Photo credit: arstechnica.com
The Future of Rocket Launches and Satellite Deployment
Welcome to the latest edition of the Rocket Report! If you’ve been craving updates on rocket launches, you’re in for an exciting time. The space industry is on the brink of a significant expansion, driven by the emergence of three new megaconstellations. These ambitious projects aim to deploy thousands of satellites to deliver global broadband connectivity from orbit. Should these plans materialize, they could necessitate over a thousand launches in the upcoming years, significantly boosting the already rapid launch frequency established by SpaceX’s Starlink program. This topic is a focal point in this week’s report.
As always, we encourage reader submissions and insights. To stay updated, consider subscribing through the form below (note that the subscription option will not be accessible on AMP-enabled pages). Each report will cover various categories of rockets—small, medium, and heavy-lift—along with an overview of the next three scheduled launches.
SpinLaunch’s New Direction
What developments are unfolding at SpinLaunch? This innovative company, known for its unconventional approach to launching payloads, has featured in several past editions of the Rocket Report. SpinLaunch has successfully attracted funding for its unorthodox strategy of utilizing a catapult system, referred to as “kinetic launch,” to propel satellites into orbit. Recently, however, the company has announced a strategic pivot toward small satellite deployment—an unexpected shift after previously focusing intensely on kinetic launch technology, including successful tests that achieved altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. Ars Technica has reported that the company’s CEO elaborated on the rationale behind this transition and its plans to establish a low-Earth orbit communications constellation comprising 280 satellites.
A Shift from Launching to Satellite Services
The proposed satellite constellation, known as Meridian, presents a unique opportunity for SpinLaunch to expand beyond its original identity as a launch service provider, according to CEO David Wrenn. This trend is not new; many companies initially focused on rocket development have diversified into satellite manufacturing and other space services. Wrenn noted that SpinLaunch could deploy the entire Meridian constellation using a single large traditional rocket or possibly two medium-lift rockets, while managing the constellation’s ongoing operations with its kinetic launch systems. He emphasized the greater profitability associated with satellite communication networks, stating that “the launch market is relatively small compared to the economic potential of satellite communication.” Wrenn further underscored that traditional launch services have often been more of a cost center than a profit-generating venture, with satellite communications poised to capture a more substantial share of the overall market.
Source
arstechnica.com