Blog

Inside the Cascade Dropship: what the spec sheet doesn't tell you

A spec sheet says the Cascade Dropship is 72 m long and carries 220 tonnes, but that is only part of the picture. What matters is how this Heavy planetary lander behaves on a real mission.

Why Pacifica Launch Services chose the Kestrel

When Pacifica Launch Services wanted more capacity for its Luna business, it compared ships from every major yard. In the end it ordered 8 Kestrel hulls from Halcyon Stellar Works.

Why the Leviathan burns deuterium slurry instead of helium-3

Every other heavy Halcyon hull runs on helium-3 pellets. The Leviathan Ore Hauler does not, and the reason comes down to where the ship lives and what it eats.

Spotlight: Elias Moreau on building the future of spaceflight

Elias Moreau joined Halcyon to work on hard problems, and as Developer Advocate there has been no shortage of them.

Release notes: Leviathan Drive Wear and Fuel Burn Logs

The latest release of Leviathan Drive Wear and Fuel Burn Logs is now live. This dataset (the ground segment) remains freely available under Open Data Commons ODbL.

Why Southern Cross Flight Academy chose the Wren Microlifter

When Southern Cross Flight Academy wanted more capacity for its Earth business, it compared ships from every major yard. In the end it ordered 8 Wren Microlifter hulls from Halcyon Stellar Works.

The Gravitas Dock Barge leaves the cradle

A new Orbital construction barge has joined the Halcyon catalogue. The Gravitas Dock Barge lifted off for its maiden sortie on December 2179, and the flight crew came back grinning.

Mapping Europa's ice shell with the Valkyrie

Satellite data scientist Hana Park explains how a two-pilot survey corvette produced the most detailed map yet of Europa's ice thickness.

Five questions with Zanele Dlamini

We asked Zanele Dlamini, our Test Pilot, five quick questions about life in Flight Operations.

What does a Halcyon Starliner really cost?

The sticker price for a Halcyon Starliner is ₡1,680 million, but the cost of owning a Passenger liner over its lifetime depends on much more. This breakdown covers the main line items.

Now shipping: Atlas Heavy Freighter

Halcyon Stellar Works has started deliveries of the Atlas Heavy Freighter, a Bulk freighter that first went to space on February 2180. The first hulls are already on their way to customers.

Vesta Smelting Combine takes delivery of 5 Leviathan Ore Hauler

Halcyon Stellar Works has delivered 5 Leviathan Ore Hauler hulls to Vesta Smelting Combine. The company was founded in 2149 and is headquartered at Vesta.

Ion or fusion? Why the Polaris Relay Tender runs on xenon

The Polaris could have used the same helium-3 drive as the Valkyrie. We chose xenon ion propulsion instead, and the reasons say a lot about what a servicing tender actually does all day.

Kronos Ice Consortium takes delivery of 3 Nimbus Gas Skimmer

Halcyon Stellar Works has delivered 3 Nimbus Gas Skimmer hulls to Kronos Ice Consortium. The company was founded in 2156 and is headquartered at Titan.

Why we built the Tempest Ice Runner

Customers kept asking for a Outer-system ice transport that was cheaper to run, simpler to crew and easier to maintain far from home. The Tempest Ice Runner, which first flew on August 2183, is our answer.

Kestrel technical specifications explained

This post goes through the published specifications of the Kestrel, a Light shuttle in service since its first flight on September 2179. If you are comparing ships for your fleet, start here.

Keeping Mars talking: a week of Polaris relay servicing at Phobos

Partner success manager Olusegun Bello follows a Polaris Relay Tender crew as they refuel and upgrade the relay network that connects Mars to the rest of the system.

People of Halcyon: Leilani Akana

Behind every ship there are people. This month we introduce Leilani Akana, Cockpit UX Designer in Design.

Preview: Osaka Autonomy Hackathon

Osaka Autonomy Hackathon is coming up on 22 November 2026 at Halcyon Osaka Campus, Bayfront Lab, Asia-Pacific. This hackathon is hosted by Halcyon Stellar Works.

People of Halcyon: Ingrid Solberg

Behind every ship there are people. This month we introduce Ingrid Solberg, Chief Executive Officer in Executive.

Why Bluewater Orbital Medical Trust chose the Wren Microlifter

When Bluewater Orbital Medical Trust wanted more capacity for its L5 Lagrange Station business, it compared ships from every major yard. In the end it ordered 6 Wren Microlifter hulls from Halcyon Stellar Works.

Fleet expansion: 1 × Gravitas Dock Barge for Pacifica Launch Services

Pacifica Launch Services has added 1 examples of the Gravitas Dock Barge to its fleet. The handover ceremony took place at the Kepler Yards, with crews from Asia-Pacific on hand to accept the keys.

The Aurora Mk II leaves the cradle

A new Interceptor / fast courier has joined the Halcyon catalogue. The Aurora Mk II lifted off for its maiden sortie on April 2183, and the flight crew came back grinning.

Fleet expansion: 9 × Cascade Dropship for New Dawn Settlement Authority

New Dawn Settlement Authority has added 9 examples of the Cascade Dropship to its fleet. The handover ceremony took place at the Kepler Yards, with crews from Mars on hand to accept the keys.