Welcome to our eighteenth Monthly Dose of Space! In this monthly newsletter, we bring you major news from the past month. March has been another busy month, so let's jump into it!

News of the Month

News in March saw more SLS stacking, two satellite communication breakthroughs from China, the end of ESA's Gaia mission, a new contract for the ExoMars mission, and Starship planning to launch NASA payloads.

New Glenn mishap investigation complete

Blue Origin's two-stage partially reusable New Glenn rocket flew its debut mission just over two months ago on January 16th. During that flight the vehicle's second-stage reached orbit while the first-stage was lost on descent, beginning a mishap investigation into the launch.

On March 28th, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration completed its mishap investigation into the loss of New Glenn's first-stage, satisfied with Blue Origin's findings. That investigation found that the first-stage was lost due to the inability of the vehicle to relight three engines necessary for a reentry burn. With no entry burn, the first-stage succumbed to the heat of atmospheric reentry.

The closing of the mishap investigation also allows New Glenn to return to flight, as long as corrective actions are undertaken prior to launch. Blue Origin states that they are currently addressing necessary fixes for the vehicle's second flight, which is targeting late spring. Speaking on the next flight, Blue Origin Chief Executive Officer Dave Limp shared:

"Obviously the best data comes from flying, and we learned a lot from New Glenn’s first mission. We’re confident that the propellant and bleed control work we’re doing will increase our chances of landing the booster on our next flight. And like we’ve said all along, we’ll keep trying until we do."

SLS core stage stacked ahead of Artemis II

The core stage of SLS being placed between its two solid rocket boosters. ©NASA
The core stage of SLS being placed between its two solid rocket boosters. ©NASA

NASA shared on March 24th, that the day prior, it had moved the core stage of its SLS vehicle between its two solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform for stacking. This stage of preparing the rocket for the Artemis II mission comes over a month after the two boosters were completed.

The core stage is the biggest part of the SLS vehicle that needs to be stacked, it also has four RS-25 engines at the base of the stage. With it now placed on the mobile launcher, SLS stands at around 65 meters tall (or 212 feet).

Upcoming steps to prepare for the Artemis II mission are stacking of the launch vehicle stage adapter, interim cryogenic propulsion stage, Orion stage adapter, and the Orion spacecraft. NASA is believed to be working toward February 2026 as a completion date for preparations, ahead of testing and launch.

ESA ends Gaia mission

On March 27th, the European Space Agency announced that it had ended the Gaia mission, launched in December 2013. Gaia was a space observatory with a one billion-pixel camera used to image 1.8 billion objects.

The mission uncovered evidence of past galactic mergers, identified new star clusters, contributed to the discovery of exoplanets and black holes, mapped millions of quasars and galaxies, and tracked hundreds of thousands of asteroids and comets. Additionally, it enabled the creation of the best visualization of how our galaxy might look.

As part of the spacecraft retirement process, Gaia fired its thrusters to depart from the L2 Lagrange point into a solar orbit. To shut down the spacecraft's computers, Gaia's code was deliberately corrupted after all instruments and subsystems were offline. Regarding the process, Gaia Spacecraft Operator Tiago Nogueira stated:

“We had to design a decommissioning strategy that involved systematically picking apart and disabling the layers of redundancy that have safeguarded Gaia for so long, because we don’t want it to reactivate in the future and begin transmitting again if its solar panels find sunlight.”

Julia Fortuno, Spacecraft Operations Engineer, added:

"I was in charge of corrupting Gaia’s processor modules to make sure that the onboard software will never restart again once we have switched off the spacecraft”

Starship added to NASA Launch Services

NASA announced on March 28th that it has awarded SpaceX a modification under the NASA Launch Services II contract to add Starship to the company's offerings. With Starship added to the contract, SpaceX can begin to plan to bid on NASA launches with the vehicle.

SpaceX can bid on launches with Starship once the vehicle's risk level is identified. NASA's risk categories are as follows:

Category 1: High Risk – New, common rocket configuration with little or no prior demonstrated flight history.

Category 2: Medium Risk – Rockets that have a limited history of successful flights representing an 89% demonstrated reliability.

Category 3: Low Risk – Rockets that have a more robust flight history representing a 95% demonstrated reliability.

