Rocket Report: SpaceX Plans, China’s Launch Pad, Global Updates

Next week marks the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, the first joint US–Soviet human spaceflight mission. As Apollo and Soyuz crews docked in July 1975, they set the stage for decades of collaboration on the International Space Station. With ISS operations slated to conclude in 2030, both nations face a crossroads in post-ISS cooperation.

SpaceX’s On-Site Propellant Production Facility Approved

Cameron County, Texas, has granted SpaceX permits to build an oxygen/nitrogen air-separation plant just 300 ft from Boca Chica’s dunes. The facility will employ cryogenic distillation columns, high-capacity turbo-expanders, molecular sieve beds, and integrated PLC controls to produce up to 300 tonnes/month of liquid oxygen (LOX) and 200 tonnes/month of liquid nitrogen (LN2).

• Cryogenic architecture: Multi-column distillation with reflux ratios optimized for >99.5% LOX purity.
• Compression system: Two-stage centrifugal compressors delivering 8 bar LN2 feedstock.
• Automation: Redundant Siemens PLCs managing safety interlocks and emergency shutdown.

By producing propellant on site, SpaceX expects to eliminate ≈200 tanker deliveries per launch, reducing logistics costs by up to 40% and accelerating Starship’s flight cadence. According to Dr. Elena Petrova (MIT Department of Aeronautics), “Vertical integration of cryogenic propellant feeds directly into SpaceX’s Raptor engine cycle efficiencies, lowering the cost per kilogram of LOX to under $0.10.”

China Builds World’s Largest Pad for Long March 10

At Wenchang on Hainan Island, construction crews have erected the launch tower for China’s upcoming Long March 10 super-heavy launcher. Key features:

1. 92 m tall steel structure with seismic isolation bearings.
2. 12 m diameter flame trench rated for 45 MN of thrust.
3. Cryogenic umbilical arms supplying LOX/kerosene and LH2.
4. Lightning protection masts and Doppler-weather radar integration.

Long March 10 will stand over 92 m tall, use eight YF-100K kerosene engines on its first stage and four YF-79 cryogenic engines on the second, delivering up to 27 metric t to trans-lunar injection. Partial reusability is planned via controlled booster recovery using grid-fins and retro-propulsion. This pad’s 100-year design life accounts for Hainan’s corrosive coastal environment and 8.0 earthquake magnitudes.

United Launch Alliance’s Third Vulcan Rocket Moves into Position

On July 2, ULA rolled its third Vulcan Centaur booster to SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral for a full stack integration. This vehicle, designated for the USSF-108 mission, marks Vulcan’s first operational dual-payload flight after two successful certification launches in 2024. highlights:

• BE-4 engines: Two methane-fueled engines delivering 2.4 MN total thrust.
• Centaur V upper stage: Dual RL10C-X engines optimized for long coast missions.
• Aft deck avionics: Redundant flight computers with SpaceWire networking.

Europe’s Launcher Challenge: ESA Shortlists Five Startups

ESA’s European Launcher Challenge selected Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), PLD Space, and Orbex for up to €169 M in potential funding. Negotiations with member states will conclude at ESA’s November ministerial meeting. Key technical notes:

• Isar’s Spectrum uses a staged-combustion TQ-11 engine; first launch failed at T+3 s.
• MaiaSpace is developing a reusable kerosene/LOX core with pintle-injector engines.
• RFA’s Rhin-A booster tested hot-fire last year but suffered a structural failure.
• PLD Space’s Miura prepares for reflight after a 2021 test-stand anomaly.
• Orbex’s Prime uses a bio-propene/LOX cycle with lightweight composite tanks.

Japan’s Interstellar Technologies Secures ¥8.9 B for Zero Rocket

Interstellar raised 8.9 billion yen (~$62 M) from public and private investors to advance its 1 t-class methane-fueled Zero rocket and in-house satellite bus development. The debut launch slipped to 2027. Zero employs a 50 kN staged-combustion engine with regenerative cooling and modular composite structures for rapid manufacturing.

South Korea’s Innospace Qualifies Hanbit-Nano Second Stage

Innospace completed a 300 s hot-fire qualification of its 34 kN methane/LOX upper-stage engine. Test objectives met include propellant feed stability, structural loads under 4 g, and integrated avionics performance. Hanbit-Nano targets 90 kg to sun-synchronous orbit by year-end.

AI-Driven Rocket Design: LEAP 71 & Aspire Space Partnership

Dubai-based LEAP 71 (2 employees) and Aspire Space (founded by the son of a Zenit engineer) unveiled plans for a 450 kN reusable engine using AI-driven design tool Noyron. They claim a 50% reduction in development time versus traditional CFD/FEA workflows. Total program cost is estimated at >$1 B, covering launcher, capsule, and ground systems.

Other Notable Launches & Developments

• Russia’s Progress MS-31 cargo ship docked at ISS on July 5 after a Soyuz-2.1a launch with commemorative Apollo-Soyuz livery.
• Orienspace’s Gravity-2 three-in-one kerosene launcher completed a first-stage hot-fire; 230 ft tall, 21.5 t to LEO.
• Texas senators spar over moving orbiter Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston, with cost estimates exceeding $480 M.
• SpaceX’s air-separator facility approved to streamline Starship ground ops and cut road wear at Boca Chica.

Next Three Scheduled Launches

1. July 11: Electron | JAKE 4 | Wallops | 23:45 UTC
2. July 13: Falcon 9 | Dror 1 | CCAFS | 04:31 UTC
3. July 14: Falcon 9 | Starlink 15-2 | VAFB | 02:27 UTC

Deep Analysis: Vertical Integration in Propellant Production

In-house LOX/LN2 production allows rapid turnaround between launches, aligning with Starship’s target of weekly flights. Industrial-scale cryo-plants use plate-fin heat exchangers to achieve thermal efficiencies >85%. Risk mitigation involves dual-redundant compressors, liquid nitrogen precooling, and emergency pressure-relief systems. Comparisons to Blue Origin’s on-site oxygen farm highlight diverging approaches to supply chain resilience.

Deep Analysis: Comparative Super Heavy-Lift Launchers

Long March 10 (27 t to TLI) versus NASA’s SLS Block 1 (26 t) and SpaceX’s Starship (100 t+) demonstrates varying design philosophies. LM-10 adopts partial reuse with reentry-class engines; SLS relies on expendable solids and core; Starship uses full stainless-steel reusable stages. Propulsion cycles span gas-generator, staged-combustion, and full-flow staged-combustion, impacting Isp (350 s–380 s) and thrust-to-weight ratios (60–75).

Deep Analysis: Policy & International Collaboration Outlook

With ISS retirement looming in 2030, NASA and Roscosmos must navigate geopolitical tensions to sustain LEO collaboration or pivot to independent orbital platforms. ESA’s ministerial funding decisions will shape Europe’s access to LEO, while China’s expanding capabilities could spur new partnerships or further fragmentation. Export controls (ITAR, EU Regulation 2021/821) will influence cross-border hardware transfers and joint ventures in the coming decade.