Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz, Robert Wall
A number of initiatives were disclosed, but the talk of the show was SpaceX’s Starship booster catch, which happened just ahead of the IAC opening.
Space Exploration

By Robert Wall
Reaching the Moon to do something useful there involves preparation—which is now underway as agencies and companies aim to return humans to the lunar surface.
Space Exploration

By Robert Wall
Intelsat has lost power on one of its satellites serving Europe, Africa and some of Asia-Pacific, and it will likely be unable to recover the spacecraft.
Satellites

By Irene Klotz
The company, which has about 700 employees, cut about 30 jobs, but is hiring for about 55 positions.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
Landing of the Starship upper stage is targeted for early 2025.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
A Google-backed nonprofit is leaning heavily on deploying artificial intelligence to detect fires.
Satellites

By Irene Klotz
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson plans a near-space ride as co-pilot for Space Perspective’s first crewed balloon flight into the stratosphere.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
The flight, which will take place from Rocket Lab’s Mahia, New Zealand Launch Complex, will be the 12th Electron mission of the year.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The company completed an internal CDR and has now begun the iterative process of finalizing the review with NASA.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
The total size of the constellation is now 13 spacecraft.
Satellites

By Mark Carreau
The decision to proceed awaits further assessment of the weather outlook scheduled for Oct. 18.
Operations & Safety

By Robert Wall
The deorbit vehicle effectively needs to complete its mission within about 18 months of launch.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Chen Chuanren
ShinMaywa began research on a light material UAS in 2017, and following positive tests and commissioning by METI started the XU-S II project in fiscal 2024.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
Axiom Space says it is on track to deliver the spacesuits for the Artemis III mission and is stepping up testing to validate its design.
Operations & Safety

By Mark Carreau
NASA is designating SpaceX for the two Crew Dragon missions associated with the semiannual exchange of astronauts and Russian cosmonauts to the ISS.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Garrett Reim
The company, based in Munich, has two satellites in orbit and plans to launch eight cubesats in 2025, it says on its website.
Satellites

By Garrett Reim
Impulse Space will provide its Mira spacecraft to Anduril, which will integrate its own payloads as well as third-party payloads, the companies said Oct. 11.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
Vast Space on Oct. 14 unveiled plans for a follow-on Haven-2 station that will compete for CLD funding in an expected NASA 2026 award.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
The funds will be used to conduct connectivity tests, as well as engineering studies of the company’s first two satellites.
Satellites

By Garrett Reim
Magnets guide construction of geodesic space structures that could be built larger than launch vehicles.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster flew itself back to its Boca Chica Beach, Texas, launchpad where it was caught by a pair of mechanical arms on the gantry.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
Commercial remote sensing capabilities are proliferating around the world, but U.S. restrictions could limit its global influence.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz, Joe Anselmo, Michael Bruno
Nelson talks with Aviation Week about the role private companies will play and his concerns about China’s ambitions on the Moon.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Robert Wall, Thierry Dubois
PLD Space’s ambitious vision injects a sense of entrepreneurial spirit into Europe’s space programs as the region worries about its global competitiveness.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz, Mark Carreau, Vivienne Machi
With a second successful flight, United Launch Alliance’s new rocket is ready to take on military and commercial missions.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion