Articles tagged with "space-launch"
Stoke Space’s $510M round shows the future of launch belongs to defense
Stoke Space’s recent $510 million Series D funding round, led by Thomas Tull’s U.S. Innovative Technology (USIT) fund, marks a significant shift in the space launch industry toward defense-focused investment and priorities. While earlier space startups targeted the commercial market—promising frequent launches for small satellites, broadband, and remote sensing—only SpaceX has consistently delivered affordable, reliable commercial launches at scale. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising competition from China, have driven increased U.S. government spending on space defense initiatives, including the Pentagon’s multi-billion-dollar “Golden Dome” missile defense project and the Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. These programs offer predictable, high-value contracts that are reshaping startup strategies and investor interests toward national security. Stoke Space’s funding and recent contract wins, including selection for the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program with potential contracts worth up to $5.6 billion, exempl
energyaerospacedefense-technologyspace-launchnational-securityspace-industrysatellite-technologyChina’s new reusable rocket prepares to challenge Elon Musk's SpaceX
China’s private aerospace company Space Pioneer has successfully completed a critical full-scale ground test of its Tianlong-3 reusable rocket, marking a major milestone toward its planned maiden flight later in 2025. The test involved firing nine Tianhuo-12 engines simultaneously for 35 seconds, generating about 1,102 tons of thrust. The 72-meter tall, medium-lift Tianlong-3 is designed to be partially reusable and capable of carrying 17 to 18 tonnes to low Earth orbit, putting it in direct competition with SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The rocket aims to support China’s ambitious broadband satellite constellations, Guowang and Qianfan, which plan to deploy over 13,000 satellites each but have faced delays partly due to launch vehicle shortages. Tianlong-3 is one of several Chinese reusable rocket projects progressing toward operational status this year. Rival private company LandSpace is developing the Zhuque-3, expected to launch between September and November 202
energyreusable-rocketsspace-launchaerospace-technologysatellite-deploymentrocket-enginesspace-industryUS firm's maglev ramp will fire rockets to orbit with almost no fuel
Auriga Space, a US-based company, is developing a magnetic launch track designed to accelerate rockets to hypersonic speeds using powerful electromagnets, aiming to reduce reliance on conventional rocket propellant. Their system will propel vehicles to six times the speed of sound before the rocket engine ignites for the final push into orbit, significantly improving launch efficiency and reducing costs. The launch track features a steep ramp for the final ascent and is designed to be rapidly reusable. Auriga plans to begin by serving hypersonic test customers with two upcoming test tracks: Prometheus (an indoor lab-scale track) and Thor (an outdoor full-scale hypersonic accelerator), with their orbital launch system, Zeus, slated for later development. The company has raised $6 million in funding, including a $4.6 million seed round led by OTB Ventures and $1.4 million in contracts from AFWERX and SpaceWERX, reflecting investor confidence in its technology. Auriga aims to address the US Space
energymagnetic-launch-technologyspace-launchhypersonic-testspropulsion-efficiencyreusable-launch-systempower-electronicsAuriga Space raises $6M to shoot rockets off an electromagnetic launch track
Auriga Space, a California-based startup, has raised $6 million to develop an innovative electromagnetic launch track designed to revolutionize space launches by significantly improving efficiency and reducing costs. Unlike traditional rockets that rely heavily on propellant to overcome Earth's gravity, Auriga’s system uses powerful magnets to accelerate a small rocket to hypersonic speeds along a ground-based track. The rocket exits the track at over six times the speed of sound and ignites its engine only for the final push to orbit. This approach not only saves propellant but also enables rapid reusability of the launch infrastructure. The company has raised a total of $12.2 million through venture capital and Department of Defense grants, with recent funding led by OTB Ventures. Auriga’s technology builds on concepts similar to rail guns and maglev systems but leverages recent advancements in power electronics to make the idea commercially viable. While the exact design parameters, such as track length and rocket size, are still being finalized, the company acknowledges challenges
energyelectromagnetic-launchrocket-technologyspace-launchpower-electronicshypersonic-speedreusable-launch-systemsChina test-fires reusable rocket with 9 engines to challenge SpaceX
Chinese rocket startup Landspace successfully conducted a static fire test of its Zhuque-3 rocket’s first stage on June 20 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The test involved firing nine proprietary Tianque-12A methane-liquid oxygen engines sequentially for 45 seconds, producing 7,542 kN of thrust. This milestone is a key step toward Landspace’s planned orbital launch of Zhuque-3, a reusable rocket designed to compete with SpaceX’s technology. The company views this successful test as foundational for advancing China’s reusable launch vehicle capabilities. Landspace aims to launch Zhuque-3 into orbit in the third quarter of 2024, carrying a prototype of the reusable Haolong cargo spacecraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under AVIC. The company has been progressing steadily since its first launch failure in 2018 with Zhuque-1, achieving a significant milestone in 2023 when Zhuque-2 became the first methane-LOX rocket to reach
energyreusable-rocketmethane-liquid-oxygenrocket-enginesspace-launchaerospace-technologyrocket-propulsionWorld’s first art-painted rocket launched into outer space by China
In a groundbreaking collaboration, contemporary artist Jacky Tsai and Chinese aerospace company LandSpace launched the world’s first fully art-painted orbital rocket, the Zhuque-2 Enhanced (ZQ-2E Y2). Standing nearly 50 meters tall, the rocket was entirely covered with vibrant aerospace-grade paints depicting the ancient Chinese legend of Chang’e flying to the moon. The artwork, which flows continuously from nose to base, integrates traditional Eastern storytelling with bold, modern visual techniques, transforming the rocket into a unified visual narrative rather than mere surface decoration. This project required innovative materials and close cooperation between artists and engineers to ensure the paint could withstand extreme launch conditions without compromising the rocket’s performance. The successful launch and orbit insertion of the ZQ-2E Y2 validated this pioneering fusion of art and aerospace engineering, proving that complex visual art can be integrated into space vehicles without affecting functionality. Painted segments recovered after stage separation serve as tangible artifacts symbolizing the intersection of science and storytelling. This initiative redefines
energyaerospacematerialsrocket-technologyaerospace-engineeringaerospace-paintsspace-launchChina’s liquid rocket engine clears major trial for cargo missions
China’s new liquid-fueled rocket engine, designed for the medium-lift Kinetica-2 launch vehicle, successfully passed a critical full-thrust test at CAS Space’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Test Center near Guangzhou. The test demonstrated stable engine performance and full-duration burn, validating the first-stage power system that will drive the core booster during liftoff. This facility is unique in China for its capability to test engines up to 200 tons of thrust and full-stage systems up to 400 tons, marking a significant advancement in China’s propulsion testing infrastructure. Kinetica-2, standing 52 meters tall with a liftoff mass of 625 metric tons and thrust capacity of 766 tons, is designed to deliver up to 12 tons to low-Earth orbit or 8 tons to a sun-synchronous orbit. Its maiden flight is scheduled for September from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, coinciding with the debut of Qingzhou, a new cargo spacecraft developed for rapid
energyrocket-engineliquid-propulsionspace-launchaerospace-technologycargo-spacecraftpropulsion-systemAmazon’s first 27 internet satellites launch to space
Amazonsatellitesspace-launchinternet-connectivityProject-Kuipertechnologyaerospace