Rocket Report: SLS slip likely, Pegasus problems, and EELV has expired

Enlarge / The mighty Delta IV Heavy rocket takes to the skies. (credit: Aurich Lawson/United Launch Alliance)

Welcome to Edition 1.39 of the Rocket Report! What an exciting week in launch, with SpaceX's first launch of a capsule capable of carrying humans into orbit. The rocket performed well during that mission, but that was far from the only activity. We also have news about a suborbital launch in New Mexico and several delays in other launch programs.

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.

What to call suborbital fliers? In a feature, Ars explored the question of what to call the new class of people who will buy tickets on Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin vehicles when they return from their flights. Both companies intend to call their customers "astronauts," which is likely part of the cachet in buying such a ticket in the first place.