Rocket Report: SN8 meets its fate, SLS Green Run tests to resume next week

Enlarge / Starhopper survived, but SpaceX's SN8 Starship prototype did not. (credit: Trevor Mahlmann)

Welcome to Edition 3.25 of the Rocket Report! These are wild times in the world of launch. The window for Virgin Galactic's first powered launch from its New Mexico facility opens Friday, and this is on top of United Launch Alliance's attempt to fly NROL-44 Thursday night on its Delta IV Heavy rocket, SpaceX's SXM-7 launch on Friday, and Astra's next orbital attempt, also on Friday.

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 Galactic launch window opens Friday. The company says it remains on track for its first powered flight from its New Mexico spaceport. Pilots CJ Sturckow and David Mackay will fly the vehicle on a trajectory that will go above the 80km altitude that the company defines as space, SpaceNews reports.

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