Rocket Report: FAA eyes more Starbase traffic; India's Skyroot snares US customer

Launch services from India are now a viable option for US satellite operators concerned about future US launch availability.

Reflect Orbital, a US-based startup, has secured two launches from Indian space company Skyroot Aerospace. The agreement includes one launch on Skyroot's Vikram-1 rocket, which recently became the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit, and another on an upgraded variant, the Vikram-1U. Reflect Orbital plans to use these launches to deploy its constellation of approximately 50,000 in-orbit mirrors designed to beam sunlight to Earth for power generation and illumination. This move highlights potential concerns about future launch capacity in the United States as SpaceX transitions its focus to the larger, less proven Starship. Meanwhile, Colorado-based LEAP is targeting the small satellite launch market with its Bighorn rocket, aiming for its first orbital launch in 2028 and planning for mass production with a capacity of six vehicles per year, scalable to two per month.

The increasing reliance on Indian launch providers like Skyroot by US companies such as Reflect Orbital signals a growing diversification in the global launch market. This trend is partly driven by anticipated supply constraints in US launch capabilities, particularly as SpaceX shifts away from its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. The development suggests that international partnerships will become more critical for satellite operators needing reliable access to orbit, potentially reshaping launch cost dynamics and availability. Companies like Reflect Orbital are proactively seeking alternative launch solutions to support their ambitious constellation deployments, demonstrating a need for more frequent and varied launch options.

Startups like LEAP, focused on the smallsat market with dedicated launch vehicles like the Bighorn rocket, are emerging to fill specific market niches. Their emphasis on mass production indicates an expectation of significant future demand for small satellite launches. The Bighorn's planned payload capacity and dedicated service model cater to a segment of the market that may be underserved by larger, more generalized launch providers. The success of these dedicated small launch efforts could influence the overall development and affordability of small satellite constellations across various industries.