The Falcon 9 team has been recognised for its significant contributions to humanity, according to Dan Dumbacher, chair of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize selection committee. He emphasised that the team’s work has had a clear and visible impact.
Meanwhile, Chinese commercial launch startup Nayuta Space is working on an innovative rocket called the Xuanniao-R. The company has completed multiple Pre-A financing rounds to support this project. The Xuanniao-R is a two-stage rocket, 70 metres long and 3.8 metres in diameter. It aims to use an aerodynamic deceleration method for landing, rather than traditional engines. Nayuta Space plans to conduct a test flight in the first half of 2027.
However, challenges remain. The new aerodynamic approach could increase the rocket’s weight and complexity, making the planned timeline ambitious. With its size and the unproven technology, some experts doubt it will meet the 2027 target.
On another front, SpaceX has set a new record for safe booster landings. On Tuesday, it launched a routine Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, successfully putting more Starlink v2-mini satellites into orbit. This mission marked SpaceX’s 611th successful recovery and established a record of 268 consecutive booster landings.
Additionally, SpaceX is preparing for the 12th flight of its Starship vehicle. On Thursday, the company conducted a successful 15-second test firing of the Super Heavy booster stage, a vital step towards the launch of the newest Starship version, V3. Although no launch date has been set, mid-May is being considered as a possibility.
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