Rocket Report: Indian startup nears first launch; SpaceX's millenary milestone

Key Points:

• NASA’s Artemis II mission was the only one of 20 highly anticipated 2026 space events to occur by midyear, with many others now delayed to 2027 or later, including the Roman Space Telescope launch which remains on schedule.
• Katalyst Space Technologies successfully launched the Link servicing satellite on the final Pegasus XL rocket flight to reboost NASA’s aging Swift astronomy satellite, aiming to extend its mission despite Swift not being designed for in-orbit servicing.
• India’s Skyroot Aerospace plans its first commercial orbital launch of the Vikram-1 rocket between July 12 and August 4, marking a milestone for private Indian space ventures with a vehicle capable of carrying nearly 500 kg to low Earth orbit.
• NASA selected Rocket Lab for three launches in 2027, including two for the PolSIR ice-cloud radiometer satellites and one for the TSIS-2 solar irradiance sensor, highlighting continued collaboration with smaller launch providers.
• Blue Origin is actively restoring its launch pad after the May New Glenn rocket explosion, with plans to return to flight by year-end using a new crane-based method to erect rockets, reflecting NASA’s positive assessment of the company’s cleanup efforts.