Rocket Report: Starbase the city is coming soon; Alpha remains in beta

"A commitment to keeping on with the Moon mission is the key requirement."

Welcome to Edition 7.42 of the Rocket Report! For about a decade now, we've been following the development of the Starbase facility in South Texas. Up until 2019, progress was slow, but then the Starship program kicked into high gear, and SpaceX built up a production site beneath tents. The area has come a long way since then, and as soon as this weekend, there may be a new municipality, Starbase, in Texas.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

Firefly's Alpha rocket fails again. Firefly Aerospace launched its two-stage Alpha rocket from California early Tuesday, but something went wrong about two-and-a-half minutes into the flight, rendering the vehicle unable to deploy an experimental satellite into orbit for Lockheed Martin, Ars reports. The booster stage jettisoned from Alpha's upper stage two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, and that's when things went awry. A bright cloud of white vapor appeared high in the sky, indicating an explosion—or something close to it.

Not a great record ... A short time later, Firefly released a statement acknowledging a "mishap during first stage separation... that impacted the Stage 2 Lightning engine nozzle." Firefly is one of just a handful of active US launch companies with rockets that have reached low-Earth orbit, but its Alpha rocket hasn't established a reliable track record. In six flights, Alpha has amassed just two unqualified successes. Two prior Alpha launches deployed their payloads in lower-than-planned orbits, and the rocket's debut test flight in 2021 failed soon after liftoff.

Hypersonic missile launches from the Cape. The US military launched a long-range hypersonic missile last Friday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on a test flight that, if successful, could pave the way for the weapon's operational deployment later this year. The Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon fired out of a canister on a road-mobile trailer shortly after sunrise on Florida's Space Coast, then headed east over the Atlantic Ocean propelled by a solid-fueled rocket booster, Ars reports.

Getting into the game ... The new missile is poised to become the first ground-based hypersonic weapon fielded by the US military. Russia has used hypersonic missiles in combat against Ukraine. China has "the world's leading hypersonic missile arsenal," according to a recent Pentagon report on Chinese military power. After a successful test flight from Cape Canaveral last year, the long-range hypersonic weapon—officially named "Dark Eagle" by the Army earlier this week—will give the United States the ability to strike targets with little or no warning.

Vega launches Biomass satellite. A Vega C rocket successfully launched an Earth science satellite for the European Space Agency, a mission officials said was also a demonstration of European space sovereignty, Space News reports. The 1,250 kg Biomass satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space as part of ESA’s Earth Explorer program of Earth science missions. The launch was the first for the Vega C since its return to flight in December 2024, nearly two years after a launch failure on a mission designated VV22.

Space sovereignty a priority ... After the launch, officials emphasized the importance of having both Vega C and the larger Ariane 6 rocket in operation. "In the current context, full of uncertainty and with some geopolitical evolution," said David Cavaillolès, chief executive of Arianespace, "the fact that we are able to cover any mission with our two launchers is something that is of utmost importance." There are four more Ariane 6 and two more Vega C launches planned for this year, with the next being another Vega C launch in July.

Europe tests P160C rocket booster. The European Space Agency said that the initial test of its P160C solid-propellant rocket motor, on April 24, was a success. The test firing lasted for more than two minutes, completing a full burn and expending all of its propellant as would happen during a launch. This new booster is a larger version of the P120C motor currently in use as a strap-on booster by the Ariane 6 rocket and as the core stage of the Vega C rocket.

We need more power, Scotty ... Compared to the P120C, the new booster holds 14 percent more propellant, for a total of 167 metric tons, and is a meter taller. The larger and more powerful booster will allow Ariane 6 and Vega-C to launch heavier payloads into different orbits and destinations. It will also be used by the next-generation Vega-E rocket. The upgraded booster is important for the Ariane 6 to meet its commitment to launch hundreds of Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon.

ULA launches its first rocket of the year. The first 27 operational satellites for Amazon's Kuiper broadband network lifted off from Florida's Space Coast on Monday evening on an Atlas V rocket, the opening salvo in a challenge to SpaceX's dominant Starlink global Internet service, Ars reports. Monday's milestone launch kicks off a test campaign in low-Earth orbit to verify the functionality and performance of Amazon's satellites. In a statement earlier this month, Amazon said it planned to begin providing service to customers later this year.

Putting the Atlas V to the test ... The Atlas V, manufactured by United Launch Alliance, flew in its most powerful configuration, with five strap-on solid rocket boosters and an extended nose cone to accommodate the Kuiper satellites. Amazon's 27 spacecraft added up to become the heaviest payload ever launched by an Atlas V in 102 missions. Amazon is using the Atlas V to boost its first batches of satellites to orbit and aims to launch thousands more Kuiper satellites in the next few years.

SpaceX launches 50th rocket of the year. The California company launched two separate Starlink missions within six hours of each other on Monday. The second of these, the Starlink 12-10 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, was the company's 50th of the year, Spaceflight Now reports.

