SpaceX rejects US Space Force contracts and Starship refuels
- SpaceX rejected three military launch contracts offered by the US Space Force, while a NASA safety panel reported that the company's Starship vehicle could require up to 22...
- The US Space Force recently offered SpaceX three military launch contracts, but the company declined them.
- SpaceX has not publicly detailed its operational rationale for declining the three military payloads.
SpaceX rejected three military launch contracts offered by the US Space Force, while a NASA safety panel reported that the company’s Starship vehicle could require up to 22 refuelings to support a lunar landing.
SpaceX Rejects Military Launches and Faces Starship Refueling Demands
The US Space Force recently offered SpaceX three military launch contracts, but the company declined them. Meanwhile, a NASA safety panel reported that Starship might need as many as 22 refuelings to support a lunar landing.
SpaceX has not publicly detailed its operational rationale for declining the three military payloads.
PLD Space Nears Final Integration For Miura 5
Across the Atlantic, Spanish manufacturer PLD Space is moving closer to flight readiness with its Miura 5 vehicle. Raúl Torres outlined the program status during an October 19 program update, noting that the company has manufactured three vehicles. Two of those rockets are designed to qualify key system elements.
Manufacturing multiple units simultaneously lets engineering teams apply lessons directly across production cycles.
Manufacturing these three vehicles has allowed our teams to work continuously across different stages of production and integration, applying the lessons learned from each qualification campaign directly to the launch vehicle.
Raúl Torres
One Miura 5 second stage is fully integrated and undergoing system-level testing. The second stage is at PLD’s Teruel test facility for its qualification campaign, including a wet dress rehearsal and a static hot-fire test ahead of a target first flight before mid-2027, according to Aviation Week reporting.
Reaction Dynamics Targets Capital Raise For Aurora and Borealis Development
Canadian startup Reaction Dynamics is pursuing $350 million in new funding to scale its operations. SpaceQ reported that the financing round aims to expand the company workforce from 68 employees to more than 350 staff members.
The capital injection will support development of the small-lift Aurora rocket, which Reaction Dynamics hopes will reach orbit in 2028. Reaction Dynamics also disclosed plans to build a medium-lift rocket named Borealis with a scheduled debut by 2031.