SpaceX leaves lunar mark as ULA names new chief and China advances reusable rocket push

NASA has released images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter showing a fresh impact crater on the Moon caused by a spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage. The collision occurred near Einstein Crater on the western limb of the Moon, creating a scar approximately 60 feet in diameter and less than 10 feet deep. The impact excavated pristine lunar material that had escaped weathering from solar wind and micrometeorites, offering researchers a rare opportunity to study unweathered samples. The rocket body had remained in deep space after launching a commercial Moon lander in 2025.

In the United States, United Launch Alliance has appointed Mark Peller as its new president and chief executive officer, succeeding Tory Bruno. Peller, who joined the company at its formation in 2006, takes over as ULA navigates significant financial challenges and a grounded Vulcan rocket. The Vulcan vehicle has been grounded since early this year following an anomaly with its solid rocket boosters, marking the second such issue in the last three missions. ULA, a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, recently lost its status as the Pentagon’s preferred launch contractor, prompting its parent companies to guarantee a loan to help the firm through its financial difficulties.

China continues to expand its launch capabilities, with the Long March 5 rocket scheduled to launch the Chang’e 7 lunar mission to the Moon’s south pole. The mission, which includes a lander, rover, and orbiter, targets Shackleton Crater, a region known for permanently shadowed areas where water ice may have accumulated. Meanwhile, private company LandSpace successfully recovered a reusable booster for its Zhuque-3 rocket, marking the second successful Chinese booster recovery following the Long March 10B in July. This achievement highlights China’s growing focus on reusability, although the country’s launch cadence still trails that of SpaceX.

International launch activity has seen mixed results, with a prototype satellite launcher developed by Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology veering off course and self-destructing shortly after liftoff. In Brazil, South Korean startup Innospace suffered its second consecutive failure for its Sebit rocket during a test flight from the Alcântara Space Center. The company stated that the test provided valuable data on key systems despite the loss of control. These setbacks occur against a backdrop of concern in the commercial satellite industry over the potential retirement of SpaceX’s Falcon 9, with some customers reporting difficulties securing launch slots beyond 2028.

In Europe, the European Space Agency has halted development of the Ariane 6 Block 3 upper stage after failing to secure support from member states. The upgrade, which would have introduced a lightweight carbon-fiber reinforced plastic upper stage, is now off the table, with development continuing on technologies for Ariane 6 Block 2. Additionally, Ukraine confirmed it struck Russia’s Progress Rocket Space Center in the Samara region using ground-launched cruise missiles. The facility is a key manufacturer of the Soyuz-2 vehicle, raising questions about potential spillover effects for the International Space Station and other civil and military launches.

Research published in Economics Letters suggests that the introduction of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and the adoption of rocket reuse have significantly upended the global launch market. The United States has pulled ahead dramatically in cumulative payload to orbit over the last decade, with launch costs now substantially lower than in other regions. The average cost of sending a kilogram of payload to orbit in the United States is estimated at $3,225, compared to $9,897 in Europe and $15,000 in India. This cost advantage underscores the financial pressure on competitors as they strive to match the efficiency and cadence of American launch providers.