Commercial Space

The future of the International Space Station hinges on expanding the number and type of commercial users, but NASA policy bans publicity and advertising.

The new space economy is beginning to diversify with service providers eyeing the smallsat community and beyond.

Boeing has found the cause of a propellant leak during a June hot-fire test of the CST-100 Starliner launch abort engines.

LeoLabs plans to expand its commercial low-Earth-orbit mapping capabilities with new funding from Airbus and other investors.

Centaur upper stage gets a second RL10 engine to accommodate space station crew taxi fights.

The tsunami of sensor data presents opportunities and challenges for satellite operators and service providers.

Startup Astrobotic aims to deliver payloads to the lunar surface once a year, starting with the first flight scheduled for 2020.

With Russian rides to space station ending, pressure builds on Boeing and SpaceX to finish and fly their vehicles without shortcutting safety.

New detail emerges about SpaceX’s "giant party balloon" upper-stage recovery studies.

As NASA prepares for start of commercial spaceflight, ‘load and go’ is among operational alternatives it will assess as a system.

Simultaneous solicitations for payloads and flight services could return U.S. to the lunar surface as early as 2019.

SpaceX plans novel test of booster’s reusability by flying it twice in 24 hr.

SpaceX’s Block 5 is optimized for rapid reusability and multiple reflights, designed to meet the needs of its U.S. government and commercial customers.

To support a higher flight rate, the company sought out and adopted manufacturing processes and personnel from other industries.

More SS2s are in production as The Spaceship Co. broadens its portfolio to include other aerospace and transport products.

Analysis of Virgin Galactic’s initial test flight of the SS2 shows the spacecraft performed as well as, or in some cases better, than model-based predictions.

Commerce secretary pushes greater U.S. share of the global space economy.

ULA CEO Tony Bruno has bold claims for the company’s space propulsion module, which starts off as an upper stage on ULA’s planned Vulcan rocket.

U.S. Air Force mulls bids to ensure at least two commercially viable orbital space transport systems from 2022. Rockets with Russian engines need not apply.

Manufacturers diversify spacecraft and operating orbits to keep up with changing markets.

The company aims to put 200 kg into orbit every 72 hr. Photo: Rocket Lab

Blue is aiming to compete for U.S. national security space launch business, putting it in direct competition with one of its first industry partners, ULA.

Aviation Week editors talk with Airbus Space Chief about the OneWeb venture into the small satellite, low Earth orbit market and navigating the dramatic changes in the industry.

Swarm Technologies’ four prototypes flew aboard an Indian rocket in January. The FAA says they are too small to be detected by the Space Surveillance Network.

Intelsat is driving innovation in the way it transmits data to smaller and smaller terminals and in its business models.