SpaceX says no to 3 military bids; Spain aims for 2027 rocket flight

SpaceX has turned down three launch contracts offered by the US Space Force. The company communicated its decision to the military branch this week, marking one of two major updates regarding its operations released on Thursday.

The first key development involves the commercial side of the space program. SpaceX declined the three specific military opportunities. This move leaves the Space Force to seek alternative providers for those specific launch windows. The decision was reported in the latest edition of a weekly industry newsletter.

The second update concerns the technical requirements for SpaceX's Starship vehicle. A NASA safety panel reviewed the mission architecture for a lunar landing. The panel estimated that the rocket might require as many as 22 refueling operations to support the mission. This high number indicates the demanding nature of the proposed system.

In Europe, Spanish launch company PLD Space is moving its Miura 5 rocket toward its first flight. The company stated that the vehicle is approaching final integration. PLD Space now targets a debut launch before mid-2027. The rocket is a small-lift vehicle designed to place payloads into low Earth orbit.

CEO Raúl Torres provided a program update on October 19. He noted that PLD Space has built three Miura 5 vehicles. Two of these are intended to qualify key system elements. The third is the vehicle currently in final integration. Torres said that building all three allowed engineering teams to work continuously across different production stages. He explained that this approach lets the team apply lessons from each qualification campaign directly to the launch vehicle.

One second stage of the Miura 5 is now fully integrated. This stage is located at the company's test facility in Teruel, Spain. It is currently undergoing a qualification campaign. The testing includes a wet dress rehearsal and a static hot-fire test. These tests simulate real operating conditions to verify system performance.

In Canada, startup Reaction Dynamics is seeking $350 million in new funding. The company currently employs 68 people. The raised capital would allow the workforce to grow to more than 350 staff members. Reaction Dynamics is developing a small-lift rocket named Aurora, with a targeted orbital debut in 2028. The company has also announced plans for a medium-lift vehicle called Borealis, which it aims to debut by 2031.