Several small vehicle launch companies prepared for their first flights within two years with three ready for a launch during the next year. Virgin Orbit was developing the LauncherOne for a test flight early next year, Vector was working on a suborbital launch of its Vector-R rocket and Firefly Aerospace planned to launch its Alpha by this time next year. The firms were catching up with Rocket Lab which launched its Electron rocket commercially for the first time on 10 November. That competition, they said, could open the doors to additional government business for their vehicles. SpaceX’s Launch Challenge.
Several small vehicle launch companies prepared for their first flights within two years with three ready for a launch during the next year. Virgin Orbit was developing the LauncherOne for a test flight early next year, Vector was working on a suborbital launch of its Vector-R rocket and Firefly Aerospace planned to launch its Alpha by this time next year. The firms were catching up with Rocket Lab which launched its Electron rocket commercially for the first time on 10 November. SpaceX’s Launch Challenge.