Welcome to the 8.27 edition of the Rocket Report! This weekend, if all proceeds as planned, NASA will carry out a wet dress rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket in Florida. This crucial test includes the rocket being fueled and brought to the brink of engine ignition, serving as the last major trial before the Artemis II mission launch, currently scheduled no earlier than February 6. Ars will provide comprehensive coverage of the test this weekend.
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Why did the UK abandon Orbex? According to European Spaceflight, there has been a recent development where British launch company Orbex is preparing to sell itself to The Exploration Company, closely working with the UK government. This marks a shift from early 2025, when the UK seemed poised to support Orbex in launching British satellites into orbit. Now, the government seems ready to step away. European Spaceflight notes, “There are still too many unknowns to count, and the story is far from told.”
Why would someone want to buy Orbex? From my perspective, the reasoning isn't overly complex. UK space officials likely assessed Orbex's developed hardware and its financial situation, concluding that the company's probability of achieving orbit was low, even with a substantial cash injection. Intriguingly, The Exploration Company’s interest in acquiring Orbex suggests they might aim to tap into funding available through the UK’s portion of the European Launch Challenge, rather than believing in Orbex’s launch capability. This speculation seems credible according to the European Spaceflight article.