Rocket Report: China Launches mystery Satellite; Europe Prepares for Drone Ship recovery
BEIJING – China launched a Long March-2D rocket carrying an unidentified satellite into orbit early this morning,with no prior public announcement. The launch, originating from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, marks a continuing trend of opaque space activities by China, raising questions about the payload’s purpose and potential military applications.This launch underscores China’s rapid advancements in space technology and it’s growing assertiveness in space operations.
This year has seen continued development across the global launch landscape, from SpaceX’s iterative progress with Starship to Europe’s ambitions for reusable rocket technology. While SpaceX has focused on refining its massive Starship system-achieving triumphant reuse of the Super Heavy booster despite earlier setbacks-othre players are pursuing different paths to more affordable and lasting space access.
Europe’s smart Lander Gears Up for Recovery. Europe is preparing to recover the first stage of its Vega-C rocket using a dedicated drone ship. The vessel, currently undergoing sea trials, will attempt to catch the rocket booster as it descends under parachute after launch. This initiative represents a notable step towards reusability for European launch systems, aiming to reduce costs and increase launch cadence.
SpaceX Vet to Fly with Blue Origin. Hans Koenigsmann, a former SpaceX vice president for mission assurance and safety, will fly on a future suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle. Koenigsmann, who spent nearly two decades at SpaceX, led investigations into Falcon rocket failures and became a prominent public figure for the company. He will fly alongside Michaela “Michi” Benthaus, who will become the first wheelchair user to fly in space after a spinal cord injury sustained in a 2018 mountain biking accident. “When we met [Blue Origin engineers], I asked a lot of technical questions on the safety side, and I feel like they answered the majority of them thoughtfully and correctly,” Koenigsmann said.
