Rocket Report: Japan chasing SpaceX, missile-test failure, Russian trolling

Enlarge (credit: Rocket Lab/Aurich Lawson)

Welcome to Edition 1.11 of the Rocket Report! This week we have scads of news, including some rocket failures in America and big plans among Chinese rocket companies. Also, the Japanese space agency seems alarmed at the rise of reusable rockets and is now doing what it can to catch up to SpaceX.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

Virgin reaches 52km in latest Unity flight. During the third powered flight of the VSS Unity vehicle, the spacecraft reached an altitude of 52km, just over halfway toward the Kirmin line, which generally is regarded as the beginning of outer space. This is the first time that Virgin Galactic has flown into the mesosphere, Ars reports.

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