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Australia’s Gilmour Space Technologies plans maiden flight of Eris Test Flight1 on July 16, nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years

Gilmour Space plans a Tuesday, July 16, launch for the maiden flight of Eris Test Flight1 at 2:30 PM – 12:30 AM PDT. The launch will be from Bowen Orbital Spaceport, a private orbital launch facility owned and operated by Gilmour Space hosts of the Eris Pad which has witnessed the launch of 0 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts.

Eris TestFlight1 will be the first Australian-made rocket, #Eris, to attempt orbit, and the nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years. Gilmour’s vision: ALL ORBITS. ALL PLANETS ®

The forecast calls for a temperature of 53°F, few clouds, 15% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph.

Gilmour Space Technologies is a venture-funded Australian space company headquartered in Queensland, Australia that is developing hybrid-engine rockets and associated technology to support the development of a low-cost space launch vehicle.

Australia’s Gilmour Space Technologies ready to launch maiden Eris Test flight the nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years

Gilmour Space Technologies is gearing up for their first Eris Test flight, no earlier than May 15. Gilmour Space’s Eris TestFlight1 will be the first Australian-made rocket, #Eris, to attempt orbit, and the nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years. Gilmour’s vision: ALL ORBITS. ALL PLANETS ®

Weather forecast calls for a temperature of 77 °F, clear skies, 4% cloud cover and a wind speed of 5 mph.

Gilmour Space Technologies is the leading launch services company in Australia, located in Bowen Orbital Spaceport, North Queensland, ​providing valuable access to space to global Commercial and Defense customers. Backed by some of the country’s biggest investors, Gilmour Space is tracking to launch Eris orbital launch vehicles and ElaraSat bus/platforms to Low Earth Orbits (LEO) from 2025.

Bowen Orbital Spaceport hosts the Eris Pad which has witnessed the launch of 0 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts. While Bowen Orbital Spaceport, has been the site for 0 rocket launches. Private orbital launch facility owned and operated by Gilmour Space.

Gilmour has said that they plan to have fifty of their personnel based in Bowen for the inaugural launch. Eris’ maiden flight will be the first orbital launch attempt of an Australian rocket from Australian soil, according to co-founder and CEO Adam Gilmour.

Gilmour Space announces launch window for the Eris orbital rocket

The countdown is on—Gilmour Space Technologies has announced a launch window starting ‘no earlier than’ March 15 for the maiden flight of Eris, the first Australian-designed and built rocket aiming for orbit.

The news follows final airspace approvals from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia, clearing the last regulatory hurdle before launch. It also marks the culmination of years of innovative R&D and manufacturing by the Gold Coast-based company, which developed the Eris launch vehicle and Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.

Gilmour Space made history in March last year when its Bowen spaceport was granted the first orbital launch facility license in Australia, and when it secured the country’s first Australian Launch Permit for Eris Test Flight 1 in November. Now, with airspace arrangements finalised and mandatory notice given to the Australian Space Agency, the company is preparing for liftoff.

“This will be the first attempt of an Australian rocket to reach orbit from Australian soil,” said Adam Gilmour, co-founder and CEO of Gilmour Space. The company is backed by private investors including Blackbird, Main Sequence, Fine Structure Ventures, Queensland Investment Corporation, and superannuation funds such as HESTA and Hostplus. 

With the March 15 window fast approaching, Mr. Gilmour highlighted a few key points for those less familiar with rocket launches:

First, it’s important to understand that delays or ‘scrubs’ are a normal part of rocket launches. These can last anywhere from hours to days, or even weeks, and are often caused by weather conditions, technical issues, or other factors. “Safety is always the top priority. We’ll only launch when we’re ready, and when conditions are appropriate,” he said.

Secondly, the first launch is always the hardest. Reaching orbit is a highly complex engineering challenge, and every successful rocket company has faced setbacks in their early attempts—SpaceX, for one, did it on their fourth attempt. “It’s almost unheard of for a private rocket company to launch successfully to orbit the first time. Whether we make it off the pad, reach max Q, or get all the way to space, what’s important is that every second of flight will deliver valuable data that will improve our rocket’s reliability and performance for future launches.”

Thirdly, this is the path we must take to build the launch capability required to meet the growing demand for access to space. For Australia, launching locally-owned and controlled rockets from home soil also means more high-tech jobs, greater security, economic growth, and technological independence. “Only six countries in the world are launching regularly to space using their own technology, and Australia could soon join their ranks.”

