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Rocket Report: FAA eyes more Starbase traffic; India's Skyroot snares US customer
Publication: Ars Technica - All content
Author: Stephen Clark
Source published: 16/10/2026, 11:00:53 UTC
Briefing created: 16/10/2026, 11:31:25 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 16/10/2026, 11:08:23 UTC.
Briefings
The Rocket Report announces two major space launch events: Japan's MMX mission departing on a Japanese H3 rocket on Monday, and India's Skyroot Aerospace securing two launches for California-based Reflect Orbital using its Vikram-1 and Vikram-1U rockets. Reflect Orbital's in-space mirror technology is highlighted as a key capability for the upcoming Indian launches.
Key points
- Japan's MMX mission departs on a Japanese H3 rocket on Monday (US time) to visit Phobos and Deimos, with a rover deployed for specimen collection returning to Earth in 2031.
- Reflect Orbital purchased two launches from Skyroot Aerospace, utilizing the Vikram-1 rocket for one flight and the upgraded Vikram-1U for another, marking the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit in July.
Context
The Rocket Report covers upcoming space launches, highlighting Japan's MMX mission and India's Skyroot Aerospace partnership with California-based Reflect Orbital. Reflect Orbital's in-space mirror technology is a key capability for the upcoming Indian launches, utilizing the Vikram-1 and Vikram-1U rockets.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to the Rocket Report's article, which does not provide details on the specific launch dates of the Vikram-1 flights, the exact specifications of the Vikram-1U rocket, or the technical performance data of Reflect Orbital's mirrors. The report mentions the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit in July but does not confirm the exact launch date or number of flights.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 16/10/2026, 11:31:25 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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