Rocket Report: Exos flies, China sets launch record, new Falcon Heavy data

Enlarge (credit: Rocket Lab/Aurich Lawson)

Welcome to Edition 1.15 of the Rocket Report! This week, we have news about both Virgin rocket companies, an astounding number of Chinese launches, and the military waiting for SpaceX. There is also the scoop that the Trump White House is relying on an upgraded SLS rocket to meet its desire of putting humans on a station near the Moon.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

Virgin nears LauncherOne captive-carry tests. Virgin Orbit has completed three flight tests with a specially designed launch pylon/payload adapter beneath its left wing, and the company will soon begin captive-carry tests, Aviation Week reports. If these tests are successful, the campaign will culminate with the release of an inert vehicle over a desert test range and is designed to clear the way for an initial attempt at air-launching the first rocket to orbit.