Launch
Smith to continue to press for change in national security space launch program
Smith so far has not been happy with the Air Force’s response to his concerns about the launch program.
Paying for Artemis: How much will it cost to go back to the moon?
NASA has laid out a rough plan for what it now calls the Artemis program, including what needs to be built — SLS and Orion, a “minimal” Gateway and lunar landers — and how it can come together in time for a 2024 landing. What the agency has been less forthcoming about, though, is how much it will cost.
House Armed Services’ space launch legislation revised in 11th-hour deal
The amended language retained two key provisions that help SpaceX and Blue Origin, and removed two others that were opposed by ULA.
Machinists union mobilizing to defeat HASC chairman’s space launch legislation
A bipartisan amendment to strike Smith’s space launch provisions is expected to be offered by Colorado lawmakers Lamborn and Crow.
Long-delayed NASA technology demonstration payloads finally set for launch
After years of delays, a group of NASA technology demonstration payloads is finally set to lift off on a Falcon Heavy later this month.
SpaceX gets a boost from House Armed Services Committee 2020 NDAA markup
Smith’s mark does not disrupt the LSP schedule and only directs some changes to the rules of the competition.
Virgin Orbit takes OneWeb to court over canceled launch contract
According to a complaint Virgin Orbit filed June 4 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, OneWeb canceled 35 of its planned 39 launches last June, triggering a $70 million termination fee.
China gains new flexible launch capabilities with first sea launch
The Long March 11 solid propellant light launch vehicle lifted off from a mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea June 5 at 12:06 a.m. Eastern, with launch success declared within half an hour.
First Proton of the year launches Gazprom communications satellite
A Russian Proton rocket launched the Yamal-601 communications satellite for Gazprom Space Systems May 30, completing the first of six Proton missions planned for this year.
Northrop Grumman to investigate anomaly after OmegA’s first rocket motor test
Northrop Grumman on Thursday conducted a full-scale static fire test of the first stage of OmegA.
NASA seeks a rapid launch of a lunar lander
Although NASA’s new goal of landing humans on the moon in five years may sound aggressive, most of the hardware needed to carry out that mission is already, or soon will be, under development.
SASC bill directs DoD to make use of commercial spaceports for small satellite launches
The small launch amendments made it into the SASC markup that the committee voted in a closed session May 22 to advance to the Senate floor.
SpaceX raises over $1 billion through two funding rounds
The filings show SpaceX sold all but $18.8 million of the shares available between the two rounds. The company raised $1.022 billion in total.
SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites, begins constellation buildout
The rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, and deployed the satellites into a low Earth orbit a little over an hour later.
China suffers Long March 4 failure
A Long March 4C rocket carrying the Yaogan-33 reconnaissance satellite failed following its May 23 liftoff, Chinese state-run media confirmed.
SpaceX launches new legal battle against U.S. Air Force
Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance have filed 'motions to intervene' in the lawsuit filed by SpaceX against the U.S. government
