Welcome to a roundup of the most significant rocket and space news from the past week. From the long-awaited return of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy to Russia's Soyuz-5 finally taking flight, the launch landscape is buzzing. Meanwhile, the US Space Force has dropped a major announcement—a $3.2 billion contract list for space-based interceptors under the Golden Dome initiative. And with Starship gearing up for its next test and Blue Origin preparing its first lunar landing attempt, there's plenty to track. Here are the eight essential developments you need to know right now.

1. Falcon Heavy Makes a Comeback

SpaceX’s triple-core heavy lifter is back on the launch pad after a hiatus. Falcon Heavy is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Pad 39A, carrying a classified payload for the US Space Force. This mission marks the vehicle’s first flight in over a year, demonstrating its continued relevance for large national security satellites. The rocket’s side boosters are expected to attempt a synchronized landing at Cape Canaveral, adding to SpaceX’s reuse record. With a lift capacity of nearly 64 metric tons to low Earth orbit, Falcon Heavy remains the most powerful operational rocket in the world—until Starship fully takes over.

2. Russia's Soyuz-5 Finally Debuts

After years of delays, Russia’s next-generation Soyuz-5 rocket launched successfully from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This partially reusable vehicle is designed to replace the aging Proton and Soyuz-2 boosters. Powered by a new RD-171MV engine in its first stage, Soyuz-5 can deliver about 17 tons to low Earth orbit—similar to a Falcon 9. The inaugural flight carried a dummy payload and several small satellites. Roscosmos plans to use Soyuz-5 for crewed missions to the International Space Station and possibly lunar programs. However, analysts question whether Russia can sustain the cadence needed to compete commercially.

3. Starship Prepares for Next Test Flight

SpaceX’s massive Starship vehicle had a relatively quiet week as engineers finalize preparations for its next integrated test flight. The company is targeting a launch window in May from its Starbase facility in Texas. This flight will attempt to demonstrate key milestones, including a controlled reentry and splashdown of the Super Heavy booster. The previous flight test ended prematurely with a breakup, but SpaceX collected critical data. Success would pave the way for orbital refueling demonstrations later this year. NASA is watching closely, as Starship is the chosen lander for the Artemis III lunar mission.

4. Blue Origin Targets First Moon Landing

Blue Origin is gearing up for its first attempt to land on the Moon with its Blue Moon cargo lander. The uncrewed mission, expected within the next few months, will deliver scientific payloads and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. If successful, it would mark the first American commercial soft landing on the Moon. The lander uses a variant of Blue Origin’s BE-7 engine and can deliver up to three metric tons of cargo. This flight is a precursor to the human-rated lander Blue Origin is developing for NASA’s Artemis program under the Human Landing System contract.

5. NASA's 2028 Lunar Landing Ambitions Take Shape

The outcomes of upcoming Starship and Blue Moon tests will heavily influence NASA’s ability to land astronauts on the Moon by 2028. The agency’s current plan relies on SpaceX’s Starship as the lunar lander for Artemis III, with follow-on missions potentially using Blue Origin’s lander. However, delays and technical challenges have raised questions about the feasibility of that timeline. If both Starship and Blue Moon prove reliable in the coming months, NASA could maintain its schedule. Otherwise, the 2028 target—already pushed back from an earlier date—may slip further.

6. Space Force Selects 12 Companies for Golden Dome SBI

The US Space Force announced on April 24 a roster of a dozen companies that will develop Space-Based Interceptors (SBIs) for the Pentagon’s Golden Dome initiative. This multilayer defense system aims to protect US territory from drones, ballistic missiles, hypersonic gliders, and cruise missiles. The selected contractors include:

• Anduril Industries
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• General Dynamics Mission Systems
• GITAI USA
• Lockheed Martin
• Northrop Grumman
• Quindar
• Raytheon
• Sci-Tec
• SpaceX
• True Anomaly
• Turion Space

Each company will contribute expertise in areas such as sensors, interceptors, command and control, and spacecraft bus integration. The contracts cover preliminary design and prototype development, with a combined ceiling of $3.2 billion.

7. A $3.2 Billion Prototype Phase with Promises of More

The Space-Based Interceptor contracts are just the beginning. The agreements have a maximum combined value of $3.2 billion for the prototype phase, during which each contractor will deliver test hardware. Full-scale production contracts will follow later, with a significantly higher price tag—potentially exceeding tens of billions of dollars. The Golden Dome initiative is modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome but scaled to a continental defense network. Critics worry about cost overruns and technical feasibility, but the Space Force insists the multi-company approach spreads risk and encourages innovation. SpaceX’s inclusion is notable, as the company primarily known for launch may develop interceptor technology.

8. Looking Ahead: Three Upcoming Launches to Watch

The next few weeks feature several critical missions. First, a Falcon 9 is set to launch a batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Second, United Launch Alliance will send a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on an Atlas V. Third, a Rocket Lab Electron mission will deploy a weather satellite for NASA. These launches collectively highlight the diversity of the current launch market—from small satellites to heavy national security payloads. For rocket enthusiasts, the calendar is packed with milestones that could reshape space access and defense.

Conclusion

This week’s news underscores how commercial and military space activities are converging. Falcon Heavy’s return and Soyuz-5’s debut show that even giant rockets are constantly evolving. Starship and Blue Moon will determine the pace of lunar exploration, while the Space Force’s Golden Dome program signals a new era of space-based defense. As always, we welcome your thoughts and tips—subscribe to the Rocket Report for weekly updates. The next three months promise to be among the most exciting in recent memory.