Rocket Delays & SpaceX: Space News Roundup
- SpaceX's Falcon 9, a veteran of nearly 500 launches, recently demonstrated a novel capability following the June 7 launch of the SXM-10 radio broadcasting satellite for SiriusXM.
- However, SpaceX executed a controlled deorbit of the SiriusXM-10 upper stage.
- Meanwhile, Blue Origin is preparing for the second launch of its New Glenn rocket after a debut in January.CEO Dave Limp announced on social media that the launch...
SpaceX’s falcon 9 achieved a historic feat: a controlled deorbit of a satellite stage from a geosynchronous transfer orbit after the SiriusXM launch. This rare maneuver highlights the Falcon GNC team’s expertise and is a notable advancement in mitigating space debris. This news, as reported via News Directory 3, details how SpaceX successfully navigated this complex process, a crucial step towards lasting space practices. Concurrently, Blue Origin gears up for the August 15 launch of its New Glenn rocket, with its “Never Tell Me the Odds” mission focusing on booster recovery. Discover what’s next as these space exploration giants push boundaries.
Space Exploration: SpaceX Falcon 9 Achieves Rare Deorbit Maneuver
Updated June 15, 2025
SpaceX’s Falcon 9, a veteran of nearly 500 launches, recently demonstrated a novel capability following the June 7 launch of the SXM-10 radio broadcasting satellite for SiriusXM. Typically, the rocket’s upper stage places satellites into a geosynchronous transfer orbit roughly 22,000 miles above the equator. After deploying its payload, the upper stage usually lacks sufficient fuel for a controlled reentry, becoming space junk for decades.
However, SpaceX executed a controlled deorbit of the SiriusXM-10 upper stage. Jon Edwards, SpaceX’s vice president of Falcon and Dragon programs, highlighted the difficulty of this maneuver. “Last week, SpaceX successfully completed a controlled deorbit of the SiriusXM-10 upper stage after GTO payload deployment,” Edwards said. He added that deorbiting from geosynchronous transfer orbit requires important energy, making this a “rare and remarkable frist” achieved through the Falcon GNC team’s expertise.
Meanwhile, Blue Origin is preparing for the second launch of its New Glenn rocket after a debut in January.CEO Dave Limp announced on social media that the launch is now targeted for August 15.The mission, dubbed “Never Tell Me the Odds,” will focus on landing and recovering the booster. “One of our key mission objectives will be to land and recover the booster,” Limp wrote. He noted that the company is on track to produce eight GS2 second stages this year, with the flight stage already hot-fired in April.
What’s next
SpaceX will likely continue refining its deorbiting techniques to mitigate space debris. Blue Origin will proceed with testing and preparations for the upcoming New Glenn launch, focusing on booster recovery.