Launch Vehicle Milestones
SpaceX Falcon 9 Reusability Record
• On April 13, Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 6‑73 mission, marking the first time an orbital‑class booster had flown 27 missions to date .
• The booster touched down on the droneship Just Read the Instructions less than 10 minutes after launch, affirming SpaceX’s continued leadership in cost‑effective access to space .
ULA’s Vulcan Centaur Certification
• The U.S. Space Force formally certified ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions, replacing the retired Delta IV Heavy in this critical role .
• This certification paves the way for upcoming missions under the Department of Defense and intelligence community contracts, aiming to diversify U.S. launch options .
Blue Origin New Glenn Progress
• Following its successful inaugural flight in January, Blue Origin has progressed assembly and testing of New Glenn’s vehicle for a second orbital attempt slated for late spring .
• New facilities at Exploration Park and visible work in Launch Complex 36’s integration hangar highlight the company’s commitment to rapid turnaround and infrastructure build‑out .
Rocket Lab’s Defense and Hypersonic Launch Campaign
• Rocket Lab announced multi‑billion‑dollar U.S. and U.K. defense contracts to support rapid deployment of hypersonic technologies under its HASTE program .
• The HASTE system, capable of over 7.5 km/s speeds, has already completed multiple launches from Wallops Island, demonstrating quick‑response and modular payload capability .
Human Spaceflight & Crew Missions
All‑Female New Shepard Flight & FAA Debate
• On April 14, Blue Origin’s New Shepard carried an all‑female crew—including pop star Katy Perry—to suborbital space in an under‑11‑minute flight, the 11th crewed mission of the program .
• U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy triggered controversy by disputing the FAA’s “astronaut” designation for the participants, citing criteria around active flight‑safety roles .
• The debate reignited broader discussions on the commercialization of space, gender representation, and the evolving definition of spaceflight credentials .
Shenzhou 20 Launch Preparations
• China rolled out the Long March 2F rocket bound for the Shenzhou 20 mission to the Tiangong space station, with a planned launch set for April 24, 2025 .
• The mission will continue China’s crewed station operations and experiments, contributing to long‑duration habitation research in low Earth orbit .
Science & Exploration
ESA’s Euclid Data Reveal Cosmic Deep Fields
• On March 19, ESA released the first batch of Euclid survey data, showcasing hundreds of thousands of galaxies across its three deep‑field regions and offering insights into dark matter distribution .
• These initial data sets allow astronomers worldwide to probe large‑scale structure and refine models of cosmic acceleration and galaxy formation .
NASA‑ISRO NISAR Mission Launch Readiness
• Work on the NASA‑ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite (NISAR) concluded at ISRO’s Bangalore facility, with the spacecraft now en route to Sriharikota for final launch campaigns .
• Mission managers are reviewing potential launch dates, aiming to deliver unprecedented all‑weather Earth observation data for climate and disaster mitigation applications .
Policy & Security
Advocating an “Allied Space Forces”
• A Time magazine analysis proposed forging a U.S.‑led military alliance in space—dubbed the Artemis Alliance—to deter anti‑satellite threats from Russia and China .
• Proponents argue such a pact would reinforce the Artemis Accords’ norms and provide a collective defense mechanism for critical space infrastructure worth over $1.8 trillion .
Weekly Space Policy Roundup
• With the U.S. Congress in recess until late April, key space‑policy hearings and appropriations discussions have been deferred, though agencies continue internal planning .
• Upcoming events include NASA’s budget briefing and international treaty consultations scheduled for the second half of April .
Industry Partnerships & Future Missions
Artemis II Preparations
• NASA’s Artemis II mission—the first crewed flight of SLS and Orion around the Moon—remains on track for late 2025, with four astronauts in final training and spacecraft integration underway .
• Ground tests of the Orion spacecraft’s life‑support and communication systems are slated for completion by early summer .
This week’s tapestry of achievements and debates highlights a space industry increasingly defined by rapid reuse, commercial ambition, strategic defense interests, and collaborative science—setting the stage for an even busier schedule of launches, data releases, and policy decisions in the weeks ahead.
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