Rocket Report: Winter is coming for Themis; Cowboy Space adds iron to the fire
Summary
Virgin Galactic moved its first Delta-class rocket plane, Apeiron, to Spaceport America for testing ahead of a planned first commercial flight in early 2027. The European Space Agency may miss its target for the first test flight of Themis, while startup Cowboy Space announced plans for a medium-lift rocket called Big Iron.Key Facts
- Apeiron left Virgin Galactic’s Arizona factory on Wednesday and is headed to Spaceport America in New Mexico.
- Virgin Galactic plans to complete avionics and flight software work, ground tests, captive-carry tests, a drop test, and a powered test flight above 80 kilometers.
- Virgin Galactic expects Apeiron’s first commercial spaceflight in early in the second quarter of 2027.
- Themis has completed two countdown rehearsals at Esrange Space Center in Sweden, but winter weather could delay its first flight beyond 2026.
- ESA originally expected Themis to make its first low-altitude hop in 2022, and later targeted the first quarter of 2026.
- Themis is a single-stage reusable rocket demonstrator powered by a methane-fueled Prometheus engine, built by ArianeGroup for ESA.
- Cowboy Space announced its Big Iron rocket, which it plans to launch before the end of 2028.
- Big Iron is planned to stand 282 feet tall and measure about 15 feet in diameter.
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