SpaceX Passes on Military Work as Starship Faces 22-Stop Lunar Hurdle

SpaceX has declined three launch contracts offered by the US Space Force, according to data released in the latest edition of the Rocket Report on October 23. The company communicated its refusal to military officials, effectively passing on work that other providers might have accepted.

This decision stands out against the backdrop of the company’s current technical challenges. A NASA safety panel recently estimated that the Starship vehicle might require up to 22 refueling stops to support a single lunar landing. That figure illustrates the complexity of the mission architecture and the heavy lifting required before the rocket can carry cargo to the Moon.

While SpaceX focuses on its heavy-lift program, a smaller competitor in Europe is moving toward its first flight. PLD Space, a Spanish launch company, reports that its Miura 5 rocket is nearing final integration. The firm expects the small-lift vehicle to make its inaugural launch before mid-2027.

Raúl Torres, the CEO of PLD Space, outlined the production strategy in an update on October 19. He stated that the company has built three Miura 5 vehicles. One is prepared for launch, while the other two are designated for testing key system elements. This approach allows the team to apply lessons from qualification campaigns directly to the vehicle intended for flight.

Torres noted that building all three units simultaneously has enabled continuous work across production and integration stages. "Manufacturing these three vehicles has allowed our teams to work continuously across different stages of production and integration, applying the lessons learned from each qualification campaign directly to the launch vehicle," he said.

The second stage of the launch-ready rocket is currently fully integrated. It is stationed at PLD’s test facility in Teruel, where it will undergo system-level testing under representative operating conditions. The qualification campaign includes a wet dress rehearsal and a static hot-fire test.

In Canada, Reaction Dynamics is seeking to expand its operations. The startup, which is developing a small-lift rocket called Aurora, aims to raise $350 million. The funding would support a workforce growth from 68 to more than 350 employees. The company hopes to reach orbit with Aurora in 2028 and plans a medium-lift vehicle named Borealis by 2031.