The Rocket Report: A Week of Launches, Price Hikes, and Pad Repairs
Welcome to another edition of the Rocket Report! This week, we've got a mix of news, from price hikes at SpaceX to pad repairs in Russia, and a shake-up at NASA's Artemis program. Let's dive in!
SpaceX Price Hike
In a move that's not entirely surprising, SpaceX has increased its launch prices. A dedicated Falcon 9 ride now costs $74 million, up from $70 million. For rideshare slots, the price has gone from $6,500 per kilogram to $7,000 per kilogram. This hike comes as no shock, given SpaceX's history of steady price bumps. However, it does highlight a tough truth in the industry: access to orbit has gotten significantly more expensive in recent years, despite the hoopla and hopium of falling launch prices.
NASA's Artemis Program Shake-Up
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced sweeping changes to the Artemis program on February 27. The changes include an increased cadence of missions and the cancellation of an expensive rocket stage, the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS). Future SLS missions will use a "standardized" commercial upper stage, with the United Launch Alliance's Centaur V upper stage replacing the EUS. This move is seen as a way to speed up NASA's lunar return and compete with China's rising space program.
Pad Repairs in Russia
A Soyuz rocket launched three astronauts to orbit from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan last year. However, post-launch inspections revealed significant damage. A service structure underneath the rocket was unsecured during the launch, and it fell into the launch pad's flame trench. But Russia made quick repairs to the launch pad, the only site outfitted to launch Russian spacecraft to the ISS. Rockets will soon start flying from Pad 31 again, if all goes to plan.
Launches and Delays
Japan's Space One had another launch failure this week, with its Kairos small rocket self-destructing 69 seconds after liftoff. This is the third attempt in a row for the country's first entirely commercial satellite launch. Meanwhile, MaiaSpace, a French launch startup, has delayed its first launch to 2027, slipping from a previously expected late 2026 launch. And South Korean launch newcomer Innospace is exploring a planned spaceport in Nova Scotia, Canada, as a potential facility to expand operations to North America.
PLD Space Raises $209 Million
PLD Space has raised 180 million euros ($209 million) to ramp up production of its Miura 5 launch vehicle. This funding round is led by Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, with co-investment from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. The fresh cash will support PLD's transition to commercial operations and the scaling of its industrial and launch capabilities.
Sentinel Missile on Track
The US Air Force's new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile is on track for its first test flight next year. The LGM-35A Sentinel will replace the Air Force's Minuteman III fleet, in service since 1970. However, it will take longer than that to build and activate the full complement of Sentinel missiles and the 450 hardened underground silos to house them.
What's Next?
The next three launches on the calendar are:
- March 7: Falcon 9 | Starlink 17-18 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | 10:58 UTC
- March 10: Alpha | Stairway to Seven | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | 00:50 UTC
- March 10: Falcon 9 | EchoStar XXV | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | 03:14 UTC
Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the world of space exploration!
