Space

In this week's Washington Outlook: Vice President Pence directs National Space Council to look at human space exploration; regulatory changes for commercial space and a new security framework.

Russia delivers attack helos to Mali; Australia to buy Aegis Combat System for new frigates; Philippines weighs Super Tucano buy, India allows IPO for HAL., and U.S. prepares a spy satellite for launch.

SpaceX planning to scrap its successful Falcon rocket and Dragon capsule in high-stakes quest to expand humankind to Mars.

Airservices Australia is looking to Aireon’s space-based ADS-B as the next evolution in air-traffic control surveillance.

A manufacturing fault in a YF-77 engine caused China’s July 2 launch failure. No other Chinese rocket uses that engine type.

Tests demonstrate stable combustion and reliable start-up for the LE-9 main engine of Japan’s H3 space launcher.

International Space Station is serving as testbed for critical deep-space travel technologies, including life support, water recycling and trash management.

Lt. Gen. John Thompson is taking the reins at a critical moment for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.

International planning group envisions human missions to the Moon’s Aitkin Basin, supported by NASA’s Deep Space Gateway.

Beijing could add two or three modules to the planned three-node station if enough countries express interest.

Orbital ATK’s sale to Northrop Grumman may—or may not—be the end of an era, but it definitely is for one person.

Its satellites can connect from spot-beam to spot-beam and deliver full-motion video to small UAVs.

An emerging international space exploration road map is trying to avoid the ongoing Moon vs. Mars exploration debate by showing how NASA systems such as the proposed Deep Space Gateway, Space Launch System and Orion capsule can serve both destinations.

Russia does not plan to launch its new science lab to the International Space Station (ISS) until late 2018.

Russia probably won't detach new module from ISS to form part of new space station.

Prime, OEM and Tier 1 aerospace and defense players are buying major rivals, answering the question of how they will grow in the near- and mid-term.

Development has taken longer than expected, but engine testing is an important milestone in realizing Paul Allen’s new space vision.

The $9.2 billion acquisition may test the Trump administration, which has concern over a shrinking defense base and ordered a study and recommendations.

European Aviation Network to begin commercial service on a British Airways Airbus A321 later this year with service that uses ground and space-based assets.

North Korean missile shows ability to hit beyond Guam; MBDA chief aims for more European defense cooperation post-Brexit; India may pursue satellite to monitor border with China; Canada ups pressures on Boeing.

Stratolaunch Systems, the space launch carrier aircraft venture backed by billionaire Paul Allen, has completed the first phase of engine tests.

The U.S. Air Force says it is not seeking permission from Congress to import additional Russian-built RD-180 rocket engines beyond the 18 already authorized for Atlas V-series rocket launches.

The jury is still out on which business model and network architecture could thrive in the satellite telecommunications market in the near future.

Deal would put Northrop Grumman back in the human spaceflight business.

Only NASA’s Juno spacecraft remains in orbit around a planet beyond Mars, and its days also are numbered.