Rocket Lab expands Virginia’s role in commercial space launch, exploration

Rocket Lab expands Virginia’s role in commercial space launch, exploration

RICHMOND — Virginia celebrated the opening of its new launch pad last month at Wallops Island, which marks the state’s role in the aerospace industry. Gov. Glenn Youngkin attended the ceremony to cut the ribbon and called the opening an “engineering achievement” and “significant milestone.” Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 is located at a new launchpad created for the reusable Neutron rocket at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, a commercial space …

Space Force Considers Texas, Virginia Ranges for Future Launch

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—The Space Force is running out of room at its launch ranges in Florida and California and is looking to expand its government and commercial spaceport partnerships to accommodate growing launch demand. The service’s ranges at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., are among the busiest spaceports in the world. Annual launch rates at the two hubs have spiked from fewer than 20 miss…