Rocket Report: Catching a falling fairing, where’s China’s biggest rocket?

Enlarge / The Electron launch vehicle is ready to soar. (credit: Rocket Lab)

Welcome to Edition 2.05 of the Rocket Report! Some interesting news this week, including US military interest in a SpinLaunch concept, as well as a frank admission by some European rocket scientists that reusable boosters like the Falcon 9 are probably the way to go.

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.

DOD shows interest in SpinLaunch. New Mexico-based SpinLaunch announced that it has received an "other transaction authority," or OTA cost-sharing contract from the Defense Innovation Unit, the Pentagon's technology outreach office in Silicon Valley. Rocket Lab and Vox Space previously announced they entered OTA agreements with DIU. With a budget of $15 million, the Defense unit sought proposals from vendors for "responsive launch" options and selected four from a total of 24 submissions, SpaceNews reports. The fourth company has not been disclosed.

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