Consensus Surpassed: In a swift sequence, apparatuses designed for space travel were propelled six times in under 24 hours.
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride in the cosmos, folks! Buckle up as we delve into some breathtaking space events that went down across the globe earlier this month.
First off, the heavy Long March 5B rocket took center stage on April 28, propelling a batch of satellites for the broadband communication megaconstellation Guowang into low Earth orbit from the Wenchang launch site in Hainan Island, China. Scarcely a half-hour later, SpaceX's iconic Falcon 9 fired up from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, launching 27 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit.
The next day, on April 29, an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, heralding Amazon's broadband communication megaconstellation Project Kuiper's first 27 satellites. Just a few hours later, another Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying yet another batch of 23 Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
European Space Agency's forest monitoring satellite Biomass received a ride into low Earth orbit by Vega-C rocket from Arianespace, marking Vega-C's fourth flight. Unfortunately, things went south for Firefly Aerospace as an anomaly during the separation of the first and second stages occurred, resulting in the loss of their payload.
All in all, six orbital launches happened over a span of 17.5 hours, with a success rate of 83%.
In other news, China announced headway in the development of a super heavy rocket for lunar and Martian missions.
When it comes to ongoing developments in super-heavy lift rocket technology, SpaceX's Starship is making waves. As of March 2025, Starship has conducted 8 launches, achieving a 50% success rate [3][5]. Starship V2, featuring extended propellant tanks, a payload bay, and a Starlink satellite dispenser, fell short of orbital goals in two Q1 2025 tests [1]. The Block 2 ships include manufacturing simplifications from SpaceX's new facilities, alongside avionics and power system improvements [1]. QuesTek's proprietary superalloy enhances heat resistance and durability for high-stress components [2].
Meanwhile, China's Long March 9 is making a name for itself with the unveiling of 10.6-meter-diameter propellant tanks for its reusable Long March 9 super heavy-lift rocket, designed to tackle lunar and Martian missions [4]. Startups Lightyear Exploration/Space Epoch and Landspace are adopting these stainless steel tanks for their cost-effective reusable rockets, with the Zhuque-3 aiming for a debut in 2025 [4].
Let's compare the key features:
| Feature | SpaceX Starship | China Long March 9 ||-----------------------|------------------|--------------------|| Reusability | Fully reusable | Partially reusable (planned) || Payload Capacity | ~100-150t (LEO est.) | ~150t (LEO est.) || Key Innovation | Mass production, Super Heavy first stage | Stainless steel tank prototyping || Status | Flight testing (Block 2) | Prototype development |
Both programs aim to slash launch costs by embracing reusability and material breakthroughs, paving the way for crewed missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars expeditions [3][4][5]. The race is on!
- I was amazed to learn that on April 28, the heavy Long March 5B rocket, from China, launched satellites for the broadband communication megaconstellation Guowang, while SpaceX's Falcon 9, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, simultaneously launched Starlink internet satellites.
- The next day, China announced progress in the development of a super heavy rocket for lunar and Martian missions, while SpaceX's Starship, having conducted 8 launches as of March 2025, strives to achieve reusability and improve payload capacity.
- In another development, China's Long March 9 revealed plans for a reusable Long March 9 super heavy-lift rocket with 10.6-meter-diameter propellant tanks, aiming to tackle lunar and Martian missions, just like SpaceX's Starship.
- The science of space-and-astronomy and technology continue to advance at a rapid pace, with space-and-astronomy organizations investing heavily in the development of reusable and efficient rockets, such as SpaceX's Starship and China’s Long March 9, ensuring that the exploration of space will push boundaries and open new opportunities for human expansion.
