Welcome to Edition 9.04 of the Rocket Report! SpaceX is gearing up for its 13th Starship test flight, aiming for an evening launch on Friday after a last-minute engine swap.
Meanwhile, Indian space officials marked a historic moment with the successful debut of Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket. The private spacecraft reached orbit following a delayed but smooth ascent from India’s Bay of Bengal spaceport.
Vikram-1 stands at 72 feet tall and can carry payloads up to 350 kilograms into low-Earth orbit, slightly larger than Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle. After three solid-fueled engines propelled the rocket to space, a liquid-fueled fourth stage accelerated it to an approximate altitude of 450 kilometers.
Each report will delve into small-, medium- and heavy-lift rockets, as well as upcoming launches. If you don’t want to miss an issue, subscribe now using the form below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions).
