Rocket Report: A huge step back for Stratolaunch, a toppling Starship

Enlarge / The Rocket Report is published weekly. (credit: Arianespace)

Welcome to Edition 1.34 of the Rocket Report! It's a sad week for new space, as just three months after the passing of Paul Allen-who shared the vision of low-cost access to space-Stratolaunch has abandoned its plans to build a line of rockets for its large aircraft. In somewhat happier news, both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin appear to be getting closer to commercial space tourism.

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.

Stratolaunch abandons rocket development. After it had already completed successful tests of a pre-burner, Stratolaunch will discontinue its programs to develop a new type of rocket engine and a new line of rockets, Geek Wire reports. "Stratolaunch is ending the development of [its] family of launch vehicles and rocket engine. We are streamlining operations [and] focusing on the aircraft and our ability to support a demonstration launch of the Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL air-launch vehicle," the company said.

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