Tag: Aerospace
NASA may start using private suborbital flights to train astronauts
Astronauts may make a second home of space, but even they have a first time going up. NASA is hoping to better prepare its crews for the challenges of space by sending them on suborbital flights from the likes of Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin — suggesting a potentially huge…
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NASA and SpaceX set historic first astronaut launch for May 27
NASA and SpaceX have set a specific date and time target for their historic first astronaut launch aboard a private spacecraft from U.S. soil, with a planned date of May 27 and a target liftoff time of 4:32 PM EDT (1:32 PM PDT) from Kennedy Space Center, at SpaceX’s Launch…
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In-space satellite servicing proves successful in record-breaking orbital spacecraft operation
A demonstration mission of Northrop Grumman’s first-ever Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) has proven successful, extending the life of an Intelsat satellite by five years. The mission involved Northrop’s MEV docking with Intelsat’s IS-901 satellite in orbit on February 25, after which it altered the orbit of the Intelsat spacecraft to…
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Intuitive Machines picks a launch date and landing site for 2021 Moon cargo delivery mission
The first private company scheduled to make a delivery of scientific cargo on behalf of NASA has specified a landing site, and a target date for its mission. Intuitive Machines will seek to land its Nova-C lunar lander to a site called the ‘Vallis Schröteri,’ which is the largest valley…
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Virgin Orbit completes key final test prior to first orbital demo launch
Virgin Orbit is closer than ever to its goal of launching orbital satellites from a platform carried aboard a modified 747 aircraft. The company flew a successful cryogenic captive carry test of its LauncherOne rocket, carried by the Cosmic Girl carrier aircraft. This test marks the first time that the…
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Virgin’s VOX Space snags $35 million Space Force launch contract and prepares for final test flights
VOX Space, the Virgin space subsidiary dedicated to government launches, has scored a valuable new contract with the U.S. Space Force and is about to move from testing to full operations, the company announced today. The Space Force contract is for three launches and valued at $35 million. The company…
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