That's quite a cadence you've got there ... Since there are so many, it is kind of boring keeping count of Falcon 9 missions these days, but with 50 launches in the first third of the year, the company is on pace for 150 Falcon family launches this year. For what it's worth, the company also recently launched its 250th Starlink mission overall, a pretty remarkable feat in less than six years.

Isaacman commits to Artemis II and III as is. The US Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced the nomination of private astronaut and businessman Jared Isaacman as the next administrator of NASA to the Senate floor, setting up the final step before he is confirmed, Ars reports. The vote was not unanimous, at 19–9, with all of the nay votes coming from senators on the Democratic side of the aisle. However, some key Democrats voted in favor of Isaacman, including the ranking member of the committee, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

Approval was contingent on support for Artemis ... Notably, both Cantwell and the committee's chair, Republican Ted Cruz of Texas, cited Isaacman's support for the Artemis Program, and flying the next two missions on the Space Launch System rocket, as critical factors in their support. "A commitment to keeping on with the Moon mission is the key requirement we have to have in this position," Cantwell said. "While it's not clear to me where the Trump administration ultimately will end up on the NASA budget, and I have concerns about some of their proposed cuts today, Mr. Isaacman seems to be committed to the current plan."

NASA swaps an Artemis II rocket engine. A couple of weeks ago, ground teams at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida removed one of the four main engines from the Space Launch System rocket slated to send four astronauts on a voyage around the Moon next year, Ars reports. NASA officials ordered the removal of one of the massive rocket's RS-25 main engines after discovering a hydraulic leak on the engine's main oxidizer valve actuator, which controls the flow of super-cold liquid oxygen propellant into the engine's main combustion chamber.

Installed two years ago ... In its place, technicians installed another RS-25 engine from NASA's inventory to the bottom of the rocket's core stage, which is standing vertical on its mobile launch platform inside the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy. This is the first time NASA has replaced a main engine on the SLS core stage. The four RS-25 main engines had been installed on the core stage in 2023 while the rocket lay horizontally inside its factory in New Orleans before its shipment to Florida.

China eyes stainless steel, like Starship. A Chinese state-owned rocket maker is making progress in producing large diameter stainless steel tanks for its next-generation launch vehicles, Ars reports. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has announced the development of prototype 5.0-meter and 10.6-meter-diameter stainless steel propellant tanks over the past month, with the latter marking a breakthrough for the country’s super heavy-lift rocket plans.

Working toward Long March 9 ... The 10.6-meter-diameter, 9.0-meter-high tank is part of the development of the Long March 9, a future reusable super heavy-lift rocket designed for large lunar and infrastructure missions that would transform the country’s launch capabilities. It is also being used in early mission concepts for crewed Mars missions. The Long March 9 project has morphed in recent years from an expendable rocket designed to facilitate crewed lunar missions, to a reusable, stainless-steel project for major infrastructure missions. The changes follow the development and demonstrated progress of SpaceX’s Starship.

A vote is coming on Starbase, the city. Nearly 10 years after SpaceX began operating in a small community in Cameron County just a few miles inland of the Gulf Coast, employees who live there and other residents will vote to incorporate their Starbase community as Texas’ newest city. If the majority of them vote yes on Saturday, the leaders they elect at the same time will have the responsibility of creating a city from the ground up, the Texas Tribune reports.

Given who is voting, a yes vote is likely ... As a Type C municipality, Starbase will have a commission form of government—a mayor and two commissioners—who will be elected by the voters on the same day they vote to incorporate. Their terms in office last two years, unlike the typical four-year terms held by officials in larger cities. SpaceX leaders have made no secret of their plans to grow Starbase. "Incorporating Starbase will streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world-class place to live—for the hundreds already calling it home, as well as for prospective workers eager to help build humanity’s future in space," Starbase Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote recently.

However, SpaceX loses contest over beach access. Proposed legislation that would have handed authority to SpaceX to issue closures of Boca Chica Beach and the nearby road died after a vote by state lawmakers on Monday, Chron.com reports. The vote was close, with seven members of the Texas House State Affairs Committee against and six members in favor of Senate Bill 2188, which is the companion to state Rep. Janie Lopez's House Bill 4660. SpaceX sought more control over when it could control the main road leading to and from the Starbase site for launch-related activities.

Battle is not over yet ... The South Texas Environmental Justice Network celebrated the bills' demise, saying it also stopped an associated bill that would have made it a Class B misdemeanor for unauthorized people to remain at a closed beach, as it would be an "FAA-designated hazard area." The group said the bills' defeat is a "significant victory" in preserving beach access for future generations. Going forward, Cameron County in South Texas can retain authority over beach closures near SpaceX's launch facilities. Still, a retooled version of the bill could wind up going through the legislature before it adjourns at the end of May.

Next three launches

May 3: Falcon 9 | Starlink 15-3 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | 18:13 UTC

May 4: Falcon 9 | Starlink 6-84 | Kennedy Space Center, Florida | 08:48 UTC

May 5: Long March 12 | Unknown payload | Wenchang Space Launch Site, China | 11:05 UTC

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