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United Launch Alliance is preparing to return Vulcan to flight on October 29 for a mission serving Amazon Leo, while South Korea’s Nuri rocket achieved another success and Europe’s HyImpulse test was delayed until 2027. The developments also highlight continuing challenges involving readiness, launch cadence, and protecting launch sites from drones.
Japanese startup Letara has raised 2.6 billion yen, approximately $16 million, to expand its hybrid rocket technology from small-satellite thrusters to larger systems targeting the space, defense, and security sectors. The company is preparing for an in-orbit operational test with a foreign partner before moving to scalable commercial production.