Following up on a pilot program to assess the value of commercially provided weather-forecast data, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded data-purchase contracts to GeoOptics and Spire Global.
The FAA on Nov. 23 released proposed airworthiness criteria for four small unmanned aircraft systems, bringing to 10 the number of drones that are positioned to earn design approvals from the agency.
A week after sending its first space taxi to the International Space Station for NASA, SpaceX launched the flagship Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite into orbit to join spacecraft collecting key data for tracking climate change.
Supersonic business jet developer Aerion has teamed with satellite company Spire Global to supply the high-fidelity weather data critical to the aircraft maker’s goal of achieving Mach 1-plus cruise speeds without generating a sonic boom on the ground.
The FAA on Nov. 20 released for comment proposed airworthiness standards for six small unmanned aircraft systems as a step toward issuing its first-ever regulatory certifications of drone designs.
The FBI on Nov. 19 arrested a Hollywood, California, man on charges that he crashed a drone into a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter in September.
Newly emerged from bankruptcy, under new ownership and with a new CEO, OneWeb’s goal is to resume launches for its global, high-speed internet-via-satellite service on Dec. 17, the company said on Nov. 20.
A Rocket Lab Electron booster has lifted off from New Zealand, sending 30 small satellites on their way to orbit. It then turned around and parachuted into the Pacific Ocean for the first time.