Orion heat shield shows fewer damage areas

The Orion heat shield from the Artemis II mission showed only nine areas of material loss after returning to Earth, a marked improvement from 103 such areas observed after the Artemis I mission. NASA credits this progress to a modified re-entry path that lessened the thermal stress on the spacecraft.

Preparations for Artemis III focus on avcoat blocks

To further improve performance, the Orion capsule will be fitted with more uniform and permeable avcoat blocks for the Artemis III mission. These blocks are designed to reduce the chance of sudden peeling during re-entry, which can compromise the heat shield's integrity.

Japan’s RV-X rocket completes final test flight

The first flight of Japan’s reusable rocket RV-X took place on July 11, 2026, reaching an altitude of about 11 meters before landing. This marked the last flight of the RV-X program, following extensive ground testing that included igniting the rocket’s engine 166 times.

JAXA shifts focus to Callisto program

With the RV-X program complete, JAXA is moving forward with its Callisto project. The first launches of Callisto from the Kourou spaceport are now planned for 2027, signaling a new phase in Japan’s space exploration efforts.

SpaceX aims for Starship full recovery

SpaceX is preparing for a historic attempt to fully recover the Starship rocket, a feat never before achieved in orbital rocketry. The fifteenth flight of the Starship is expected to occur in four to six weeks, likely placing it in early to mid-November.

Starship’s recovery method involves launch tower arms

This upcoming flight will test a method to recover both the Starship’s first and second stages simultaneously using the arms of the launch tower. The September 28 flight successfully placed the Starship into orbit for the first time, marking a major milestone in the program.