So far Starship has not reached orbit, with the only payload carried into microgravity being a banana. Additionally, the last two flights, carrying dummy Starlink satellites, failed before Starship could complete its ascent.

Airbus to build ExoMars lander

A render of the Rosalind Franklin rover rolling toward the Martian surface. ©Airbus
A render of the Rosalind Franklin rover rolling toward the Martian surface. ©Airbus

Airbus announced on March 29th that it has been selected by the European Space Agency to build key systems for the ExoMars lander. The ExoMars lander will deliver the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars' surface in 2030.

According to the company, Airbus teams will design the mechanical, thermal, and propulsion systems necessary for the landing platform. Part of those will include the landing structure, the large propulsion system used to provide the final braking thrust, and the landing gear to ensure the lander is stable on touchdown. Two ramps will also be present on opposite sides to enable the rover to be driven onto the Martian surface using the least risky route.

Speaking on the contract award, Managing Director Airbus Defence and Space UK Kata Escot said:

“Getting the Rosalind Franklin rover onto the surface of Mars is a huge international challenge and the culmination of more than 20 years’ work. We are proud to have built the rover in our state-of-the-art Stevenage cleanroom and delighted now to develop the project to ensure its safe delivery to Mars. Rosalind Franklin will be the first Martian rover able to analyse samples from two metres below the surface in its search for past or present life. The mission will supercharge our space know-how in the UK, and will advance our collective understanding of our solar system."

Regarding building the lander in the United Kingdom, UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle added:

“This inspiring example of world-class British science will bring us one step closer to answering long-asked questions on potential life on Mars. Landing the first ever home-grown rover on Mars, Airbus will not only help Britain make history and lead the European space race but also bring hundreds of highly skilled jobs and investment as we secure Britain’s future through our Plan for Change.”

The ExoMars mission, with the Rosalind Franklin rover, is currently set to launch in 2028. A launch will take place from the United States due to NASA-provided Radioisotope Heater Units, which contain small amounts of Plutonium-238.

China completes major satellite breakthroughs

Science journal Nature shared on March 19th that a Chinese team has sent a message 12,900 kilometers, between Beijing and Stellenbosch University near Cape Town, South Africa, via the Jinan-1 satellites utilizing quantum communication technology. To demonstrate secure communications, the satellites and two ground stations utilized quantum key distribution while sending laser pulses over a vast distance.

According to China Daily, the small size of the satellite, around 100 kilograms, and the use of two compact ground stations proved the potential for secure communications worldwide.

In the near future, the research team behind the breakthrough is seeking to prove a practical and useful technology. In support of this China Telecom is planning to launch four small quantum communications satellites in 2026.

The day prior to the quantum satellite breakthrough, Laser Starcom shared that its Guangchuan 01 and Guangchuan 02 satellites had demonstrated a four hundred gigabits per second data transmission test. The two satellites for the demonstration were launched back in November 2024 atop of a Zhuque-2E.

For the test, the two satellites utilized their laser terminals to transfer data back and forth for six minutes and forty-four seconds at a separation distance of 640 kilometers with minimal error. In theory, this allows for up to 14.4 terabytes of data throughput, with the ability to vary speeds from ten gigabits per second up to four hundred, depending on the receiver.

Additionally, this test massively surpasses a previous record-breaking in-orbit transfer speed set by Changguang Satellite Technology Co Ltd in December, with a speed of one hundred gigabits per second. That test was already hailed as surpassing transfer speeds available for Starlink.

Launches of the Month

This month saw 27 launches worldwide, continuing a busy year. If you want to know what each launch was we have them all listed below!

March 1st - Kuaizhou-1A with an unknown payload

ExPace attempted to launch its Kuaizhou-1A vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This launch is believed to have failed very early into flight.

March 2nd - Soyuz 2.1b with Glonass-K2 No. 14

A Soyuz 2.1b lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome carrying a Glonass-K2 satellite to medium Earth orbit. The new Glonass-K2 satellite is expected to improve Russia's Glonass navigation systems.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, carrying twenty-one Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Booster B1086 supported this mission for its fifth flight, with a landing downrange on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions'. However, booster B1086 was lost shortly after landing, after a fire damaged various systems, with the root cause of the fire believed to be a fuel leak that began during flight.

