Reflect Orbital has purchased two launches from Indian company Skyroot Aerospace to deploy its satellite constellation. The startup intends to orbit 50,000 mirrors to reflect sunlight to Earth. Meanwhile, Colorado-based LEAP plans to enter the small-satellite launch market in 2028 with its Bighorn rocket, which is designed for mass production at a facility in Denver.
Rocket Lab has delayed the debut of its Neutron vehicle until 2027 due to manufacturing challenges involving carbon composite structures. The company identified voids in the forward dome of the first stage propellant tank. Simultaneously, Stoke Space has moved the second stage of its Nova rocket to a test facility in Moses Lake, Washington, to begin cryo-proof testing and engine hotfires.
SpaceX continues its operational cadence with recent missions, including a military data relay satellite launch and the 35th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The company is also seeking FAA approval to increase activity at its Starbase facility in Texas, proposing up to 456 launches and 912 landings annually, compared to the current limits of 25 and 50 respectively.
Following a successful ocean splashdown in July, SpaceX has returned a flight-proven Starship vehicle to Starbase for inspection. The company aims to gather data on the heatshield and Raptor engines from this unit. Additionally, Elon Musk indicated that SpaceX may attempt to land a Starship upper stage at the Starbase site during a test flight scheduled for later this year.
