Rocket Launch

• Rocket Lab has announced a five-launch commercial deal for its new Neutron medium-lift reusable rocket platform, positioning the company as a competitor in the expanding commercial space launch market. • The Neutron rocket is expected to reach operational status and conduct its first launches by the end of 2026, marking a major milestone in Rocket Lab's expansion beyond its smaller Electron vehicle. • The investment in medium-lift capability positions Rocket Lab to capture a broader range of satellite deployment missions and compete with established launch providers.

• NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis 2 mission began rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B on March 20, 2026, targeting first motion at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT). • The four Artemis 2 astronauts entered quarantine at Johnson Space Center in Houston on March 18 at 6 p.m. EDT, limiting exposure before heading to Kennedy Space Center five days prior to launch. • Rollout addresses a helium flow issue in the rocket's upper stage, with teams planning to install access platforms, replace batteries in the flight termination system, and retest components upon return to the VAB if needed.

Moon orbit program, preceding planned landing in 2028, has been delayed due to fuel leaks and clogged helium linesFor the second time this year, Nasa moved its moon rocket from the hangar out toward the launchpad on Friday in hopes of sending four astronauts on a lunar fly-around next month.If the latest repairs work and everything else goes Nasa’s way, the Space Launch System could blast off as early as 1 April from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis II crew went into quarantine this week in Houston in preparation for blastoff. Continue reading...

After series of delays, US space agency hopes to carry out first crewed flyby of the moon in more than half a century Nasa has begun returning its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to its Florida launch pad ahead of a planned flyby of the moon, after completing necessary repairs.Artemis engineers began the manoeuvre, which can take up to 12 hours, at 8pm local time. The US space agency will then begin the final preparations before its next launch window opens on 1 April. Continue reading...

• NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis 2 began rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B on March 19, targeting first motion at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT March 20) for a 12-hour, 4-mile journey. • The rollout follows repairs for a helium flow issue in the upper stage, battery replacements in the flight termination system, and two prior wet dress rehearsals marred by leaks since the initial January 17 rollout. • The four Artemis 2 astronauts entered quarantine on March 18 at Johnson Space Center, limiting exposure for a week before heading to Kennedy Space Center five days before the planned April 1 launch.

• North Korea conducted a test of nuclear-capable rocket launchers, adding to regional tensions as international attention remains focused on the escalating Iran conflict and Middle East instability. • The weapons test underscores ongoing security challenges facing the United States across multiple regions simultaneously, from the Middle East to the Korean Peninsula. • The development occurs as the Trump administration manages diplomatic challenges with multiple countries and military operations abroad.