China Inaugurates New Launchpad with Long March 8, Rocket Lab Expands Capabilities with Mynaric Acquisition Airbus Solar Panel Deal

China's Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center initiated operations from its newly constructed No. 1 launchpad with a Long March 8 rocket, successfully deploying 18 Spacesail satellites. This launch contributes to the Spacesail Constellation, aiming for global broadband internet services with over 10,000 satellites by 2030. The Long March 8, a two-stage rocket with side boosters, can carry up to 7.6 tons to low-Earth orbit. Rocket Lab is set for two Electron launches in March for iQPS and Kineis, completing a five-mission contract to deploy Kineis' IoT satellite constellation. Rocket Lab will also manufacture 200 solar panels for Airbus to power Eutelsat's next-gen OneWeb constellation, building on a previous deal. Additionally, Rocket Lab plans to acquire Mynaric, an optical communications firm, for $75 million, expanding its European presence and enhancing satellite manufacturing capabilities.