Mars could get pretty congested with spacecraft in early 2021 thanks to an emerging global lineup of missions eager to take advantage of a mid-2020 launch opportunity.
SpaceX’s 10th NASA-contracted resupply mission reached the International Space Station early Feb. 23, delivering a significant science cargo among its 5,500 lb. of food, crew supplies and equipment.
President Donald Trump said Feb. 23 that two allied countries which had not been allowed to buy fighters from the U.S. will be authorized to do so, with the expectation that they will only buy American.
Master aerospace acquirer TransDigm Group said Feb. 22 it acquired the stock of Schroth Safety Products of Germany and certain aviation and defense assets and liabilities from subsidiaries of Takata.
A startup providing UAV airspace management services has secured $26 million in financing from the venture-capital arms of Airbus, Microsoft and Qualcomm.
The discovery of seven Earth-like planets orbiting a relatively close star may accelerate the search for biosignatures beyond the Solar System as new telescopes come online.
The head of Boeing’s weapons division believes the Lockheed Martin F-35’s moving-target conundrum could be solved by bringing forward integration of the dual-mode, 500-lb. (227-kg) GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition and GBU-39 Laser Small Diameter Bomb.
The British and French governments have contracted missile manufacturer MBDA to begin a midlife refurbishment program for two nations’ stocks of air-launched cruise missiles.
LOCKHEED MARTIN’s second T-50A trainer prototype conducted first flight Feb. 20 over Greenville, South Carolina. LEONARDO has SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE contract to provide PicoSAR AESA radar to French army. LOCKHEED MARTIN’s modernized Tactical Missile System (TACMS) had two successful flights at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in December and early February.
On Wednesday a Russian government Soyuz rocket is due to launch the 66th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station in a mission repeatedly delayed from earlier in the month. Meanwhile, the International Defense Exhibition and Conference is underway this week in Abu Dhabi, and on Wednesday and Thursday the 33rd meeting of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group takes place in Monrovia, California.
SpaceX’s 10th NASA-contracted resupply mission capsule carried out an onboard computer-commanded abort of its automated approach to the International Space Station early Feb. 22 because of an apparent relative navigation error.
Russia’s Progress MS-05 resupply mission spacecraft was on course for an automated docking with the six-person International Space Station early Feb. 24 following a successful liftoff.
Airbus is seeking to “re-engage” with its A400M customers after taking a €2.2 billion ($2.31 billion) charge due to ongoing delays and technical issues with the airlifter.
Russia and India have agreed on the terms for the next phase of cooperation on the T-50 fighter program but have not yet committed to them, United Aircraft Corp. says.
Having completed its initial flight evaluation in October, the first explosive trial of Norway’s newest anti-ship cruise missile will be against a target on dry land in early 2018.
