arianespace
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Crucial Rocket Parts End Up Crushed in a Landfill, Imperilling Satellite Mission
The final mission of the European Space Agency’s Vega rocket has encountered a bizarre setback. Key propellant tanks required for its last flight were found damaged in a landfill, jeopardizing the scheduled 2024 launch. It’s common for wallets to go missing. Same for car keys and mobile phones. It happens. But for two propellant tanks…
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Amazon’s Space Venture Hits Milestone as Kuiper Satellites Successfully Navigate Orbit
Amazon’s space venture, Project Kuiper, is making good progress, with a pair of prototype satellites executing controlled maneuvers in low Earth orbit. The ongoing Protomission, as it’s called, sets the stage for the company to further develop its internet satellite constellation, one that could eventually compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. The test mission for Project Kuiper…
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Launch of Miura 1 Rocket Signals Europe’s Overdue Leap Into Commercial Spaceflight
Private Spanish firm PLD Space launched its Miura 1 rocket this past Friday on a suborbital flight that lasted for five minutes, marking a significant milestone for Europe’s nascent spaceflight industry. PLD Space launched its reusable Miura 1 rocket on Friday, October 6 at 8:19 p.m. ET. The rocket took off from the El Arenosillo…
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It Was a Rough Week for Rockets
It was an unfortunate week for the rocket industry, with three distinct setbacks occurring and challenging the plans of three different aerospace companies across the globe. U.S.-based Rocket Lab, private Chinese launch provider Galactic Energy, and Europe’s Arianespace all endured face-palming disappointments this week, with two rockets failing outright and one continually unable to get…