The final launch of the Delta IV Heavy rocket is set for a second attempt on Friday, while British launch company Orbex patents reusable rocket technology for its small Prime rocket. Boeing sues Virgin Galactic over alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, and Japan's space agency, JAXA, selects Interstellar Technologies and others as priority launch providers to advance the commercialization of space.
Blue Origin erects a full-size simulator of its New Glenn rocket for fit checks and tests, signaling progress toward its inaugural flights; Russia launches a classified satellite, Kosmos 2575, with indications of a shared mission with another satellite, raising concerns about anti-satellite capabilities; The Exploration Company continues testing its methane-fueled Huracán engine for in-space and lunar transportation, positioning itself as a propulsion supplier to other space companies.
In the Rocket Report, the top 10 US launch companies of 2023 are ranked, with SpaceX leading the list. Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket successfully flew again after 15 months, putting the company on track for human missions. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket returned to flight, launching a Japanese radar imaging satellite. SaxaVord Spaceport in the UK has received approval to begin orbital launches in 2024, becoming the first fully licensed spaceport in Western Europe for vertical launches.
