Hello and welcome back to Max Q! The past week has not been the most successful for space missions. We’ll get into that in a bit.
In this question:
- First, a failed launch of Virgin Orbit…
- … followed by one from ABL Space Systems
- Rocket Lab news, World View, and more
After Virgin Orbit’s failed launch last Monday, during which the mission experienced an “anomaly” that prevented the rocket from reaching orbit, I’m back to the company’s finances — and things aren’t looking good.
For Virgin Orbit, this year has probably turned completely upside down. The company aims to launch three times this year, but everything will be on the ground until the cause of the anomaly is identified and resolved. It’s unclear how long that will take, but it’s likely at least three months. Add that delay to Virgin’s dwindling cash reserves, and you have a base that is suddenly much shakier than before.
Image credits: Virgo Orbit / Greg Robinson
Startup ABL Space Systems’ first orbital launch attempt ended in failure last Tuesday after all nine engines on the RS1 rocket’s first stage shut down simultaneously. The missile then hit the launch pad and was destroyed on impact.
Dan Beaumont, president of ABL, told TechCrunch that while the investigation into the flaw is still in its infancy, “Sync in lockout is strong evidence, but it will take more time for the team to narrow down the contributing factors and the cause.” Source. . “
“The Flight 2 vehicle is fully assembled and ready to begin its air campaign, so we look forward to getting started as soon as the Flight 1 investigation is complete,” Piemont said.
Image credits: ABL Space RS1 rocket
More news from TC and beyond
- Chapel space It added $60 million in growth capital financing to Series C through investor Thomas Tull’s US Technology Innovation Fund. (chapel)
- Elon Musk He said SpaceX has a “real opportunity” to attempt the Starship’s first orbital flight test as early as next month. (Twitter)
- From Europe The opening of the first spaceport on the continent, in Sweden, was carried out by Swedish dignitaries and other authorities. (Upper North)
- from ispace The HAKUTO-R lander completed its second orbit control maneuver and has now been in deep space for more than a month. (Void)
- From Israel The Air Force will establish its own “Space Department”, modeled on the US Space Force. (i24)
- planet coefficient Completed the acquisition of Salo Sciences, a climate technology company. (planet)
- Augsburg Missile Factory And SaxaVord Spaceport in the UK has signed a multi-year launch agreement, which includes an RFA conducting its first launch from that location later this year. (RFA)
- Rocket lab Now targeting January 23 for the Electron’s inaugural launch in Virginia. The launch will carry three satellites to HawkEye 360. (Rocket Lab)
- Russia An unmanned Soyuz capsule will be sent to the International Space Station to return three astronauts to Earth, after a coolant leak was discovered in the Soyuz currently attached to the International Space Station. (New York times)
- space slingshot He brought in Thomas Arnd, who was most recently Vice President and Head of Product Management at Astra, as the new Chief Product Officer. (slingshot)
- Federal Communications Commission It was voted to create a new space division that would handle all work related to satellite communications and much more. (Techcrunch)
- US Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX support a space regulation bootcamp for founders and regulatory professionals seeking guidance on navigating the complex world of space regulation. The training camp will be held in February. (ACSP)
- United Launch Alliance The Vulcan Centaur rocket has just begun to reach the launch pad ahead of its first test flight. (ALU)
- See the world, a startup using stratospheric balloons for Earth observation (and soon… tourism?!) is going public through the SPAC merger. (Techcrunch)
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