SpaceX Starship Achieves Critical Milestone in Sixth Test Flight
Welcome back to TechCrunch Space, your premier source for the latest breakthroughs in aerospace technology and exploration. This week, we’re covering major developments from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and innovative startups reshaping the industry.
🔥 Top Space Industry Updates
1. Inversion Space Secures $44M for Orbital Cargo Delivery
- Series A Funding: $44 million raised to advance precision Earth-to-orbit cargo technology
- Military Interest: Strong Department of Defense engagement due to strategic applications
- Innovation Focus: Developing ultra-precise reentry capabilities for commercial and defense sectors
2. Blue Origin’s New Glenn Hits Suborbital Milestone
- Rapid Progress: Two successful test flights within one month
- Special Passenger: Featured engineer/science communicator Emily Calandrelli on latest flight
- Path Forward: Demonstrating reusable rocket capabilities for future missions
🚀 Story of the Week: SpaceX Starship’s Engine Reignition Breakthrough
SpaceX’s sixth Starship test flight marked a pivotal achievement in reusable rocket technology:
- Historic First: Upper stage successfully reignited Raptor engine mid-flight
- Global Potential: Technology enables full Earth orbit and return capability
- Reusability Focus: Critical step toward rapid refurbishment between launches
President-elect Donald Trump observes Starship operations with Elon Musk (Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
💡 Exclusive: Raven Space Systems Revolutionizes Aerospace 3D Printing
Our interview with Raven Space Systems revealed groundbreaking advances in manufacturing:
- Industry First: Scalable 3D printing of commercial thermoset composites
- Applications: Critical for reentry vehicles and hypersonic systems
- CEO Insight: “We’re unlocking an entire field of 3D printing to production scale” - Blake Herren
Raven’s innovative 3D printing process (Credit: Raven Space Systems)
🛰️ This Week in Space History: Thanksgiving in Orbit
- First Celebration: 1973 marked initial Thanksgiving in space
- ISS Traditions: Dozens of orbital Thanksgiving meals since
- Space Menu: Freeze-dried versions of classic holiday dishes
Expedition 21 crew shares meal aboard ISS (Credit: NASA)
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Stay tuned for more updates on the cutting edge of space exploration and technology!
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