Space

Captive carry tests of Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne low-cost space launch system began on Nov. 18.

China is drawing on existing technology with a proposed new manned launch vehicle, Moon rocket and is tweaking the design to make its Long March 8 reusable. Keep listening as Aviation Week editors reveal details of the Chinese space program and commercial endeavors by Rocketlab and SpaceX.

A $3 billion upgrade is nearing completion, positioning Iridium ahead of a bevy of competitors vying for global mobile communications business

With Electron launcher and Falcon 9 ride-share, dozens of entrepreneurs poised to join community of satellite operators.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Nov. 15 granted requests by SpaceX and Canada’s Telesat to expand planned broadband satellite networks.

A pair of back-to back cargo launches to the International Space station are slated this week.

Composite cryogenic propellent tank buildup marks the start of prepping Boeing’s Phantom Express spaceplane for DARPA’s XSP reusable launch vehicle program.

Multi-engine hybrid electric; Transcend picks VerdeGo hybrid; Plummet-proof blimp; Capillary ice protection.

A launcher concept displayed at Airshow China has 21 YF-100 engines for liftoff. Meanwhile, another rocket is being developed from Long March 6.

A commercial airlock module and an external payload platform will be added to the International Space Station.

NASA now considers the SpaceX Falcon 9 to be a Category 3 launch vehicle, suitable for flying its most expensive and critical spacecraft.

Initial survey shows planets beyond the Solar System are more plentiful than stars.

Competitors will be required to conduct two separate launches to low Earth orbit within weeks of each other from two different sites.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency looks to balance supporting the country’s aerospace industry with enabling new applications for aviation.

Baseline standards for avionics, communications, life-support, power, robotics, rendezvous operations and thermal systems expected this year.

Wright advances electric plans; Ignite will test electric drives; RemoveDebris images orbital junk; SESAR launches UAS demos; Vanuatu eyes vaccine delivery by drone.

The FAA is readying new rules and technologies to accommodate increasing launch and reentry operations by commercial space operators.

On the occasion of the state visit to France of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall and Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), signed an Executive Programme agreement setting out new areas of cooperation between the two agencies.

Flying at Mach 1.4 and 50,000 ft., the X-59 is designed to produce a sonic “thump” of less than 75 PNLdB, compared with the 105-110-PLdB “double-bang” sonic boom produced by Concorde.

Airbus and British academia are studying the potential of very large satellite communication antennas to be placed in orbit.

Prime launcher will use biopropane fuel, enabling lighter architecture and speedier turnarounds for reuse.

British smallsat launcher firm Skyrora is planning to use additive manufactured engines for its Skyrora XL smallsat launcher.

Under pressure from SpaceX, some members of the European Space Agency are already considering a successor to the in-development Ariane 6 launcher.

The Hubble Space Telescope has resumed science operations following more than three weeks of troubleshooting involving its gyroscopes.

Comprehensive captive-carry flight-test campaign awaits 747 and LauncherOne combination following successful fit check with rocket and wing pylon.