Aerial photo of the Bowen Aerial Spaceport, courtesy of Gilmour Space.

Finally, he said: “I want to thank our incredible team for all their hard work and dedication in getting to this critical first flight. Whatever happens next, know that you’ve already made history—we now build rockets in Australia. And this is only the beginning.”

Sateliot advances its constellation with 5 new satellites to be manufactured by Alén Space

Sateliot has taken another step forward in the deployment of its satellite constellation by entrusting the manufacture of its next five satellites to the Spanish firm Alén Space. These satellites, which will become part of its LEO network, are scheduled for launch in 2026 and reinforce Sateliot’s position as a dual-use —civilian and defense— 5G satellite connectivity operator, in line with Europe’s strategic push for space autonomy.

With this move, Sateliot continues to implement its roadmap to deploy a constellation of over 100 satellites, fully developed in Barcelona and validated by 3GPP—the international telecommunications standards body—with the goal of delivering secure and interoperable global coverage.

The new satellites, which will be manufactured at Alén Space’s facilities in Nigrán (Spain), include significant enhancements compared to the models already in orbit, enabling improved performance and greater payload capacity. This architecture is capable of supporting advanced communication services in both civilian contexts and critical security operations, territorial protection, or emergency response scenarios. As such, it positions Sateliot as a key player in the European space ecosystem.

The collaboration with Alén Space is not new, as both companies previously worked closely on the manufacture of the first four commercial satellites in the constellation, which were successfully launched in August 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket.

Sateliot already holds contracted commitments worth approximately €270 million with over 400 clients across 50 countries. On this foundation, the company projects revenue of €1 billion by 2030, consolidating its position as a pioneering European operator of global 5G satellite connectivity.

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This project demonstrates that we are capable of building critical infrastructure from scratch in Spain,” said Jaume Sanpera, CEO of Sateliot. “We have developed open and interoperable, made-in-Spain technology that not only meets global connectivity needs, but also contributes to European technological sovereignty.”

Guillermo Lamelas, CEO of Alén Space, said, “We are proud to collaborate with Sateliot on such an innovative and pioneering project, which will redefine the future of communications from Spain. This agreement acknowledges the quality of the work carried out on the first four satellites and strengthens our position as the most reliable small satellite manufacturer.”

SSC awards $2.8 billion contract for the first two satellites of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM) [ESS] program

Image is courtesy of Boeing

The United State Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded a $2.8 billion contract to The Boeing Company to build and deliver the first two satellites of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM) [ESS] program. 

ESS replaces the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) capability currently provided by the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) system, modernizing this crucial element of the nation’s strategic capabilities with advanced technologies and approaches that more efficiently and effectively meet the needs of our warfighters against threats today.

With options for two additional satellites, this delivery will support Initial Operational Capability and is the first step in a phased approach to rapidly proliferate a diverse satellite constellation.

The ESS program, part of SSC’s Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Program Executive Office, will provide the primary strategic SATCOM capability for NC3 users worldwide, enabling joint nuclear warfighters to deliver capabilities across the full spectrum of military operations from peacetime through conflict.

With a resilient architecture, ESS will ensure America’s modernized nuclear triad functions as a deterrent capability in the face of both conventional and nuclear threats. ESS will also continue Advanced EHF’s legacy of partnering with key international allies to deliver peace through strength through integrated deterrence.

This effort builds on the accomplishments of individual contracts under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping acquisition efforts that were awarded to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and The Boeing Company in 2020.

During this phase, SSC drove defense innovation, leveraged competition, matured mission requirements, and reduced performance risk to critical technology elements in high-risk areas. This culminated in the achievement of compliant preliminary segment designs and end-to-end prototype demonstrations, significantly advancing the modernization of the NC3 enterprise.

The ESS system of systems is composed of Cryptographic, Ground, and Space Segments procured by the USSF and a User Terminal Segment procured by the individual Services. The first four satellites will be delivered under a cost reimbursement contract.

As part of the larger $12 billion ESS Space Segment acquisition, additional satellites are planned to be procured through fixed price contract actions that may be awarded as sole source to support Full Operational Capability and attain global coverage, including enhanced Arctic capability.

ESS is threat-driven and risk-informed in order to evolve faster than adversaries can adapt. The ESS program uses agile acquisition approaches across all of its segments, including targeted MTA prototyping activities, Other Transaction Authorities, and the Software Acquisition Pathway, to put capability in the hands of warfighters faster while saving taxpayer dollars.

