Rocket Report: Sweden launches suborbital rocket, Mad Mike dies in accident

Ars Technica » Scientific Method 2020-02-28

Cartoon rocket superimposed over real rocket launch.

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

Welcome to Edition 2.34 of the Rocket Report! This week brought out some intriguing new details about Virgin Galactic's future plans to raise revenues from its VSS Unity vehicle. Also, an article in Air Force Magazine suggests the big launch companies at Cape Canaveral (i.e., United Launch Alliance and SpaceX) in Florida appear to be cooperating more to allow for more frequent launches. That's a great trend.

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 Galactic outlines plans. On Tuesday, Virgin Galactic held its first public earnings call and in the process shared some interesting information about its finances and plans. As Parabolic Arc notes, the company has been burning cash: net losses were nearly $72.8 million for the fourth quarter and $210.9 million for 2019. Net losses for 2018 and 2019 totaled $349.1 million. Total expenditures since 2004 have exceeded $1 billion.

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