March 6th - Ariane 6 with Composante Spatiale Optique-3

Arianespace launched its second Ariane 6 rocket to sun-synchronous orbit from Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 4 at the Guiana Space Centre, in French Guiana. The second Ariane 6 flew a completely successful mission to deploy the Composante Spatiale Optique-3 optical imaging satellite for the French military.

March 6th - Starship-Super Heavy for its Eighth flight test

SpaceX launched its eighth flight test of the Starship-Super Heavy vehicle from the company's launch site in South Texas, this flight test was utilizing Ship 34, the second 'Block 2' Starship upper-stage, and Super Heavy Booster 15. During the test flight, the vehicle experienced its second catastrophic failure in a row. Further details are available here.

March 9th - Long March 3B/E with TJSW-15

A Long March 3B/E lifted off from Launch Complex 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the TJSW-15 satellite to geostationary transfer orbit. The TJSW-15 satellite is stated to be used for testing and verification for multi-band high-speed throughput communications technology as well as communications, radio, television, and data transmission.

March 11th - Long March 8 with Qianfan Polar Group 05

The fifth group of eighteen Qianfan satellites were launched atop of a Long March 8, flying from Commercial Launch Pad 1 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site. This launch brings the Qianfan internet mega-constellations' total satellite count up to ninety.

March 12th - Falcon 9 with SPHEREx and PUNCH

SpaceX launched Falcon 9 blasted off from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California, into a polar orbit carrying NASA's SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) and PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) spacecraft. SPHEREx plans to survey the sky in near-infrared light, while PUNCH consists of four satellites that will study the Sun's corona and how it generates solar wind. The booster supporting this launch was B1088, performing its third flight and landing back on Landing Zone 4.

A Falcon 9 carried twenty-one Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida. Supporting this mission was booster B1069, making its twenty-second flight and landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas'.

March 14th - Falcon 9 with Crew-10

NASA's Crew-10 mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A, in Florida, carrying four astronauts, NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA's Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos' Kirill Peskov onboard Crew Dragon 'Endurance'. Supporting this launch was Falcon 9 Booster B1090 for its second launch and landing, returning to Landing Zone 1. Details about this mission are available here.

March 15th - Electron for 'The Lightning God Reigns'

Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1B, located on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand, to low Earth orbit. Onboard the rocket was a synthetic aperture radar observation satellite into low Earth orbit for Japanese company iQPS.

March 15th - Long March 2D with SuperView Neo-3 02 & Tianyan-23

From Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, a Long March 2D flew into sun-synchronous orbit carrying SuperView Neo-3 02 and Tianyan-23. SuperView Neo-3 02 is a commercial optical imaging satellite with a resolution of 0.5 meters designed to work with SuperView Neo-3 01 to image key provinces and cities in China regularly, Tianyan-23 is a small Earth observations satellite with a claimed resolution of under a meter.

March 15th - Falcon 9 with Transporter-13

SpaceX launched its thirteenth dedicated Transporter small satellite rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E, to deploy over seventy satellites. Booster B1081 supported this mission for its thirteenth flight, with a landing back at Landing Zone 4.

Twenty-three more Starlink satellites were launched atop of a Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 40. Supporting this Starlink launch was B1078, for its eighteenth launch with a landing downrange on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions'.

March 16th - Angara 1.2 with Kosmos 2585, 2586, 2587

An Angara 1.2 was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome carrying three Kosmos satellites, 2585, 2586, and 2587, to low Earth orbit. These satellites are said to provide military communications services.

March 17th - Ceres-1 with six Yunyao-1 and two AIRSATs

From Launch Area 95A, Galactic Energy launched its first Ceres-1 of the week carrying six Yunyao-1 meteorology satellites as well as Zhongke 06 and 07, also referred to as AIRSAT. The Yunyao-1 satellites are part of a planned ninety-satellite constellation to provide weather forecasting, while the two AIRSAT spacecraft will monitor environmental changes in rural and coastal regions.

March 18th - Electron for 'High Five'

Electron lifted off from Launch Complex 1A, located on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand, carrying the fifth and final group of five Kinéis satellites to low Earth orbit. This small Internet of Things constellation is aimed at boosting connectivity worldwide.

