Rocket Report: Soyuz soars, Firefly plans, SpaceX warns of European aid

Enlarge / The Electron launch vehicle is ready to soar. (credit: Rocket Lab)

Welcome to Edition 1.38 of the Rocket Report! We've got globe-spanning launch news this week from France, Spain, and even South Africa. But probably the biggest news is the imminent launch of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from Florida early Saturday morning. It's a must-watch for any space enthusiast, even given the 02:49am ET launch time.

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.

Firefly to invest in Florida facilities. Last Friday, Texas-based rocket company Firefly announced it had reached an agreement to develop manufacturing facilities and a launch site at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Florida. The company said it will invest $52 million into the facilities, and Florida's spaceport development authority, Space Florida, will also provide an additional $18.9 million in infrastructure investments.