With this contract award, ESS is poised to deliver resilient NC3 satellites in a fraction of the cost and time of legacy programs.

Today’s award culminates nearly five years of industry competition and government partnership to show the Space Force’s readiness to spearhead the modernization of the NC3 enterprise with the development and production of the ESS weapon system,” said Col. A.J. Ashby, program director for ESS. “The result for our Nation will be the delivery of resilient space-based capabilities that will command and control our nuclear forces through all operational environments, critical functions necessary for enduring nuclear deterrence.”

Xona Space Systems has launched their Pulsar-0 PNT satellite

Xona Space Systems has launched Pulsar-0, the first production-class satellite in the company’s LEO constellation that will bring accuracy and affordable resiliency to industries across defense, construction, agriculture, mining, critical infrastructure, logistics, and automotive environs. The company believes introducing this technology will unlock an entirely new category of innovation by providing a new way to localize hardware in this physical world.

Photo of the Pulsar-0 satellite, courtesy of the company

Critical infrastructure, civil aviation, and financial systems rely on positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services from aging government satellites to function. But they are vulnerable and easy to manipulate. The need for resiliency in this infrastructure is urgent, and Pulsar will be a key part in closing this gap. We’ve heard from leaders across private and public sectors alike that there is no time to waste.

Pulsar-0 entered orbit aboard the SpaceX Transporter-14 mission and will begin broadcasting signals to Earth after the smallsat completes spacecraft commissioning. The primary mission is to validate Xona’s technology and unlock live sky testing with the firm’s early customers, charting the path for more frequent launches as the constellation gows and starts commercial operations.

Building hardware is difficult. Building hardware for space is even harder. Along the way, difficult decisions had to be made to preserve momentum in the face of supply chain volatility. One of those decisions was to proceed with launching Pulsar-0 without a propulsion system onboard, a tradeoff that reduces the mission capability and lifetime from our initial plans but has enabled the company to remain on track for launch and to initiate testing quickly. In a world where resilient PNT is needed now more than ever, launching sooner means real-world implementation can start sooner.

Over the coming months, Pulsar-0 will demonstrate:

  • Precise location: Making progress towards delivering on our partnership with Trimble, Pulsar-0 will broadcast real-time precision location with accuracy greater than 10cm. By broadcasting GNSS corrections from low Earth orbit, Pulsar can provide improved positioning before our full constellation is operational while users benefit from stronger signals that reach more places.
  • Range authentication: Legacy GPS signals are open and unencrypted, opening the door for malicious actors to generate counterfeit signals that are perceived as real. Pulsar will show a new way to verify the authenticity of our signal in action, providing protection against spoofing attacks.
  • Jamming resistance: Today, contested environments are frequently jammed, blocking legacy GPS signals which disrupts civilian life and military operations. With a received signal strength 100 times stronger than that of legacy GPS, Pulsar will outperform in denied domains where jammers and other interference might be present.
  • Signal penetration: Environments occluded from open sky have long been a challenge for legacy GPS to reach. We expect to show Pulsar excelling in these environments, bringing reliable connection to traditionally denied spaces inside reinforced buildings, urban canyons, and more.

Pulsar-0 is a milestone for Xona Space Systems and the company will now be focusing on building the capacity to launch more satellites faster and to grow the constellation to achieve persistent and redundant coverage everywhere on Earth.

Arianespace to launch CO3D + MicroCarb satellites via Vega C

On July 25, 2025, Arianespace will place into orbit Airbus Defence and Space’s CO3D satellites, as well as the CNES’s MicroCarb satellite, with a Vega C rocket.

The CO3D mission is a constellation (Constellation Optique en 3D) composed of four small satellites which are set to map the globe in 3D from LEO, serving public and private sector needs.

The MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the most important greenhouse gas – on a global scale.

This data will answer both the military need for precise and up-to-date cartography as well as civil applications such as hydrology, geology, civil security, urban planning and land and resource management.

The CNES’ MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the most important greenhouse gas, on a global scale. The satellite’s dispersive spectrometer instrument will measure atmospheric concentration of CO₂ globally with a high degree of precision.

MicroCarb’s platform is based out of the lastest CNES Myriade model. Its instrument was built by Airbus Defence and Space, and the integration was realized by Thales Alenia Space UK through a dedicated partnership implemented with the UK Space Agency.

