by David Todd | Dec 2, 2015 | Launches, Technology
The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has scrapped development of its fast response, low cost Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) launch vehicle after two subsystem test explosions. The ALASA system used an air-launched 7.3m rocket dropped...
by David Todd | Dec 2, 2015 | NASA, SLS, Technology
During November, NASA selected Aerojet Rocketdyne of Sacramento, California, to restart production of the former Space Shuttle main engine – the RS-25D – in its new RS-25E expendable guise engine for the administration’s heavy lift rocket, Space...
by David Todd | Nov 27, 2015 | exploration, Science, Technology
Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining company, has, in a news release, applauded the US Senate and President Obama for allowing the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (H.R. 2262) to go into law. While the International Outer Space Treaty officially...
by David Todd | Nov 25, 2015 | Personal spaceflight, Space tourism, Suborbital, Technology
On 23 November 2015, the Jeff Bezos-led Blue Origin company made a significant advance in its suborbital test programme when its New Shepard space vehicle successfully breached 100km of space by flying to 100.5km (329,839 feet), and returning to Earth to land back at...
by David Todd | Nov 18, 2015 | ESA, Satellites, Technology
In its effort to improve the commercial prospects of Europe’s satellite bus/platform designs in the commercial communications arena, the European Space Agency agreed at a €107 million funding tranche via a Neosat contract with Airbus Defence and Space to develop...
by David Todd | Nov 16, 2015 | ESA, Launches, Technology
The “lucky little rocket” Vega continues to survive and even prosper in spite of its great expense. At the Reinventing Space (RISPACE) conference, held in Oxford in November, Markus Bertschi, Head of Exploitation and Launch Ranges at ESA’s Directorate of Launchers,...
