Commercial glee at launch progress

The commercial world of launch services saw two successfull launches recently, with only the second Boeing Delta IV launch, now part of the United Launch Alliance joint venture, and you can watch the launch here

While in Russia International Launch Services, the Khrunichev Space Center built Proton rocket's private sector arm, was returning to commercial flight and sending the Sirius 4 satellite into orbit, following an earlier Proton return to flight mission on a launch for the Russian government

And their future competition, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), took one more step towards realising its medium lift Falcon 9 rocket by completing development of its engine, the Merlin 1C, but also suffering a small fire while starting work on its Cape Canaveral launch pad

SpaceX of course is involved in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transpotation System (COTS) programme as a funded space act agreement signee and since the departure of its fellow participant Rocketplane Kistler from that, companies that have had equivalent unfunded agreements with the US space agency, such as Spacedev, have been pushing their successes - namely milestones met - so cue Spacehab and its ARCTUS transportation system

Finally, if you have the time have a read of some of this COTS speculation over at Space Politics