The VV27 launch at a glance:

  • 354th launch by Arianespace, 5th Vega C launch
  • 10% of the satellites launched by Arianespace are Earth observation satellites
  • 147th-150th spacecraft built by Airbus Defence and Space launched by Arianespace (CO3D, 4 satellites)
  • 108th spacecraft built by Thales Alenia Space launched by Arianespace (MicroCarb platform)

Rocket Lab launches ‘Symphony In The Stars’ and achieves new record of two launches under 48 hours

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches a secretive satellite from New Zealand on Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Image credit: Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), provider of launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 68th Electron rocket to deploy a single satellite to space for a confidential commercial customer.

The ‘Symphony In The Stars’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on June 28th (7:08 p.m./07:08 UTC) to deploy a single spacecraft to a 650km circular Earth orbit. The mission was the first of two dedicated launches for the new customer on Electron booked less than four months ago, with a second mission scheduled before the end of 2025.

The mission was the second of two launches from the same launch site in less than 48 hours, a new launch record for the Company as it continues to deliver dedicated, repeatable and reliable access to space for satellite operators.

Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says, “Electron has demonstrated once again that it is the gold standard for responsive and reliable space access for small satellites. The future of space is built on proven performance, and Electron continues to deliver against a stacked launch manifest this year. Congratulations to the team on achieving its fastest launch turnaround yet between two missions from Launch Complex 1. This launch was also a quick-turn mission to meet our customer’s mission requirements, and we’re looking forward to doing it again later this year.”

‘Symphony In The Stars’ was Rocket Lab’s 10th Electron mission of 2025 and its 68th launch overall. With 100% mission success so far this year, Electron continues to deliver reliable deployment amid an increasing launch cadence and rapid contract-to-launch timelines.

Rocket Lab has now completed four launches in June for commercial satellite constellation operators, underscoring Electron’s consistent performance and rapid deployment capabilities as the world’s leading small launcher: the “Full Stream Ahead” mission on June 3rd; “The Mountain God Guards” mission on June 11th; “Get The Hawk Outta Here” launched on June 26th UTC, and tod

Rocket Lab’s 67th Electron launch was for HawkEye360’s mission “Get The Hawk Outta Here”, then “Symphony In The Stars” to launch in 48 Hoursay’s “Symphony In The Stars” mission.

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a provider in launch services and space systems, launched its 67th Electron rocket on a dedicated launch for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360. In less than 48 hours of mission success, Rocket Lab is scheduled for its next Electron launch to take place on Saturday, June 28th NZT which is expected to mark the Company’s fastest launch turnaround to date from Launch Complex 1. Photo by Satnews.

“Get The Hawk Outta Here” launched on Electron from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 5:28 a.m. on June 27th NZT (17:28 on June 26th UTC). The mission deployed four satellites to a 520 km circular low Earth orbit: a trio of microsatellites called Cluster 12 to collect and geolocate radio frequency signals from around the world. Additionally there is Kestrel-0A, an experimental satellite designed to evaluate emerging capabilities and future technology enhancements.

Today’s mission was the second of three dedicated launches in a multi-launch contract for HawkEye 360, following the company’s first mission on Electron to deploy its Cluster 5 trio of satellites in 2023.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says, “Today’s launch for HawkEye 360 was another seamless ride to orbit for Electron, with four satellites deployed with absolute precision to support the growth of HawkEye 360’s constellation in low Earth orbit. With our next mission set to launch in less than 48 hours — the fastest we’ve ever scheduled back-to-back missions from the same launch site — I’m proud of the team for continuing to deliver the high-cadence, responsive launch that our customers rely on.”

The next scheduled Electron mission, “Symphony In The Stars”, will launch a single spacecraft to a 650km circular Earth orbit for a confidential commercial customer no earlier than 7:00 p.m. NZT/19:00 UTC tomorrow Saturday, June 28th. The mission will be Rocket Lab’s 68th Electron launch overall and tenth mission this year from Launch Complex 1.

