What happened in 2025:
The absolute highlight of the year was meeting Lina Borozin in Las Vegas. Lina flew into space on VG flight number 6. I got a lot of information from her about what space flight is like and various practical tips.
Virgin Galactic:
VG is building several new Delta-class rockets. I have received several videos of them during the year showing how the construction is progressing. This year VG did not make any space flights.
CanSat 2025:
I participated in the CanSat2025 competition in Vaasa as a field expert for the fourth time. I helped students pack the payload, or CanSat satellite, into the rockets of the Finnish Space Research Society. It was again great to see the students' enthusiasm and also to watch the flights of the CanSat rockets.
My own rockets:
I made a big Katana rocket and launched it into the sky several times. The rocket is 190 cm long, weighs 3 kilos and is made of a 100 mm tube. The highest flight was in Vaasa, when the rocket reached an altitude of 1300 meters and the instantaneous speed was 800 kilometers per hour. In Vaasa, I also completed the Tripoli Rocketry Association L1 license, which entitles you to buy large rocket engines. There are about 10 people in Finland who have an L1 license.
I also made and launched smaller rockets. I can shoot small rockets in my own backyard. The big ones that fly high need permits to shoot.
Rocket-Uno:
The Rocket-Uno got a new roof and other updates. Now it is starting to be ready:)
International UFO conference:
I attended the UFO conference organized in Espoo. What a memorable event!
Finnish Space Research Society:
In 2025, I was the vice-chairman of the Finnish Space Research Society and was involved in various rocket projects.
What I expect from 2026:
Virgin Galactic:
Virgin Galactic will have its first Delta rockets ready and will do the first test flights into space. Commercial flights are scheduled to begin later this year. VG made a total of 7 commercial flights in 2023 and 2024. There will be several Delta rockets built, so VG can make flights every week in the future. My flight number is around 35. My own flight is possible in late 2026. In 2026, I might also go to a VG meeting. I haven't met my space friends in a few years, except for Lina, who I met in Las Vegas.
CanSat 2026:
I will be attending the CanSat 2026 event in the spring in Vaasa. I'm going there for the fifth time with the Finnish Space Research Society. This time, 16 teams are coming to Vaasa. We plan to launch 16 rockets during one day, so it will be busy.
I also plan to launch my own rockets in Vaasa. If the weather is favorable in Vaasa and I have enough time, I will try to launch 2 of my own rockets. The names of the rockets are Katana and Blackhawk 38.
Finnish Space Research Society:
I will continue to be the vice-chairman of the Finnish Space Research Society and I am involved in various rocket projects.
Happy New Year!
Links
Lina Borozina
https://en.suomalainenastronautti.fi/blog/2025/12/04/49842
Building Virgin Galactic rockets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97qBfuuokKA
CanSat
https://en.suomalainenastronautti.fi/blog/2025/04/09/48515
Tripoli Rocketry Association L1
https://www.tripoli.org/Level1
My own Katana rocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWFZWhMwpPo&t=5s
Blackhawk 38:
https://wildmanrocketry.com/products/blackhawk-38?srsltid=AfmBOopf39EoOn6gDxkRrmw5j9GqAy0gBvbRVNYCuAOrrSneMd9ac9wS
Rocket-Uno:
https://en.suomalainenastronautti.fi/blog/2025/08/26/49307
Ufo conference:
https://en.suomalainenastronautti.fi/blog/2025/09/07/49385
