suborbital
Bezos to go on first crewed New Shepard flight
Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man and founder of Blue Origin, announced June 7 that he will go on the first crewed flight of the company’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle next month.
Virgin Galactic signs contract for suborbital research mission
Virgin Galactic has signed an agreement to fly a private researcher on a future suborbital flight, part of efforts diversify its business beyond space tourism.
SpaceShipTwo makes first flight to space from New Mexico
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo made its first flight to space in more than two years May 22, completing the first in a series of four suborbital flights planned by the company over the next several months.
Virgin Galactic schedules next SpaceShipTwo test flight for May 22
Virgin Galactic will attempt its next SpaceShipTwo suborbital test flight as soon as May 22 after resolving concerns about the maintenance of its carrier aircraft.
Aircraft issue could delay resumption of SpaceShipTwo test flights
Virgin Galactic said May 10 that while it believes it corrected a problem with its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane that aborted a test flight five months ago, the resumption of those test flights could be further delayed by a problem with the plane that carries SpaceShipTwo aloft.
Blue Origin aces dress rehearsal for New Shepard crewed flights
Blue Origin completed another test flight of its New Shepard vehicle April 14, putting the company on the verge of finally flying people.
Blue Origin to perform dress rehearsal for crewed New Shepard flights
A test flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle, scheduled for as soon as April 14, will be a dress rehearsal for long-awaited crewed flights.
Virgin Galactic unveils new suborbital spaceplane
Virgin Galactic revealed its latest suborbital spaceplane March 30, a vehicle that looks similar to its existing SpaceShipTwo but incorporates significant structural improvements.
Blue Origin to simulate lunar gravity on suborbital flights for NASA
NASA has signed an agreement with Blue Origin to use that company’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle for flights that will simulate the reduced gravity on the surface of the moon.
Op-ed | Advancing science through human-tended suborbital experiments on commercial vehicles
Scientists are betting on commercial reusable suborbital vehicles to advance the next frontier of science.
Virgin Galactic further delays SpaceShipTwo test flights
Virgin Galactic says it is delaying the next test flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle by more than two months to address technical issues, part of a revamped flight test program that will postpone flights of space tourists to 2022.
SpaceX Starship crashes after suborbital flight
A second prototype of SpaceX’s Starship reusable launch vehicle performed a suborbital flight Feb. 2, only to crash while landing.
Virgin Galactic to resume SpaceShipTwo test flights in mid-February
Virgin Galactic announced Feb. 1 that the company will launch its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane in mid-February, two months after a technical problem aborted an earlier launch attempt.
Blue Origin launches New Shepard vehicle intended for crewed flights
Blue Origin flew a new model of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle Jan. 14, a flight the company says brings it “really close” to finally flying people.
Blue Origin preparing for next New Shepard flight
Blue Origin is gearing up for the next test flight of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle as soon as Jan. 14.
