Key facts
- SpaceX is nearing its 1,000th launch.
- Skyroot Aerospace plans its first orbital test flight of the Vikram-1 rocket between July 12 and August 4.
- Rocket Lab will conduct three NASA launches in 2027 using its Electron rockets.
- Isar Aerospace announced a launch agreement with Planet Labs for its Spectrum rocket.
- NASA provided braking engines for the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin Mars mission, targeting a late 2028 launch.
SpaceX is nearing its 1,000th launch, while several other space companies are preparing for significant milestones. Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace is targeting a July 12 to August 4 window for the maiden flight of its Vikram-1 rocket, marking India's first private attempt at an orbital launch. The mission aims to collect crucial performance data.
Rocket Lab has secured contracts with NASA for three dedicated launches in 2027 using its Electron rockets. One mission involves two satellites for the Polarized Submillimeter Ice-cloud Radiometer (PolSIR), launching back-to-back from New Zealand. Another is the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) mission.
German startup Isar Aerospace announced a deal with Planet Labs to launch one of its Pelican satellites on Isar's Spectrum rocket, potentially this year. This would be a national first for Germany, demonstrating sovereign space capabilities. However, Isar's Spectrum rocket has faced delays, with its most recent launch attempt scrubbed on June 15 due to issues with its fluid systems.
In other news, the Katalyst Space Technologies' Link satellite successfully launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket to reboost NASA's Swift astronomy satellite. This marked the final scheduled flight for the air-launched Pegasus rocket. Additionally, NASA has delivered the braking engines for the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin Mars mission, which is slated for a late 2028 launch after years of delays.