Twenty-three Starlink satellites were launched from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, atop of a Falcon 9 to low Earth orbit. The booster that supported this mission was B1077, flying for the nineteenth time and landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas' downrange.

March 21st - Falcon 9 with NROL-57

The eighth batch of Starshield satellites, the military version of Starlink, were launched atop of a Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California. Booster B1088 supported this mission for its fourth flight, with a landing back at Landing Zone 4.

March 21st - Ceres-1 with six Yunyao-1 satellites

Ceres-1 lifted off again from Launch Area 95A, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying another six Yunyao-1 satellites. This launch brought the total satellite count for the constellation up to fifty-two.

March 24th - Falcon 9 with NROL-69

A Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, carrying a military satellite into Earth orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The booster supporting this mission was B1092, making its second flight and landing back at Landing Zone 1 in Cape Canaveral.

March 26th - Electron for 'Finding Hot Wildfires Near You'

Rocket Lab launched its Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1B, located on the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand, carrying eight satellites to low Earth orbit for Orora Technologies. The eight satellites will monitor wildfires worldwide via the use of infrared cameras.

March 26th - Long March 3B/E with Tianlian-2-04

A Long March 3B/E blasted off from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center heading to geostationary transfer orbit carrying Tialian-2-04. Tianlian-2-04 is a relay satellite used to fill in communications dead zones for the Tiangong Space Station and Shenzhou spacecraft.

Twenty-seven Starlink satellites were delivered to low Earth orbit atop of a Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California. Booster B1063 supported this launch for its twenty-fourth flight, with a landing downrange on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You'.

March 29th - Long March 7A with TJSW-16

The TJSW-16 communications technology verification satellite was delivered to a geostationary transfer orbit by a Long March 7A flying from Launch Complex 201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. TJSW-16 will reportedly provide communications services, radio, television, and data transmission, as well as testing and verification for multi-band high-speed throughput communications technologies.

March 30th - Spectrum for its debut flight

Isar Aerospace attempted to launch its Spectrum rocket from the Andøya Spaceport, carrying no satellites, for the rocket's debut mission. Shortly after liftoff control of the rocket was lost before it fell back to Earth. Further details on this launch are available here.

Twenty-eight more Starlink satellites were sent to low Earth orbit atop of a Falcon 9, flying from Space Launch Complex 40. Booster B1080 supported this launch for its seventeenth flight, with a landing on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions' downrange.

Launches to look out for in April!

April will continue a record year of launches. Listed below are all of the launches expected or likely to happen next month, launches on the 1st of April may have already occurred due to when this newsletter is published.

Another batch of Starlink satellites is planned to be launched from Space Launch Complex 4E to low Earth orbit atop of a Falcon 9.

April 1st - Falcon 9 for Fram2

A Crew Dragon is expected to launch atop a Falcon 9 to polar orbit from Launch Complex 39A. Four astronauts are planned to be on board and are: Chun Wang from Malta, Jannicke Mikkelsen from Norway, Rabea Rogge from Germany, and Eric Philips from Australia.

April 1st - Long March 2D with a to-be-announced payload

A Long March 2D may fly from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to low Earth orbit carrying a currently unknown payload.

April 3rd - Long March 6 with a to-be-announced payload

A Long March 6 is expected to fly from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center to low Earth orbit, carrying an unknown payload. Rumors around the launch claim this could be the Long March 6's final flight.

SpaceX is planning to launch another batch of Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4E.

Another Falcon 9 is expected to launch more Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40.

April 8th - Soyuz 2.1a with MS-27

A Soyuz 2.1a is preparing to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft to the International Space Station. Onboard Soyuz for the MS-27 mission are Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim.

April 14th - New Shepard for NS-31

Blue Origin is planning to launch New Shepard from its West Texas launch site for a short suborbital flight. Six passengers are planned to be on board and are Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez.

April 21st - Falcon 9 with CRS-32

SpaceX is preparing to conduct its thirty-second International Space Station resupply mission with the launch of a Cargo Dragon V2 spacecraft atop of a Falcon 9 flying from Launch Complex 39A.

April 29th - Vega-C with Biomass

Vega-C is planning to launch from Ensemble de Lancement Vega at the Guiana Space Center, in French Guiana, carrying the Biomass mission for the European Space Agency into sun-synchronous orbit.