Rocket Report: Starship V3 test-fired; ESA's tentative step toward crew launch
Israel's Moonshot Space plans to shoot raw materials into orbit using electricity, not rocket fuel.
The latest Rocket Report highlights a bold new approach to space access from Israel's Moonshot Space. The company, which emerged from stealth in December with $12 million in funding, is developing an electromagnetic launcher system designed to use electricity instead of chemical fuels to propel payloads to hypersonic speeds. Moonshot has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to site its first accelerator in Fairbanks, Alaska, with CEO John Oberst calling it a commitment to "pioneer innovation in the Last Frontier."
Moonshot's vision is admittedly "extremely brave," according to co-founder Shahar Bahiri, and comes with significant technical hurdles. The kinetic launch method subjects payloads to extreme accelerations that could destroy conventional satellites. Instead, the company is targeting a niche market: shooting raw materials into orbit for in-space manufacturing. This development occurs alongside other industry news, including Rocket Lab's expansion into electric satellite thrusters and SpaceX's recent Cygnus cargo mission to the International Space Station, painting a picture of a rapidly diversifying and innovating launch sector.
- Moonshot Space raised $12M and is developing an electromagnetic launcher to replace chemical rockets.
- The company plans its first launch site in Fairbanks, Alaska, via an agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corp.
- The system targets hypersonic speeds for delivering raw materials to orbit for in-space manufacturing.
Why It Matters
This represents a potential paradigm shift in launch technology, moving from chemical propulsion to electrical systems for specific cargo.