Rocket Lab’s dynamic scheduling to meet customer and mission requirements has proven their adaptability and responsiveness of dedicated launch on Electron. With over 20 launches possible this year, Electron is in high demand among satellite operators for commercial, civil, and government missions.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launches Axiom Space’s astronauts on Axiom Mission 4 enroute to ISS

On Wednesday, June 25 at 2:31 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photos by Satnews.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Earlier today: Kapu Tibor’s speech: 15 million hungarians raised me to these heights. Your support is like the resting cinder under the gray ashes. It silently glows inside, but give it wood and it will burn united. I am thankful and filled with pride for representing my country. I thank my family and friends for being my strongest support, your voice is louder than our rocket, your strength greater than gravity. Space is for everyone, and there is only one Earth. We came from 4 sides of the planet, but arrived here as companions and friends, our mission is also yours. Thank you to everyone all around the world, who contributed to this beautiful day. To one, all is difficult, to many, nothing is impossible. Go Ax-4!

Dragon will autonomously dock with the space station on Thursday, June 26 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET. Follow Dragon and the crew’s flight below.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about two hours prior to docking, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

SpaceX is targeting no earlier than Wednesday, June 25 for Falcon 9’s launch of Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch is targeted for 2:31 a.m. ET, with a backup opportunity available on Thursday, June 26 at 2:09 a.m. ET.

According to weather officials, there’s a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. Officials are monitoring weather conditions with concerns related to Cumulus Cloud Rule, Flight Through Precipitation. The forecast calls for a temperature of 78°F, clear skies, 1% cloud cover and a wind speed of 6mph.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about two hours prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This is the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission. This will be the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are standing down from launching Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) on Sunday, June 22 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A new launch date will be shared once available.

This is the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission. This will be the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

SpaceX standing down from Axiom Mission 4 with four astronauts for repairs awaiting new launch date

SpaceX is standing down from Falcon 9’s launch of Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 11, to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date.

This is the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission. This will be the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

SpaceX to launch Axiom Mission 4 with four astronauts to ISS on Wednesday

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, June 11 for Falcon 9’s launch of Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch is targeted for 8:00 a.m. ET, with a backup opportunity available on Thursday, June 12 at 7:37 a.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about two hours prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This is the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting thi mission. This will be the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

SpaceX readies for Tuesday launch of Axiom Mission 4 astronauts from US, India, Poland, and Hungary to ISS

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, June 10 for Falcon 9’s launch of Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 4 (Ax–4) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch is targeted for 8:22 a.m. ET, with a backup opportunity available on Wednesday, June 11 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

The Ax-4 mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries’ second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station. This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about two hours prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This is the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission. This will be the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

PeggyWhitson, Ph.D., America’s most experienced astronaut, served as commander on the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the second all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During her record-breaking NASA career, she flew on three long-duration space flights and accumulated 665 days in space (now 675 after the Ax-2 mission), more than any other American astronaut or woman astronaut in the world. More here Peggy Whitson

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been handpicked as one of the four astronauts for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) historic Gaganyaan mission — the nation’s inaugural human space flight endeavor. More here hubhanshu Shukla

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, of Poland, is a scientist and engineer making significant contributions to the fields of science and space exploration. As a member of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Astronaut Reserve Class of 2022, he emerged from a competitive pool of over 22,500 candidates, securing his place for future missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. Fluent in English and proficient in French, Sławosz brings a diverse linguistic background to his endeavors. More here Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer from Hungary, is a mission specialist for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Born on November 5, 1991, in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, Kapu’s journey from the classroom to the cosmos is nothing short of remarkable. More here Tibor Kapu.

United Launch Alliance + Amazon launch the Kuiper 2 mission

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 2 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper lifted off on June 23 at 6:54 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

This mission marks the next step in Amazon’s initiative to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities.

The Kuiper 2 launch deployed the second batch of operational Project Kuiper satellites into the intended orbit. There are six remaining Kuiper missions on the Atlas V rocket, building up to 38, high-cadence, rapid fire launches on the next-generation Vulcan rocket. ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites, through the world’s largest commercial launch agreement. 

We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Amazon and empower their mission to bridge the digital divide through reliable satellite technology,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “ULA, working as a catalyst to global connectivity in collaboration with Amazon, enables delivery of these critical satellites designed to drive innovation and connect the world.” 

TLA’s next launch is the first Vulcan mission for the U.S. Space Force, USSF-106.

Read more at this direct SatNews link…

UPDATE 2: ULA plans for Atlas V launch of Amazon’s Kuiper 2 on Monday

Atlas V rolls to the launch pad with the Kuiper 2 payload for Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Atlas V launch carrying the Kuiper 2 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The mission is planned to lift off on Monday, June 23 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 6:54 a.m. EDT. Today’s forecast shows an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.  

