Launch & Rocket Updates
- SpaceX Starship Cleared for Launch: SpaceX Starship is set for its 10th test flight on Aug. 24 after finally getting FAA approval and closing out an investigation into its last failed launch space.com. The fully stacked Starship/Super Heavy will attempt to deploy dummy Starlink satellites, reignite its engines in space, and splash down gently – all critical steps as SpaceX races to have Starship ready as NASA’s Artemis III moon lander by 2027 space.com 1 .
- Blue Origin’s New Glenn Targets Mars: Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced the second-ever launch of its giant New Glenn rocket is planned for Sept. 29. This booster will carry NASA’s twin ESCAPADE Mars probes – the rocket’s first interplanetary payload – after working closely with NASA on preparations space.com. New Glenn’s debut in early 2025 reached orbit but failed to land its first stage; this time Blue Origin will again try to recover the 188-foot booster at sea while sending the ESCAPADE satellites toward Mars’ orbit space.com 2 .
- Setback for China’s LandSpace: Chinese startup LandSpace suffered a launch failure on Aug. 15 when its methane-fueled Zhuque-2 rocket experienced an “anomaly” shortly after liftoff reuters.com. The mission was lost and an investigation is underway. LandSpace made history in 2023 with the world’s first successful methane-fueled orbital launch (beating SpaceX and Blue Origin) reuters.com, and even saw a follow-up test succeed this May, so this failure is a notable stumble in China’s booming commercial launch sector.
- China’s Moon Rocket Passes Big Test: China conducted a major static fire of its new Long March-10 rocket – the heavy-lift booster intended to carry Chinese astronauts to the moon. On Aug. 15, engineers ignited seven engines on a full-scale first stage in unison at Wenchang, generating nearly 1,000 tons of thrust in China’s largest-ever engine test globaltimes.cn. The successful trial marked a key milestone for China’s 2030 crewed lunar ambitions 3
