Launch Industry: SpaceX passes on military work while Spain finalizes Miura 5
A NASA panel cited 22 refuelings for Starship, and PLD Space is targeting a 2027 debut for its European rocket.
By Alessia Romano ·
SpaceX has declined three launch contracts offered by the US Space Force, according to the latest edition of the Rocket Report. The company reportedly told the military branch "thanks, but no thanks" regarding the offers. This decision was one of two major developments involving the company reported on Thursday.
The second development concerned the civil side of spaceflight. A NASA safety panel stated that SpaceX's Starship vehicle may require as many as 22 refuelings to support a lunar landing. This high number indicates the demanding nature of the mission architecture currently under review.
Meanwhile, Spanish launch company PLD Space is moving its Miura 5 rocket toward final integration, according to Aviation Week. The small-lift vehicle is scheduled for its inaugural flight next year. The company now targets a first launch before mid-2027.
The vehicle in final integration is one of three Miura 5 rockets the company has built. CEO Raúl Torres stated in an October 19 program update that the other two vehicles are intended to qualify key system elements. Building all three units has allowed PLD Space teams to work continuously across production and integration stages.
Torres noted that manufacturing the three vehicles enabled the company to apply lessons from each qualification campaign directly to the launch vehicle. One Miura 5 second stage is now fully integrated. This completion allows system-level testing under representative operating conditions to begin.
The integrated stage is located at PLD's Teruel test facility for its qualification campaign. The testing process includes a wet dress rehearsal and a static hot-fire test. These steps are standard procedures to ensure the rocket performs correctly under expected operational loads.
Reaction Dynamics, a Canadian launch startup, said it wants to raise $350 million to expand its workforce from 68 to more than 350 employees. The company is developing the Aurora small-lift rocket, which it hopes will reach orbit in 2028. It has also announced plans for a medium-lift vehicle named Borealis, targeted for a debut by 2031.
