The latest edition of the Rocket Report highlights significant events in the space industry. SpaceX faced a rare setback with the failure of its Falcon 9 rocket’s Block 5 version. This failure, the first in nearly 300 missions, has grounded the Falcon 9 fleet temporarily. The Falcon 9 is a cornerstone of modern space missions, flying more frequently this year than all other rockets globally combined. Despite the failure, SpaceX is preparing to resume flights soon, pending FAA approval.
Astra, a company that went public with high expectations, has gone private again. Founders Chris Kemp and Adam London finalized the deal to take the company private, following a series of launch failures that significantly devalued Astra. The company peaked at a valuation of $3.9 billion in 2021 but was worth only $12.2 million by March this year. Astra is now focused on launching its Rocket 4 and delivering satellite engines.
Firefly Aerospace’s CEO, Bill Weber, has left the company amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a female employee. Peter Schumacher has been appointed interim CEO. Firefly, despite some chaotic cultural shifts under Weber’s leadership, saw successes with its Alpha rocket, though not all launches met planned orbits.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Themis reusable booster hop tests have been delayed to next year. The Themis project, part of ArianeGroup’s development, will eventually move higher altitude testing to the Guiana Space Center. The project aims to advance Europe’s reusable rocket capabilities, essential for the future Maia rocket’s development.
Rocket Report Covers SpaceX Falcon 9 Failure, Astra Privatization, ESA Delays, Vaya Space Debut, and More
Vaya Space, a new entrant in the small satellite launch market, received its first liquid oxygen tank for its Dauntless rocket. The company, founded by former astronaut Sid Gutierrez, plans its rocket debut in 2026. Vaya faces a challenging market with many competitors, some of which have already exited the business due to financial difficulties.
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has completed a crucial hot-fire test of its Redshift upper stage. This milestone moves the German rocket builder closer to the inaugural flight of its RFA One rocket. The company has now fully qualified the upper stage for flight and plans further tests before launching later this year.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 suffered a rare failure on July 11, when an upper-stage engine malfunctioned, placing Starlink satellites in a low orbit. This marked the first mission failure for the Block 5 variant. The rocket has an otherwise stellar record with a 99.7% success rate. SpaceX is investigating the failure and preparing to resume launches.
China is preparing for the first launch of its Long March 12 rocket, set to enhance its space launch capabilities. The Long March 12 will use a new YF-100K engine and is capable of delivering significant payloads to low-Earth orbit. This rocket is part of China’s broader ambitions, including sending astronauts to the Moon.
SpaceX’s next-generation Starship vehicle is on track for another test flight next month. Recently, SpaceX successfully test-fired the Super Heavy booster with 33 Raptor engines at Starbase, Texas. This test is a significant step towards the next Starship launch, which may attempt to catch the booster back on the launch pad.
NASA’s Artemis II mission is progressing with the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket arriving at Kennedy Space Center. The core stage will undergo final preparations before its mission in September 2025, which aims to send astronauts around the Moon, marking a significant milestone in NASA’s lunar exploration plans.
Elon Musk announced the relocation of SpaceX’s headquarters from California to Texas, following a new gender identity law in California. The move is largely symbolic, with engineering and production likely remaining in California. However, Texas has become the central hub for SpaceX’s future projects, including Starship production and launches.
