Terminal Count: SpaceX gets approval to launch Starship Flight 7

On this holiday week, we’re discussing SpaceX’s recent approval for Starship Flight 7’s launch license well ahead of the planned launch date, and almost overnight, Europe has another launch provider to bid on contracts with Avio’s takeover of the Vega C rocket.

This week’s launches

• December 25 (Wednesday)
  • Roscosmos | Soyuz 2.1b | Resurs-P No.5 | 2:45 P.M. ET
    • Site 31/6, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
  • CAS Space | Kinetica 1 | Unknown Payload | 8:05 P.M. ET
    • Site 130, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China
• December 27 (Friday)
  • SpaceX | Falcon 9 | Thuraya 4-NGS | 12:00 A.M. ET
    • SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
• December 28 (Saturday)
  • SpaceX | Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 11-3 | 5:35 P.M. PT
    • SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Florida
• December 29 (Sunday)
  • SpaceX | Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 12-6 | 12:00 A.M. ET
    • LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
• December 30 (Monday)
  • SpaceX | Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 12-3 | 12:00 A.M. ET
    • SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

Quick news…

Axiom Space has switched up its plan for its Axiom Station that is supposed to replace the ISS by 2030 but has yet to launch any hardware. Instead of building out a fully functional space station attached to the ISS, the company will assemble a semi-complete station that could be released and operate on its own before the ISS is retired. [Space Explored]

ULA’s CEO, Tory Bruno, is considering using its Centaur upper stage as an in-space interceptor for the US Space Force. As the company faces harsher competition from SpaceX, and soon others, Bruno believes this would be a new revenue stream for the company. [SpaceNews]

Space One’s second Kairos rocket failed shortly after liftoff. The Japanese launch company believes the failure had something to do with the solid-fuel rocket’s first-stage nozzle or attitude control system. [SpaceNews]

Arianespace’s CEO, Stéphane Israël, will be stepping down and leaving the company after December 31. The CEO oversaw the development of the Ariane 6, a record-breaking launch year, and the launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope during his nearly eight-year term. However, the company has yet to demonstrate any ability to compete toe to toe with SpaceX’s Falcon 9, let alone Starship. David Cavaillolès will take over as CEO in the new year. [Arianespace]

Starship Flight 7 gets its FAA launch license

Well ahead of a potential launch, the FAA has approved a multi-launch license for SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7 profile. As expected, this mission will match Flight 6’s profile, featuring a potential catch of the booster and a suborbital flight to splashdown for the ship off the coast of Australia.

This, paired with having successful static fires on both Ship 34 and Booster 14, puts the possibility of another Starship launch in early January at a high chance. SpaceX is even making great moves to ready Flight 8’s and Flight 9’s rockets for testing.

SpaceX is hoping to launch the maximum of 25 times allowed by the FAA for 2025, which could mean launches every other week on average.

Avio takes control over Vega launches

Avio, the rocket manufacturer you likely have heard very little about, took over the remaining launch contracts that Arianespace held as it is now fully in charge of the marketing and launch operations of its rocket. The company has moved in recent months to take over and expand its ability to launch more Vega C rockets in the near future. This includes upgrades to its launch pad in French Guiana and a Vega E variant that increases the rocket’s capability.

This comes just a few weeks after the return to flight of the Vega C, which saw a failed mission about a year ago. While Europe has struggled to compete with other launch providers from the United States, China, India, and even Russia, it seems to be on the path forward with ESA’s continued investment in commercial launch companies. However, it is unknown whether the continent will ever have its own “SpaceX,” but you never know.