Welcome to Edition 8.19 of the Rocket Report! Thursday was a monumental day in launch history with Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket not just taking off successfully, but with the first stage masterfully returning to the surface of the ocean,

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Labs will be testing their rocket sled for about an hour Tuesday morning in Albuquerque. According to the Labs, all of the hazards associated with that test are controlled in accordance with test facility permits. Lab officials say the experiment supports their national security missions.

Rocket Lab has pushed the first launch of its medium-lift Neutron rocket to 2026, founder and CEO Peter Beck said during the company’s 2025 Q3 earnings call Monday (Nov. 10).

The hold-down firing of the first stage engines was the final major test of the New Glenn rocket before launch day. Blue Origin previously test-fired the rocket’s second-stage engines. Officials have not announced a target launch date, but sources tell Ars the rocket could be ready for liftoff as soon as November 9.

People near Kirtland Air Force Base may hear a loud noise or see smoke or dust on Tuesday. Sandia National Laboratories will conduct a rocket sled test from 11 a.m.

A multi-million dollar aerospace company in Northern Colorado, which helps design rocket engines for the military, is expanding its operation in Weld County. Ursa Major, currently located in Berthoud, recently announced they were building a rocket testing ...