Posted: Sat, Mar 1 11:32 AM ET (1632 GMT)
Rocket Lab says it is still on track for a first launch of its Neutron rocket this year after a report claimed the program was facing major delays. In an earnings call Thursday, Rocket Lab said the first Neutron launch was expected in the second half of the year, a slight delay from previous estimate of a mid-2025 debut. The company did not directly address a report by Bleecker Street Research earlier this week that concluded that a 2025 launch was unlikely, based on progress on the rocket and its launch pad, and that the inaugural launch could slip to as late as mid-2027. Rocket Lab said it is working in parallel on several aspects of the vehicle and pad, and announced Thursday it had acquired a barge that will be converted into a landing platform for the vehicle.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Aviation Week article

Posted: Sat, Mar 1 11:23 AM ET (1623 GMT)
A Progress cargo spacecraft launched Thursday to the International Space Station. A Soyuz-2.1a rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:24 pm EST (2124 GMT) and placed the Progress MS-30 spacecraft into orbit. The spacecraft, designated Progress 91 by NASA, is scheduled to dock with the ISS Saturday at 6:03 p.m. Eastern, delivering about three tons of cargo.

Related Links:

•  Reuters article
•  TASS article
•  NASA statement

Falcon 9 launches IM-2 lunar lander
Posted: Sat, Mar 1 11:20 AM ET (1620 GMT)
A Falcon 9 launched a commercial lunar lander and three rideshare payloads Wednesday evening. The rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 7:...

China launches commercial remote sensing satellites
Posted: Sat, Mar 1 11:18 AM ET (1618 GMT)
China launched a pair of commercial high-resolution imaging satellites early Thursday. A Long March 2C rocket lifted off at 2:08 a.m. Eastern...

Virgin Galactic to start assembling first Delta-class suborbital spaceplane
Posted: Sat, Mar 1 11:17 AM ET (1617 GMT)
Virgin Galactic plans to start assembly of the first of a new line of suborbital spaceplanes next month. The company said on an earnings call...