Launch
SpaceX presses on with legal fight against U.S. Air Force over rocket contracts
SpaceX has asked the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California to hold a hearing on March 2 to consider the company’s protest against the U.S. Air Force.
Op-ed | A Space Force needs spaceships
The U.S. Space Force must acquire responsive, routine, and reliable access to space — starting with launch systems optimize for reaching low Earth orbit (LEO).
Boeing drops out of DARPA Experimental Spaceplane program
Boeing has decided to no longer continue development of an experimental suborbital spaceplane for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the latest setback for DARPA’s long-running efforts in space access.
Satellite propulsion startup Dawn Aerospace developing small launch vehicle
A green propulsion startup with more than $1 million in sales says it is gaining traction in the smallsat market while funding its own small launch vehicle.
Rocket Lab to launch small satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office
Named “Birds of a Feather,” the mission is scheduled to lift off Jan. 31 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
SpaceX performs in-flight abort test of Crew Dragon spacecraft
SpaceX successfully tested the abort system of its Crew Dragon spacecraft Jan. 19, one of the final milestones before a crewed test flight that could take place as soon as this spring.
SpaceX to test Crew Dragon launch abort system
NASA and SpaceX are ready to perform a test of the launch abort system of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft that will also serve as a dress rehearsal of sorts for upcoming crewed flights of the vehicle.
Arianespace launches Eutelsat, ISRO satellites on first 2020 mission
WASHINGTON — European launch provider Arianespace completed its first launch of the year Jan. 16, sending two communications satellites into geostationary transfer orbits.
China launches Yinhe-1 commercial low Earth orbit 5G satellite
HELSINKI — China carried out its second orbital launch in just over 24 hours late Wednesday, sending the Yinhe-1 commercial 5G satellite into low Earth orbit.
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UAE’s Falcon Eye 2 satellite switched from Vega to Soyuz
Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said Airbus, the satellite’s manufacturer, asked to switch from Vega to Soyuz to avoid further delays getting Falcon Eye 2 into orbit.
Independent study of launch market says U.S. Air Force should support three domestic providers
In response to concerns about its launch procurement strategy, the Air Force asked RAND to conduct an independent analysis of the heavy lift launch market.
Small launch startup ABL Space Systems to test rocket hardware at Edwards Air Force Base
A key capability that AFRL wants to demonstrate with ABL Space Systems is remote launch.
Arianespace could launch record 22 missions in 2020
Arianespace is poised to launch up to 22 missions this year, a number that would nearly double the company’s record.
Starlink’s busy launch schedule is workable, says 45th Space Wing
The rapid growth in Starlink missions means the 48 launch target could be attained in 2020.
ESA selects Arianespace for Euclid dark universe probe launch
Arianespace and ESA announced the signing of a contract Tuesday for launch of the Euclid dark universe exploration mission.
SpaceX becomes operator of world’s largest commercial satellite constellation with Starlink launch
SpaceX launched 60 of its own Starlink broadband satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket Jan. 6, becoming the operator of the world’s largest commercial satellite constellation.
