Rocket Lab has tested the flight hardware for Neutron’s unusual “Hungry Hippo” payload fairing as the company continues working toward the rocket’s first launch. Unlike conventional fairings, Neutron’s fairing will remain attached to the reusable first stage—opening briefly to release the second stage before closing again for the journey home.
Meanwhile, SpaceX has launched its final Falcon 9 Starlink mission from Florida as the company prepares to transition future Space Coast Starlink launches to Starship. Falcon 9 Starlink missions will continue from Vandenberg for polar-orbit deployments.
Also this week: China delays the Chang’e 7 lunar mission, NASA continues stacking Artemis III while beginning work on hardware for Artemis VI, Europe awards its first European Launcher Challenge contracts, Ariane 6 Block 3 is canceled, NASA’s Pandora mission begins studying alien atmospheres, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope arrives at Launch Complex 39A ahead of its Falcon Heavy launch.
Plus, we recap the week’s launches and preview what’s coming next in spaceflight.
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🤵 Hosted by Elysia Segal.
🖋️ Written by Marty Luinstra .
🎥 Footage from: Max Evans, D Wise, 追箭部落, CCTV, MaiaSpace, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Firefly Aerospace, CNSA, 北斗_玉衡, NASA Goddard, Blue Origin, NASA, ESA, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Isar Aerospace, Orbex, PLD Space, Centre Spatial Guyanais, ArianeGroup, LeoLabs, Минобороны России, Arianespace, ISRO, Galactic Energy.
✂️ Edited by Ryan Caton.
💼 Produced by Kevin Michael Reed (@kmreed).
🔍 If you are interested in using footage from this video, please review our content use policy: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content-use-policy/
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