2023
We published a list of the most distinguished American commercial launch companies for 2023. It’s no surprise that SpaceX is at the top, but what comes next is even more interesting, including a new company in second place. I hope the list sparks debate, discussion, and appreciation for the challenges of running a successful rocket company.
This is really hard work…
The article concludes with a message that feels like a fitting way to end the year and begin the holiday season: “As always, I am amazed by all the talented engineers and entrepreneurs striving for success in the launch industry. This is hard work, demanding, and full of problems. I commend your hard work and wish you success.”
New Shepard Flies Again
After redesigning engine components, Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket lifted off from west Texas and flew to the edge of space on Tuesday with a payload of scientific research and technology demonstration experiments, according to Ars. This was the first flight of New Shepard since September 12, 2022, when an engine failure resulted in the destruction of the booster and prompted a mid-air evacuation of the crew capsule during an uncrewed flight.
Does “soon” really mean soon?
It took Blue Origin 15 months to return to flight with New Shepard, but the successful launch on Tuesday puts the company on track to resume crewed missions. So when will Blue Origin start flying people again? “Following a thorough review of today’s mission, we look forward to flying our next crewed flight soon,” according to Erica Wagner, a long-time Blue Origin director who participated in the company’s web broadcast for Tuesday’s flight. (Presented by EllPeaTea and Ken the Bin)
Electron’s Successful Return
Rocket Lab successfully launched a Japanese radar imaging satellite on the first flight of the Electron rocket in nearly three months, according to Space News. Electron lifted off from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 11:05 PM EST on December 14. The vehicle delivered its payload, the QPS-SAR-5 or Tsukuyomi-1 satellite, for Japanese company iQPS afterwards.
Record Number of Launches This Year
This was Electron’s first flight since a failure on September 19 during the launch of another satellite for Capella Space. In that mission, the first stage performed as expected, but the second-stage engine shut down immediately upon ignition, preventing it from reaching orbit. This was Electron’s tenth flight this year, including one launch of a suborbital version of Electron called HASTE. (Presented by Ken the Bin)
Shetland Approval for Launches in the UK
Outer Hebrides Spaceport received civil authority approval for SaxaVord Spaceport to start orbital launches in 2024, according to BBC. It will be the first fully licensed space facility in Western Europe capable of launching vertically to orbit. Up to 30 launches per year will be permitted to deliver satellites and other payloads into space.
Will there be launches this summer?
There are several launch companies around the world currently working on rocket development on site. The German rocket company HyImpulse is expected to attempt suborbital launches as soon as this August. Full orbital launches at SaxaVord are expected to begin in 2025. Cornwall Spaceport was the first licensed space facility in the UK; however, its rockets are launched horizontally and transported by airplane. (Presented by gizmo23 and Ken the Bin)
This
Some major news in the world of launches this year. We look forward to more developments and achievements in 2024. We wish everyone a happy holiday and a new year filled with success and prosperity in the field of space.
Leave a Reply