NASA Assembles Third SLS Rocket as SpaceX Preps Starship V3 and Skyroot Raises $60M
NASA’s third SLS rocket is being assembled at Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX readies its upgraded Starship V3 for launch from Texas, and Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace secured a $60 million round valuing it at $1.1 billion.
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TL;DR
NASA’s third Space Launch System rocket is being assembled at Kennedy Space Center while SpaceX prepares its first upgraded Starship V3 for launch from Starbase, Texas. Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace raised a $60 million funding round that values the company at $1.1 billion.
Context
The Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon, with NASA’s Space Launch System serving as the primary heavy‑lift vehicle for crewed missions. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Starship is slated to support lunar landings and deep‑space logistics under NASA contracts.
The concurrent development of these systems highlights the growing competition and collaboration across government and commercial launch providers.
Key Facts
Engineers at Kennedy Space Center are integrating the core stage, boosters and upper stage for the third SLS rocket, designated for future Artemis flights. SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas is undergoing final checkouts on the Starship V3 prototype, which includes an upgraded heat shield and larger propellant tanks for increased payload capacity.
NASA plans to conduct a wet dress rehearsal for the SLS core stage later this year.
What It Means
Progress on the SLS hardware keeps NASA on track for Artemis III, currently scheduled for no earlier than 2026, though delays could shift the timeline. Starship V3 upgrades aim to improve reusability and performance, potentially lowering launch costs for both commercial and government customers.
Analysts note that successful demonstrations could influence future contract awards and launch service pricing.
To watch next: monitor the SLS rollout to the launch pad, the Starship V3 test flight date, and Skyroot’s inaugural Vikram‑1 launch attempt.
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