Japan successfully launched the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA rocket on the morning of Oct. 26 local time from the Tanegashima Space Center.

A team of heritage and new space companies headed by Blue Origin and Sierra Space plan to build, launch and operate an International Space Station-class commercial outpost in low Earth orbit that can be tailored and expanded to accommodate a broad array of scientific, technological, business, entertainment and other pursuits.

Israel Aerospace Industries is adding a miniaturized, 1,500-lb. geostationary communications satellite to its product line.

Ahead of NASA’s selection of up to four proposals to support development of commercial space stations, a team led by Nanoracks unveiled plans on Oct. 21 for a four-person outpost called Starlab, with initial operational capability expected by 2027.

The Australian location will provide good coverage of launch corridors from East Asia, and improve space coverage in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rocket Lab will attempt a controlled ocean splashdown and recovery of the Electron small satellite launcher earmarked for flight next month, the company said on Oct. 19.

Boeing is nearing the end of a winding technical analysis of a valve problem that scotched plans for an uncrewed orbital flight test of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in August.

Axiom Space, which is working with NASA to develop a commercial successor to the International Space Station, announced this week the completion of three joint design reviews for the project.