United Launch Alliance (ULA) will use its Atlas V rocket to deliver the second batch of Project Kuiper satellites into space for Amazon. Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network. Its mission is to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities, using a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites.

This launch continues a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon partners with ULA to deploy a majority of its advanced satellite constellation using eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets in accordance with the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.

 Launch Forecast Summary: 

Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 20%  

Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule  

Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 10% 

Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule  

UPDATE: ULA’s Atlas V has a temperature… delaying the launch of Amazon’s Kuiper 2

Rollout Atlas V Kuiper 2

June 16, The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 carrying Amazon’s second Project Kuiper mission, Kuiper 2, is delayed due to an engineering observation of an elevated purge temperature within the booster engine. The team will evaluate the hardware, and we will release a new launch date when available. 

ULA says Atlas V launch of Amazon’s Kuiper 2 mission a ‘mostly’ Go! on Monday

Yesterday’s news

Weather 75% GO for Monday’s launch

Everything continues to progress towards the ULA Atlas V launch carrying the Kuiper 2 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The mission is planned to lift off on Monday, June 16 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is planned for 1:25 p.m. EDT. Today’s forecast shows a 75 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.  

United Launch Alliance (ULA) will use its Atlas V rocket to deliver the second batch of Project Kuiper satellites into space for Amazon. Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network. Its mission is to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities, using a constellation of more than 3,200 LEO satellites.

The forecast from the Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 weather squadron and Launch Weather Officer Jimmy Taeger for Monday afternoon’s launch of Atlas V indicates a 75 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The Cumulus Cloud Rule is the only concern.

The launch time forecast for 1:25 p.m. EDT (1725 UTC) includes scattered clouds and high-level cirrus, a chance of isolated showers, good visibility, southeasterly winds 13 to 18 knots and a temperature near 82 degrees F.

“Surface high pressure to the east will maintain southeasterly flow across the Spaceport during the primary and back-up launch opportunities. In this regime, showers and thunderstorms can begin to develop across the region in the early afternoon. However, high pressure aloft and dry air near the region may help limit shower and thunderstorm development early in the week,” the weather team says.

Primary concern: Cumulus Cloud Rule  

 Launch Forecast Summary: 

Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 25%  

Primary concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule  

Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24-hour delay: 25% 

If the launch moves to the backup opportunity on Tuesday for some reason, there is again a 75 percent chance of meeting the weather rules.

UPDATE: No delivery for Amazon’s Project Kuiper 2 as ULA calls no go for weather delay

Space Station, Fla., June 10, 2025) — Due to multiple weather delays during launch processing, the launch of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the second batch of production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Kuiper 2, is now planned for June 16, 2025, pending range approval. 

Kuiper 2 is on deck, Kuiper 1 marked a new beginning. Catch the moment Atlas V launched the first satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper constellation.

The launch is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. EDT at the opening of a thirty-minute window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Atlas V Project Kuiper 2 launch planned for June 16

An Atlas V 551 rocket, configured with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters and a medium-length payload fairing, will launch the next Project Kuiper satellites into space on the Kuiper 2 mission. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This launch continues a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon partners with ULA to deploy a majority of its advanced satellite constellation using eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets in accordance with the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.

AAC Clyde Space wins strategic order for first phase of ESA-backed satellite swarm mission

Image is courtesy of ESA

AAC Clyde Space has won an order worth 0.12 million euros (approx. SEK 1.3 million) from University College Dublin for a mission study in the first phase of the development program COMCUBE-S.

The study will assess the technical feasibility of the proposed mission and marks an initial step in a structured process that may lead to a CubeSat Swarm In-orbit Demonstration mission. The study is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2025.

COMCUBE-S is a technical project aiming to develop new capabilities for observing Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB)—short-lived and extremely powerful events in space. By delivering faster and more detailed information about these phenomena, the mission will support scientists in making new discoveries about the nature and origins of GRBs.

The project follows ESA‘s established In-Orbit Demonstration process and begins with a so-called Phase A study, which assesses the mission’s technical feasibility. AAC Clyde Space is responsible for the system design in this initial phase, working in close collaboration with the project lead, University College Dublin.

A decision on further development is expected at the end of 2025, once the study is completed. A central element of COMCUBE-S is the use of a satellite swarm: a coordinated network of many small satellites operating together on-orbit. The swarm enables rapid, multi-angle observations of short-lived space phenomena and improves the ability to measure polarization—a key property of gamma-ray bursts that can help reveal how these violent events originate.

