Welcome to the latest edition of the Rocket Report as we wrap up a record-breaking year in space!

As of now, we've seen an incredible 244 successful rocket launches in 2023, marking a milestone in annual launch activity. With a couple of weeks left, all eyes are on Blue Origin to see if they can launch their first heavy-lift New Glenn rocket before the new year. If successful, it would certainly make waves as one of the top space stories of 2024!

Japanese Startup's Launch Mishap

In Japan, Space One's second attempt to launch the Kairos rocket, designed to carry small satellites into orbit, ended with another failure. Shortly after liftoff, the rocket spiraled out of control and self-destructed. Company executives have pointed to issues with the first stage engine nozzle as a suspected culprit for the failure. Unfortunately, this marks two failed attempts in a row, with the first launch explosion occurring earlier this year.

Themis Program Progresses Slowly

Over in Europe, ArianeGroup has conducted a full-fit check of their Themis reusable booster demonstrator. This check signifies a crucial step in the demonstrator’s development, paving the way for test flights projected for 2025. However, the timeline has been elongated significantly since the ESA first contracted with ArianeGroup in 2020, with initial tests now pushed well over the two-year mark.

French Baguette Rockets Take Shape

French startup HyPrSpace is making strides with its Baguette One and Orbital Baguette One rockets, reaching a critical design review phase. With ambitions to use a hybrid propulsion system, the startup is now set to shift focus to finalizing engineering plans, bolstered by considerable funding from the French government.

Raytheon and Ursa Major Collaboration

In a surprising development in the defense sector, Raytheon and Ursa Major Technologies completed successful test flights of a new missile powered by a solid rocket motor. The initiative comes as the US military seeks alternatives for solid rocket propulsion facilities as existing suppliers struggle to meet increasing demand, particularly in light of ongoing global conflicts.

SpaceX’s Efficient Launch Strategy

SpaceX continues to demonstrate its efficiency, successfully launching a military GPS satellite in a record-short preparation time. The Rapid Response Trailblazer-1 mission managed to condense a two-year planning cycle into just a few months. This rapid turnaround showcases the flexibility and responsiveness of military space logistics.

NASA's Extended Crew Mission

NASA has announced a delay in the SpaceX Crew-10 launch, which will extend the duration of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams’ stay aboard the International Space Station. Originally anticipated to last about a week, their mission now stretches into nearly ten months due to technical setbacks with the Starliner spacecraft.

Stoke Space's Engine Name Reveal

Stoke Space, now the primary competitor to SpaceX in developing reusable rockets, has revealed that its new methane-fueled engine will be called Zenith. They aim to utilize this full-flow staged combustion engine to propel their Nova rocket into orbit, expanding the capabilities of commercial spaceflight.

Vega Rocket Upgrades Initiated

In a bold move to increase launch capabilities, the European Space Agency will invest 350 million euros into upgrading the Vega rocket family. The upcoming Vega-E, expected to debut in 2027, will introduce a new methane-fueled upper stage, improving payload capacity and launch frequency.

Blue Origin's New Glenn Waiting in the Wings

Blue Origin is preparing to conduct a hot-fire test of its New Glenn rocket engines, a key step before launching the rocket for the first time. With employees even scheduled to work on Christmas, there's palpable urgency to accomplish this feat before the year ends.

China's Ambitious Megaconstellation Launch

China has taken a significant step in its space ambitions by launching the first set of satellites for its Guowang megaconstellation, which aims to provide high-speed internet similar to SpaceX’s Starlink. With a planned fleet of up to 13,000 satellites, this endeavor marks a strategic push in global telecommunications.

Elon Musk Under Review for Security Clearance

Meanwhile, Elon Musk is under scrutiny following allegations that he failed to comply with reporting requirements for his security clearance. The investigation into his lack of reporting travels and meetings may have significant implications, especially amidst his controversial political affiliations.

ULA's Vision for Space Defense

In an intriguing discussion about future space strategies, ULA's CEO Tory Bruno elaborated on plans for a 'defender' concept—using orbital vehicles to protect US satellites against potential threats. This could represent a strategic pivot for ULA as they adapt to the evolving landscape of space security, putting them in direct competition with space operations such as SpaceX's capabilities.

Future of Vulcan Rocket Launches

Finally, the timeline for ULA's Vulcan rocket to resume launches has been pushed back to April 2025 at the earliest, following continued evaluations and corrections after previous tests.

Key Upcoming Missions

As we look ahead to potential launches, mark your calendars for key missions on December 21, featuring Falcon 9's exciting payloads and the Electron rocket's “Owl The Way Up” flight.

Stay tuned for more updates as the space race continues to heat up!