Irene Klotz

Senior Space Editor

Cape Canaveral, FL

Summary

Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International. She also worked with Discovery Communications, Discovery News and was a founding member of Space.com.

Irene cut her teeth on the space beat at Florida Today newspaper, a business writer enchanted by the colorful entrepreneurs who wanted access to Air Force launch facilities and assets after commercial payloads were taken off the space shuttles following the 1986 Challenger accident. Commercial space remains the focus of her work, along with a keen interest in the search for life beyond Earth.

A graduate of Northwestern University, Irene is the 2014 recipient of the Harry Kolcum Memorial News and Communications Award, named in honor of the late Aviation Week managing editor and Cape Canaveral senior editor who was among Irene’s earliest mentors.

Articles

By Irene Klotz
A decade ago, SpaceX launched six Falcon 9 rockets in a year—now, it could be on track for an orbital launch rate of 136 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy flights.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
Blue Origin reiterated its plan to launch the first New Glenn orbital rocket this month, with a key static hot-fire of the reusable first stage still pending.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
SpaceX passed on trying to bring the Super Heavy booster that launched a Starship spacecraft Nov. 19 back to its launch tower, due to a communications glitch.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion