2017 PREVIEW BIG LAUNCHES.BIG DECISIONS. BIG QUESTIONS.

摘要

This year is shaping up to be the year of the small launch vehicle. Several companies have been pursuing small launchers, driven by the growth in the small-satellite market and limited options for launching them. Those efforts will - hopefully - start taking flight this year. Rocket Lab, a U.S. company that operates out of New Zealand, plans to launch its first Electron rocket (shown above), in early 2017. Virgin Galactic is expected to start tests flights of its Laun-cherOne air-launched rocket later this year, and Vector Space Systems may also be flying its small launcher this year. While there's bound to be technical and financial setbacks along the way, the bigger issue for these rockets will be: if you build them, will the customers come?