Space

By Bill Carey
The FAA plans to transition a new rocket tracking capability from test to operational status in June, providing a way to reduce flight disruptions as the pace of commercial space launches increases.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Graham Warwick
Constellation operator OneWeb is to lead a consortium of UK companies in developing a next-generation beam-hopping low Earth orbit communications satellite.
Commercial Space

By Thierry Dubois
The Court of Justice of the European Union has dismissed OHB System’s request to reverse the European Space Agency’s decision to exclude the company from a program creating the second generation of Galileo navigation satellites.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA is unlikely to achieve the 2024 goal of returning human explorers to the Moon’s surface set by the Trump White House in 2019, according to a second doubtful assessment from the U.S. Government Accountability Office within a week.
Space

By Maxim Pyadushkin
Russia and Saudi Arabia are preparing a joint crewed space mission, according to Russian Vice Premier Alexander Novak.
Defense

By Irene Klotz
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket delivered the 29th batch of Starlink satellites into orbit on May 26 as the company expanded beta trials of its high-speed internet service to Belgium and the Netherlands.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
Questions surround NASA’s strategy for transitioning human activities in low Earth orbit from the aging International Space Station (ISS) to multiple commercial free flyers, with potential industry partners curious about the agency’s funding commitment.
Space

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has opened a new $12.8 million facility focused on integrating space research and development programs at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
Space

By Irene Klotz
CAPE CANAVERAL—The U.S. plans to spend $2.5 billion over the next 10 years on a fleet of five new spacecraft to improve monitoring of Earth’s changing climate, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said on May 25.
Space

By Irene Klotz, Mark Carreau
Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who holds the U.S. record for cumulative time spent in space, plans to return to orbit, this time as commander of a private mission to the International Space Station for Houston-based Axiom Space.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Fresh off new venture capital funding, small-rocket, mass-manufacturing startup Phantom Space is aiming to broaden its business model through the recent acquisition of StratSpace, a consultancy and developer of bespoke space systems and flight hardware.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
British spaceports will be able to apply for operating licenses this summer, paving the way for launch from the UK mainland in 2022.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA has issued a draft plan for the first phase of its Commercial LEO Destinations program, which seeks to spur the initial development of two to four commercial free flyers as successors to the International Space Station.
Space

By Lee Hudson, Steve Trimble
U.S. Space Force declassifies program that replaces part of J-Stars mission.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Maxim Pyadushkin
The rover rolled down the landing platform and started patrolling the surface on the southern part of Utopia Planitia, a 3,300-km-wide (2,051-mi.) plain in Mars’ northern hemisphere.
Space

By Irene Klotz, Guy Norris
After a six-month hiatus to resolve electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity successfully completed a flight
Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA’s major programs face mounting cost and schedule challenges, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s latest annual assessment for Congress.
Space

By Irene Klotz
With blessings from the U.S. Space Force, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is shifting the first national security space launch (NSSL) mission planned for a Vulcan Centaur rocket onto an Atlas V, buying time to complete two non-NSSL launches which are needed to certify the new booster for military missions.
Commercial Space

By Graham Warwick
Looking ahead to the need to build bases on the Moon and Mars, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has conducted experiments with the remote control and automated operation of construction equipment.
Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei could remain aboard the International Space Station long enough to set a new record for a single U.S. spaceflight, a NASA official says.
Space

By Irene Klotz, Maxim Pyadushkin
On its first solo foray to Mars, China pulls off a tricky descent and landing.
Space

By Michael Bruno
Aerojet Rocketdyne has agreed to pay a $37,008 fine to the U.S. government and worked to significantly change its hiring practices to include lawful permanent residents at U.S. sites.
Commercial Space

By Graham Warwick
The European Space Agency has selected two consortia to define an infrastructure to provide commercial communication and navigation services for lunar exploration.
Space

By Irene Klotz, Guy Norris
Potential issues with the WhiteKnightTwo carrier jet for Virgin Galactic’s air-launched SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane have been resolved, clearing the way for the company to resume flight tests as early as May 22, pending weather and technical checks.
Commercial Space

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. is building two new constellations for satellites that transfer strategic and classified information.
Space