Space Launch: US Military Contracts Declined
SpaceX turned down three offers for US Space Force launch missions while a NASA panel flagged a high number of required orbital refuelings for a lunar mission.
By Fatima Davis ·
SpaceX recently told the U.S. Space Force that it would not participate in a proposed set of military launch contracts, a decision that comes alongside a separate warning from NASA about the fuel requirements needed to reach the moon.
The company declined the U.S. Space Force's offer to carry out three military launch contracts. On a different front, a NASA safety panel stated that SpaceX's Starship could require up to 22 refuelings to support a lunar landing.
The conversation regarding Starship's role in future moon missions is ongoing, and the safety panel's assessment regarding orbital refueling requirements is part of that discussion. The panel's comments regarding the number of refuelings were reported on Thursday.
The Starship vehicle is designed for heavy-lift operations, and the potential need for multiple refuelings in orbit is a significant factor in mission planning. The number of refuelings mentioned by the safety panel was up to 22.
Meanwhile, in Europe, PLD Space is preparing for the first launch of its Miura 5 rocket. The company reported that the rocket is nearing final integration, and the first flight of the small-lift vehicle is targeted for before mid-2027.
PLD Space has manufactured three Miura 5 rockets, with the other two designed to qualify key system elements. One Miura 5 second stage is now fully integrated to begin system-level testing under representative operating conditions.
In Canada, Reaction Dynamics is seeking to raise $350 million to expand its staff from 68 to more than 350 people. The company is developing the small-lift Aurora rocket, with hopes to reach orbit in 2028.
Reaction Dynamics is also planning to build a medium-lift rocket named Borealis, which is intended to debut by 2031. The company is one of three prominent Canadian launch startups.
The decisions made by SpaceX regarding military launches and the ongoing preparations for new rockets by PLD Space and Reaction Dynamics reflect the current activity in the space launch sector.
Source: Ars Technica · original report published
