Small Rocket Launchers and New Spaceports — October 23, 2026
The global small launch sector saw significant activity this week, highlighted by the U.S. Space Force's urgent call for a third launch range by 2030 to meet rising demand. In Europe, preparations are underway for Isar Aerospace's next Spectrum launch from Andøya, while South Korea solidified its long-term roadmap for the Nuri rocket with plans for 12 launches by 2032.
Small Rocket Launchers and New Spaceports — October 23, 2026
Top developments
Space Force Urges Third Launch Range by 2030
The head of the U.S. Space Force’s largest acquisition organization stated that the service requires a third launch range by 2030 to keep up with increasing launch demand. This strategic move aims to alleviate bottlenecks at existing facilities and support the growing cadence of both national security and commercial launch missions.
South Korea Targets 12 Nuri Launches by 2032
Following the successful fifth launch of the Nuri rocket on October 7, South Korea’s government outlined an ambitious plan to launch the vehicle at least once a year, targeting a total of 12 launches by 2032. The roadmap includes carrying military reconnaissance micro-satellites and the Arirang 8 companion satellite, alongside a vertical landing test for a reusable first stage by 2032.
Isar Aerospace Prepares Spectrum 3 for November Launch
Andøya Space in Norway is finalizing preparations for the third flight of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket, scheduled for late November. This follows the successful September 5 orbital launch, which marked the first time a privately funded European company reached orbit from continental Europe.
Rocket Lab Secures Historic Bulk Order
Rocket Lab announced its largest contract to date with a confidential customer, involving a bulk order of dedicated Neutron and Electron launches. This deal underscores the intense demand for small launch capacity as the company continues to dominate the small satellite market.
Local view
Norwegian media outlets Hålogaland Teater (ht.no) and Folkebladet report that Andøya Space is actively coordinating the November launch window for Isar Aerospace. The local community and stakeholders are closely watching this next attempt to solidify Andøya’s status as a key European hub for commercial orbital access.
Context & numbers
The small launch vehicle market is experiencing rapid growth, with revenue valued at $2.1 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $5.4 billion by 2033. This expansion is driven by the deployment of small satellite constellations and declining per-kilogram costs for dedicated launch services.
On the radar
- Nine Global Launches This Week: A busy manifest includes H3, Falcon 9, and Electron rockets launching from California, Florida, New Zealand, and Japan.
- NASA Comm Sat Demos: Two NASA-funded satellite communication demonstrations successfully launched aboard the SpaceX Bandwagon-5 rideshare on October 20.
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