Rocket Partnerships Fizzle: Russia and Ukraine's Collaboration Comes to an End

Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket, which has been using Russian and Ukrainian components for its resupply missions to the International Space Station since 2013, will launch for the last time with these components this week. Northrop Grumman has partnered with Firefly Aerospace to develop a new US-built first stage, replacing the Ukrainian booster. Sanctions and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have severed most ties between Western companies and Russian industry, leading to the need for a new rocket configuration. The new Antares 330 rocket, expected to launch in mid-2025, will have increased payload capacity and aims to compete with other medium to large rockets in the market.