Rocket Report: Eutelsat’s surprising decision; Europe complains about SpaceX again

Welcome to Edition 7.12 of the Rocket Report! For once, a week with not all that much launch news. Among the highlights were Eutelsat’s surprise announcement of a deal with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, SpaceX’s ongoing war with the FAA, and Europe identifying a straightforward solution to the upper stage problem on Ariane 6’s debut launch earlier this summer.

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.

Small launch vehicles still talking a big game. Despite stiff competition from SpaceX rideshare services and some high-profile failures, ventures are still pursuing small launch vehicles that they argue can fill niches in the market, Space News reports. Launch providers speaking at World Space Business Week said they can deliver satellites when and where customers want rather than waiting for the next available rideshare launch from SpaceX.

Same old story … For example: “We offer flexibility,” said Miguel Belló Mora, executive chairman of Orbex, a small launch vehicle developer based in the United Kingdom. “We can’t compete on price per kilo.” We wish these small launch companies well, but this is the same kind of talk that has been around for years. The reality is that the small launch business has small margins, and is extremely demanding. It also doesn’t engender confidence that most of these companies are still not close to having an operational rocket. (submitted by Ken the Bin)

Iran launches Qaem-100 rocket again. After an initial failure in 2023, Iran has now successfully launched the small, solid rocket Qaem-100 for a second time, Al Mayadeen reports. Iran successfully launched the domestically produced Chamran 1 satellite into a 550-km orbit on Saturday, according to state media.

Purpose of launches is questioned … Iranian officials said the primary mission of Chamran 1 is to test hardware and software systems, specifically to demonstrate orbital maneuvering capabilities in terms of altitude and phase. Western governments, including the United States, have consistently cautioned Iran against conducting such launches, claiming the technology used could be repurposed for ballistic missiles. (submitted by MarkW98 and Ken the Bin)

French firm acquires Australian launch site. French rocket builder Sirius Space Services has signed an agreement with Equatorial Launch Australia to secure a launch facility at the company’s Arnhem Space Centre in Australia, European Spaceflight reports. The company will reside at Arnhem Space Centre’s Launch Complex Number 3, which the company has renamed “Le Mans.” Sirius said the flexibility to access a wide range of orbital inclinations was a crucial factor in its decision to select a location halfway around the globe.

Going up from down under … Sirius Space was founded in 2020 and is developing a range of three rockets that will be capable of delivering payloads of between 175 and 1,100 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Construction of the Le Mans launch complex will begin in October 2024, with the company aiming to have the facility operational by the second half of 2025. The first launch of Sirius 1 on a ballistic flight will be conducted from the facility in 2026. The company’s larger Sirius 13 and Sirius 15 rockets will then both be debuted from the facility in 2027. Sirius also plans to launch from the Guiana Space Centre. (submitted by Ken the Bin)

Eutelsat turns to Japan for launch needs. In a somewhat surprising announcement this week, Eutelsat said Wednesday it had signed a contract with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for multiple H3 rocket launches starting 2027, Space News reports. Eutelsat spokesperson Katie Dowd said the agreement is focused on launches for the company’s upcoming satellites in geostationary orbit, but declined to provide more information. The operator already has launches mostly covered for deploying its next-generation OneWeb broadband satellites in low-Earth orbit, CEO Eva Berneke recently told the publication.

Eutelsat could be hedging its bets … A large French satellite operator, Eutelsat merged with OneWeb in 2023. Notably, the previously announced launch contracts for OneWeb include 3D-printing company Relativity Space’s Terran R vehicle and Europe’s next-generation launcher Ariane 6, which have both experienced development delays. There is also some question as to whether the Ariane 6 rocket will have capacity given its existing manifest, including Project Kuiper launches for Amazon. Regardless, it’s a big win for Mitsubishi, which has struggled to find commercial success with the new H3 booster. (submitted by Ken the Bin)