Launch Costs: SpaceX Rejects Three Space Force Offers

SpaceX has turned down three launch contracts offered by the US Space Force. The company communicated its decision to the military branch as part of the latest industry updates released on Thursday, October 23. This move leaves the Space Force without the additional lift capacity it sought from the private sector.

A NASA safety review panel also issued a new assessment regarding the Starship vehicle. The group determined that a lunar landing mission could require as many as 22 separate refueling events in orbit. This figure outlines the logistical complexity involved in supporting the heavy-lift vehicle for crewed missions to the Moon.

In Spain, PLD Space is preparing the Miura 5 rocket for its first flight. The company targets a debut launch before mid-2027. The vehicle is currently in its final stages of assembly. This small-lift rocket is the first of three units the company has constructed.

Raúl Torres, the CEO of PLD Space, explained the production strategy in an October 19 update. He stated that building three vehicles allowed engineering teams to work across different production stages simultaneously. "Manufacturing these three vehicles has allowed our teams to work continuously across different stages of production and integration, applying the lessons learned from each qualification campaign directly to the launch vehicle," Torres said.

One second stage of the Miura 5 is now fully integrated. This component is located at the company's test facility in Teruel. Engineers will use it to begin system-level testing under realistic operating conditions. The qualification campaign for this stage includes a wet dress rehearsal and a static hot-fire test. The other two rockets are intended to qualify specific system elements.

Reaction Dynamics in Canada is seeking $350 million in new funding. The company plans to use the capital to expand its workforce from 68 employees to more than 350. It is developing a small-lift rocket named Aurora, with a target orbit insertion date of 2028. The company also announced plans for a medium-lift vehicle called Borealis, which it aims to launch by 2031.