Launch vehicles where some or all stages return for refurbishment and reflight, dropping marginal launch cost.
A reusable launch vehicle is one where one or more stages are recovered intact after a mission and refurbished for another flight. The most prominent example is SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage; Starship is intended to make both stages reusable. Other firms — Rocket Lab (Neutron), Blue Origin (New Glenn), Stoke Space, and Relativity — are pursuing first- and/or second-stage reuse.
Reuse is the single biggest cost lever in launch. Falcon 9 dropped advertised list price by ~40% from its expendable predecessors; Starship aims for another order of magnitude. Every other architecture in commercial space — constellations, rideshare, in-space transportation — assumes that trajectory continues.
Designs, manufactures, and launches small-lift orbital rockets powered by single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engines for dedicated small-satellite missions
Develops lunar landers, rovers, surface power systems, and reusable suborbital rockets for payload delivery and infrastructure on the Moon
Develops reusable heavy-lift launch vehicles, rocket engines, lunar landers, in-space logistics platforms, and satellite communications constellations
Develops solid and liquid-propellant launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare satellite missions, suborbital scientific experimentation, and space tourism
Manufactures non-toxic green propulsion systems for satellites and operates reusable suborbital spaceplanes for research and high-speed flight
Develops reusable liquid-fueled launch vehicles and kerosene rocket engines for commercial orbital and suborbital launch services
Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight
Develops and operates solid-propellant orbital launch vehicles and liquid-fueled reusable rockets for commercial satellite constellation deployment
Develops autonomous reentry capsules for on-demand cargo delivery from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour
Designs, manufactures, and operates liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicles for commercial satellite deployment and space station cargo missions
Develops a partially reusable methane-fueled mini-launcher for small satellite delivery to low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits
Developed the Prime micro-launch vehicle for dedicated small satellite missions to LEO, using bio-propane fuel and 3D-printed engines
Voyager Technologies has signed an agreement to acquire Astrobotic Technology, Inc., the Pittsburgh-based commercial lunar delivery, lunar power and reusable rockets firm. “We are building the infrastructure foundation that will make America’s permanent presence on the Moon a reality,” said Dylan Taylor, Chairman & CEO, Voyager. “With Astrobotic, Voyager is now a lunar platform that […]
China conducted the maiden launch of its reusable Long March 12B rocket Monday, providing no advance warning and delivering operational payloads to orbit. The post China conducts surprise launch of Long March 12B, delivers Qianfan satellites on debut flight appeared first on SpaceNews.
A number of new Chinese state-led and commercial rockets are set for debuts and fresh first stage recovery attempts in the coming weeks and months. The post China’s latest batch of new and reusable rockets are close to launch appeared first on SpaceNews.
A new Chinese commercial rocket engine startup has conducted a successful long-duration hot fire test of a closed-cycle kerosene-liquid oxygen engine. The post Chinese startup Mega Engine advances reusable staged-combustion rocket engine appeared first on SpaceNews.
Chinese launch startup Cosmoleap has secured significant funding for its reusable rocket plans as it works towards a debut launch in 2027. The post Cosmoleap secures $73 million for reusable rocket with tower catch recovery appeared first on SpaceNews.