To achieve sufficient coverage and accuracy, the project ultimately aims to build a constellation of as many as 27 satellites. The assignment strengthens AAC Clyde Space’s position as a supplier of complete satellite missions—from design to operations—in technically advanced projects. It provides an opportunity to apply the company’s own components, systems engineering and methods for constellation development.

Experience gained through the ESA-funded xSPANCION program, in which AAC Clyde Space developed scalable solutions for satellite swarms, will be directly applicable. The work forms part of a broader collaboration with University College Dublin to advance the COMCUBE-S mission. The selection of COMCUBE-S from among seven European finalists in ESA’s SysNova Challenge confirms the strength of the technical concept and the partner constellation.

This project demonstrates how we translate technical expertise into real-world results. COMCUBE-S clearly illustrates our ability to take the lead in missions that combine scientific objectives with the highest technical demands,” said AAC Clyde Space CEO Luis Gomes.

COMCUBE-S represents a significant step forward in our ability to study gamma ray bursts and unlock new scientific insights into the most energetic events in the universe,” said Lorraine Hanlon, Director at UCD Centre for Space Research.

About COMCUBE-S
The project is led by University College Dublin and aims to improve understanding of gamma-ray bursts – extremely bright and short-lived explosions that occur, for example, when neutron stars collide. Using a swarm of satellites, the project will collect polarimetric data and localise these events in real time. This opens new opportunities in so-called multi-messenger astronomy, where different types of space data are combined to provide a more complete picture of cosmic phenomena. AAC Clyde Space is responsible for system design in the project’s initial phase and serves as the industrial partner in the first delivery. COMCUBE-S is one of two selected concepts from ESA’s SysNova Challenge and is supported through the Discovery & Preparation programme. The Consortium partners also include Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie (IJCLab), France, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), France, and Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH), Sweden.

Exolaunch to deploy their largest mission to date — 45 customer satellites on Transporter-14

Exolaunch is set to deploy 45 customer satellites on the upcoming Transporter-14 rideshare mission with SpaceX aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as soon as this month. This mission highlights Exolaunch’s role as a trusted partner for rideshare launches and represents unparalleled expertise and flight heritage

Flight-proven hardware: CarboNIX, Nova, and Quadro deployment systems

The Transporter-14 mission represents a major milestone for Exolaunch as its largest mission to date, building on the company’s track record of providing reliable and precise access to orbit for customers worldwide. Exolaunch’s teams of experts will manage the deployment of numerous microsatellites, up to 250 kilograms, and CubeSats, up to 16U in size, supporting 25 new and returning customers from the USA, UK, Lithuania, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Canada, South Korea, France, Japan, Spain, Norway, Italy, and Greece.

On this mission, Exolaunch will use its flight-proven deployment systems, including:

  • CarboNIX microsatellite separation rings in 8″, 11″, 15″, and 24″ sizes
  • EXOpod Nova advanced CubeSat deployers, supporting higher-mass and larger volume satellites with exceptional reliability
  • Quadro four-point separation systems, offering synchronized release and ultra-low tip-off rates for precision microsatellite deployments

Exolaunch’s EXOpod Nova deployers have now supported over 100 delivered units and hundreds of successful CubeSat deployments, reinforcing Nova’s reputation as a trusted next-generation deployer for CubeSat mission.

Exolaunch continues to be the only launch integrator to have manifested satellites on every Transporter mission since the program’s inception in 2020. With Transporter-14, Exolaunch will celebrate its 37th mission overall, having deployed over 530 satellites across 36 previous missions on different global launch vehicles.

As part of the company’s comprehensive service offering, Exolaunch has managed global logistics, satellite integration, deployment, and testing for its customers aboard the Transporter-14 mission—a turnkey solution trusted by the world’s most ambitious space programs.

Transporter-14 marks a historic achievement for Exolaunch and our customers,” said Robert Sproles, Chief Executive Officer at Exolaunch. “Our flight heritage, reliability, and hardware performance continue to set the standard in the rideshare industry. We are grateful to our customers for their trust and to SpaceX for being an outstanding partner as we continue to open space for all.”

This milestone reflects not just the growth of Exolaunch, but also the expanding demand for global access to space,” said Jeanne Allarie, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Exolaunch. “Our unmatched success across these missions and the growing adoption of our Nova, CarboNIX, Quadro and Neo systems highlight the strength of our technology and services. We deeply appreciate our customers’ and SpaceX’s ongoing confidence in our team.”