Rocket Report: SLS launch targeted for late September, unique view of Falcon 9

Enlarge / An Ariane 5 rocket takes off on Wednesday evening from Kourou, French Guiana. (credit: ESA)

Welcome to Edition 5.10 of the Rocket Report! There is much, and more, happening in the world of lift with Firefly set to make a second launch its Alpha rocket, and NASA still attempting to make a first launch of its Space Launch System booster. Word of warning: There may not be a Rocket Report next week as I will be traveling on assignment.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

Inside the long, drawn-out battle for Georgia's spaceport. In a lengthy feature article, NBC news explores the long, seven-year battle in Georgia to develop a spaceport that would launch rockets over two barrier islands. Remarkably, with an annual budget of just $57 million, Camden County has so far spent $12 million in taxpayer money on the heretofore futile effort. “We’re paying taxes year after year after year for the spaceport, but nothing has materialized,” said Camden resident Steve Weinkle, who has become one of the most vocal opponents of the project. “This is our ‘bridge to nowhere.’"