Today’s #SpacetoberChallenge is #LaunchVehicle! How could I not kick this off with the biggest and baddest rocket, #SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship? DAWN OF A NEW ERA, watercolor and ink, featuring the IFT-2 launch from last year.

#Spacetober2024 #Spacetober #SpacetoberChallenge_04
#SpaceArt #SpaceArtist #AstroArt #SciArt #watercolor #watercolorArt #Starship #art #painting #Space #MastoArt #MastoArtists #FediArt #BuyIntoArt #AYearForArt #ArtMatters #ArtistsOfMastodon

Ready for the runway: Dream Chaser spaceplane prepares for first trip to ISS

Tenacity, the first of the Dream Chaser fleet from Sierra Space, awaits NASA's go-ahead for its first resupply mission to the space station.

USA TODAY

A vertical view of the Mobile Service Structure at Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Station.
The #MobileServiceStructure stacks the #Delta IV #rocket on top its #launchpad and then rolls away, while the gray Fixed Umbilical Tower remains in place and supplies the #LaunchVehicle with propellant and other consumables until liftoff.

Get a print of this image or another item at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/delta-iv-mobile-service-structure-and-reflection-heron-and-fox.html

#CCAFS #SLC37B #UnitedLaunchAlliance #DeltaIV #Photograph

Delta IV Mobile Service Structure and Reflection by Heron And Fox

Delta IV Mobile Service Structure and Reflection by Heron And Fox

Heron And Fox - Website

The #engine compartment of a #Delta II launch #vehicle.
The #DeltaII’s main #engine was a #Rocketdyne RS-27 #rocket engine derived from engines going back to before the Saturn I.
The #RS27 can be supplemented by up to 9 Solid Rocket Boosters.
Three #SRB’s are installed on this display of the last Delta II #LaunchVehicle remaining. It’s on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.

Get a print or other item with this image at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/delta-ii-engines-heron-and-fox.html

#Photography

Delta II Engines by Heron And Fox

Delta II Engines by Heron And Fox

Heron And Fox - Website

📊 There are 60 operational orbital #LaunchVehicle types on a #global basis. This article characterizes those launch vehicles in the following areas:

• Launch vehicle types by country
• Responsive launch
• Reusability
• Flight heritage
#Payload mass to #LEO

https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2022/10/18/insights-into-currently-operational-orbital-launch-vehicles/

Insights into Operational Orbital Launch Vehicle Types

Insights into global operational launch vehicles.

New Space Economy
The new #Ariane 6 rocket, which is running four years late ⏳ and still hasn't flown, should be the last #LaunchVehicle developed by #ESA, which will launch a competition of #launchers without weight class limitations. The field of startup launch companies in #Europe 🇪🇺 includes German 🇩🇪 firms like #HyImpulse, #RocketFactory Augsburg, and #IsarAerospace; British 🇬🇧 companies such as #Skyrora and #Orbex; and Spain's 🇪🇸 #PLDSpace. #ESA will use around 75 million euros 💰 to pay for the early stages of the #cargo 📦 challenge, which #Aschbacher expects will result in three companies competing with one another https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/11/after-the-sting-of-ariane-6-europe-finally-embraces-commercial-rockets/
After the sting of Ariane 6, Europe finally embraces commercial rockets

A new deal keeps the Ariane 6 rocket afloat while looking ahead to new launchers.

Ars Technica

📆 Sep. 10, 2023 The #ExplorationCompany and #AxiomSpace sign cargo 📦 services agreement in support of first #European 🇪🇺 space capsule to be sent to a commercial #SpaceStation. #Orbital #SpaceVehicle ‘Nyx’ is targeting to bring cargo up to #AxiomStation no earlier than late 2027 https://www.exploration.space/press

An initial demonstration mission was originally scheduled to fly with #Arianespace’s 🇪🇺 #Ariane 6 in the fall of this year, but due to delays ⏳, The #ExplorationCompany decided to move to the #Indian 🇮🇳 #LaunchVehicle 🚀 https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/13/the-european-company-signs-agreements-with-axiom-indian-space-research-organization

Picture : #Axiom Mission 1 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Axiom_Mission_1_approaches_the_station_inside_the_SpaceX_Dragon_Endeavour_b.jpg

Press

📆 October 18, 2023 Steve Jurvetson, an early investor in #SpaceX and #Planet, claimed that many #investors* in #startups working on small #LaunchVehicles were unaware of the scope of competition, many thinking there were no more than 10 other companies in the field. https://spacenews.com/small-launch-companies-struggle-to-complete-with-spacex-rideshare-missions/

#LaunchVehicle 🚀 manufacturers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies#Launch_vehicle_manufacturers

4️⃣4️⃣ #aerospace companies producing #rockets 🚀 in #OpenStreetMap 🗺️ https://taginfo.openstreetmap.org/tags/aerospace%3Aproduct=rocket

Cargo 📦 Transportation & Landers https://www.factoriesinspace.com/cargo-transportation

* 📊 422 investors invested $8 billion 💰 in 123 start-up #SpaceCompanies in 📆 2022 https://brycetech.com/reports/report-documents/Bryce_Start_Up_Space_2023.pdf

#SpaceCompany #SpaceMarket

Small launch companies struggle to compete with SpaceX rideshare missions

Industry executives argue that SpaceX’s dominant position in the launch market is making it difficult for small launch vehicles to compete.

SpaceNews
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