# LATEST
![Chinese launch sites and China's launchsite bottleneck](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/Cover.jpeg)
Chinese launch sites and China's launchsite bottleneck
By Brie Archambault
Learn about China's launch sector and how they plan to solve and grapple with growing challenges.Jul 22, 2024 10 mins
![Weekly Dose of Space (14/7-20/7)](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/Weekly-dose-of-Space-2.png)
Weekly Dose of Space (14/7-20/7)
By Cosmic Tylxr, Jack Congram
Welcome back to Weekly Dose of Space! Last week saw only one orbital launch worldwide. This week, Artemis II hardware was also on the move, Astra was returned to private ownership, and a leadership change occurred at Firefly. As always, we'll also look ahead to what the worldwideJul 21, 2024 8 mins
![A render of NASA's VIPER rover on the lunar surface. ©NASA](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/viper_cdr_hero_08_lrg-scaled.jpg)
NASA cancels VIPER lunar rover
By Jack Congram
NASA announced on July 17th that it was ending its work on the VIPER lunar rover. VIPER, or Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, was a Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program mission that would search for the location of water ice and other potential resources on the surface of the Moon.Jul 18, 2024 2 mins
![How SpaceX's New Dragon Will Deorbit the ISS](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/GStQi2NaAAA4RHZ.jpg)
How SpaceX's New Dragon Will Deorbit the ISS
By Jeppe Kastrup
With the International Space Station being at the end of its lifetime, SpaceX has been selected as the provider for the United States Deorbit Vehicle (USDV) that will deorbit the 25-year-old station. Such an operation has never been done before, so how will SpaceX perform it? On July 17th, NASAJul 17, 2024 2 mins
![The Long March 12 simulator on the launch vehicle erector during transportation.](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/1000-1-1.webp)
Long March 12 appears for testing ahead of debut next month
By Jack Congram
On July 16th a Long March 12 'simulator' was spotted being transported around the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site (文昌商业航天发射场), in China's southernmost province of Hainan. The simulator of the launch vehicle is believed to be for final 'fit' testing and rehearsals ahead ofJul 16, 2024 3 mins
![Weekly Dose of Space (7/7-13/7)](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/Weekly-dose-of-Space-1.png)
Weekly Dose of Space (7/7-13/7)
By Jack Congram, Cosmic Tylxr
Welcome back to Weekly Dose of Space! Last week saw four orbital launch attempts occur, with only one completely succeeding. This week also had a test aircraft gain clearance to go supersonic and one of NASA's planetary exploration missions encounter a potential hardware problem. As always, we'Jul 14, 2024 6 mins
![Falcon 9's second-stage MVac engine some ice can be seen near the engine. ©SpaceX](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/GSQvriOakAAkzpk.jpg)
Falcon 9 experiences in-flight anomaly for the first time in nine years
By Jack Congram
SpaceX launched what appeared to be a regular Starlink mission atop of Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California, on July 12th at 02:35 Universal Coordinated Time. During the second-stage's ascent to orbit, a build-up of ice was noticed on SpaceX's launch stream.Jul 12, 2024 2 mins
![What commercial reusable rockets are on the horizon from China?](/content/images/size/w300/2024/06/ChineseReuseableRockets.png)
What commercial reusable rockets are on the horizon from China?
By Jack Congram
Disclaimer: Launch vehicles that have recently been announced or have had minimal details shared are not included. SpaceX has slashed the cost of sending satellites into orbit since the introduction of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle in 2010. Over its fourteen-year history, Falcon 9 has flown almost 350 times whileJul 10, 2024 8 mins
![Ariane 6 during first-stage flight ©M. Pédoussaut/European Space Agency](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/GSEcx8GXsAAts3F-1.jpg)
Ariane 6 spreads its wings for the first time!
By Jack Congram
Europe has finally returned its domestic access to space with the debut launch of Ariane 6 on July 9th. The first Ariane 6 launch vehicle lifted off from Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 4 (Ariane Launch Complex 4) located at the Guiana Space Centre, in French Guiana in the north ofJul 9, 2024 5 mins
![Weekly Dose of Space (1/7-6/7)](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/Weekly-dose-of-Space.png)
Weekly Dose of Space (1/7-6/7)
By Jack Congram, Cosmic Tylxr
Welcome back to Weekly Dose of Space! Last week saw four orbital launches occur, with a fifty-fifty split between Asia and North America. This week also saw another country join the International Lunar Research Station and SpaceX win yet another launch contract. As always, we'll also look aheadJul 7, 2024 5 mins
![Firefly kicks off 2024](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/Firefly-Aerospace-Jul-3-2024-Birds-Nest-9179-1024x683.jpg)
Firefly kicks off 2024
By Brie Archambault
Firefly's Alpha rocket lifted off today on July 4th 2024, 12:04 AM EDT from Pad SLC-2W, at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Alpha is a small sat launcher priced at 15 million US dollars a launch. Alpha is designed to be the most reliableJul 5, 2024 5 mins
![The Top Five Greatest Moments in US Spaceflight](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/Schmitt-header.jpg)
The Top Five Greatest Moments in US Spaceflight
By Cosmic Tylxr
To celebrate the Fourth of July, I wanted to cover the top five greatest moments in US spaceflight. Whether you love or hate the country, no one can doubt its historical importance, especially in the out-of-this-world arena of spaceflight. Before we dive into this top five, you have to understandJul 4, 2024 9 mins
![The Tianlong-3 test stage falling back towards Earth.](/content/images/size/w300/2024/07/IMG_3454.jpeg)
Unexpected Liftoff - Space Pioneer's static fire incident
By Brie Archambault, Jack Congram
Disclaimer: This article contains the speculation of the writers due to the ongoing accident investigation by Space Pioneer and authorities in China. Space Pioneer has recently become a well-known name in China's commercial aerospace industry, but for the wrong reasons. The company escalated to the spotlight outside ofJul 3, 2024 5 mins