SpaceX’s sixth Starship test flight launched from its Texas facility, achieving a near-Earth orbit and splashing down in the Indian Ocean—its first daylight landing. The 397-foot-tall rocket, powered by 33 Raptor engines generating 16.7 million pounds of thrust, reached space and tested critical systems, including engine reignition and heat shield performance. The Super Heavy booster, designed for reuse, failed to meet criteria for a tower catch and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico four minutes after launch.

Starship is central to NASA’s Artemis program, with SpaceX contracted to use it as a crewed lunar lander. Each flight brings SpaceX closer to revolutionizing space travel, enabling reusable missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Photo Screenshot: SpaceX

The Exploration Company (TEC), a European aerospace startup, announced it has raised $160 million in a funding round led by Balderton Capital and Plural, with additional investments from French Tech Souveraineté and Germany's DeepTech & Climate Fonds. The funds will support the development of TEC's flagship product, Nyx, a reusable space capsule designed to transport astronauts and cargo to space stations.

Nyx offers a sustainable solution by re-entering Earth's atmosphere for reuse after completing missions. This aligns with growing global demand for space exploration, driven by countries aiming to expand lunar missions and station capabilities. Hélène Huby, TEC’s founder and CEO, highlighted the need for European alternatives to existing solutions like SpaceX's Dragon capsule.

TEC is currently finalizing the second version of Nyx, expected to launch next year, with a fully developed model slated for 2028, partly financed by the European Space Agency. The company has secured $800 million in contracts, including partnerships with Starlab and Axiom Space, and aims to support NASA’s Gateway project orbiting the Moon. Huby envisions TEC as a pivotal player in space logistics, including the return of cargo to Earth.

Photo Credit: techstartups.com

Blue Origin has stacked its massive New Glenn rocket for the first time, joining its two stages at the company’s facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rocket is set for its maiden flight as early as November, launching from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 36.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

• Rocket Specs:

Stands 270 feet (82 meters) tall in its two-stage version.

Features a reusable first-stage booster for cost-efficient launches.

• Mission Details:

The debut mission, DarkSky-1, sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit, will certify the rocket for National Security Space Launches.

Includes a Blue Ring spacecraft, showcasing versatile orbital maneuverability.

SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in November 14, at 8:21 a.m. EST (1321 GMT). This marks the second launch in just five hours, following another Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California 🌍.

The Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff, landing on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean 🌊. This successful recovery was the 18th mission for this booster, nine of which were for Starlink. The rocket’s upper stage will deploy the satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) approximately 65 minutes after liftoff.

With these launches, SpaceX continues to expand its Starlink constellation, aiming to provide global satellite internet coverage 🌐.

Image credit: SpaceX

Volkswagen has deepened its investment in U.S. electric vehicle startup Rivian, raising its commitment by 16% to a total of $5.8 billion as part of a new joint venture aimed at advancing EV architecture and software for both brands. This partnership, called Rivian and VW Group Technology LLC, will develop shared electrical and software systems to power future EV models from both companies. Rivian's R2, a more affordable SUV, will be the first vehicle to use this architecture, with production starting in 2026.

This joint venture brings strategic benefits to both partners, with Volkswagen gaining access to Rivian's tech expertise to help alleviate software development issues plaguing its subsidiary, Cariad. Rivian will also use the funds to support its new factory in Georgia,US, expected to ramp up after securing a federal loan. Led by Rivian’s Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid and VW’s Chief Technical Engineer Carsten Helbing, the joint venture is headquartered in Palo Alto, with additional sites planned. VW models based on this shared technology could be launched as early as 2027, marking a significant milestone in the automakers' EV strategies.