suborbital
Exos Aerospace reschedules first suborbital launch
Exos Aerospace, a Texas company developing a reusable suborbital rocket, now plans to carry out a first flight of its vehicle in late August as it sets its sights on a follow-on orbital vehicle.
Alaska launch shrouded in secrecy
A secretive California company carried out a suborbital launch from an Alaska spaceport July 20, but a week after the event few details about the event are clear, including its outcome.
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo takes a step closer to space
Virgin Galactic’s second SpaceShipTwo set new speed and altitude records on its third powered test flight July 26, bringing the suborbital vehicle one step closer to reaching space.
Blue Origin successfully tests escape system in latest New Shepard launch
Blue Origin conducted a successful test flight of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle July 18 that demonstrated its crew capsule escape system.
Blue Origin plans to start selling tickets in 2019 for suborbital spaceflights
Blue Origin expects to start flying people on its New Shepard suborbital vehicle “soon” and start selling tickets for commercial flights next year, a company executive said June 19.
Blue Origin plans to start selling suborbital spaceflight tickets next year
Blue Origin expects to start flying people on its New Shepard suborbital vehicle “soon” and start selling tickets for commercial flights next year, a company executive said June 19.
Second SpaceShipTwo makes second powered test flight
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane performed a successful test flight May 29, bringing the company one step closer to realizing its long-delayed dreams of space tourism and research flights.
New Shepard reaches space on eighth test flight
Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle performed its first suborbital test flight in more than four months April 29 as the company moves a step closer to flying people.
Two commercial suborbital launches delayed
Two commercial suborbital launches scheduled for late last week, one a test flight of an orbital launch vehicle and the other of a suborbital research vehicle, have been postponed.
Second SpaceShipTwo performs first powered test flight
Virgin Galactic’s second SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle successfully performed its first powered flight April 5, the first such test flight since a fatal crash nearly three and a half years ago.
Exos Aerospace prepares for first suborbital launch
With a key test completed and a launch license in hand, Exos Aerospace is preparing for the first flight of its reusable suborbital rocket in April.
SpaceShipTwo performs glide flight in advance of powered tests
Virgin Galactic conducted its first test flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle in more than five months Jan. 11 as the company prepares to begin powered test flights of the vehicle.
Report calls for ISS research transition plan and use of alternative platforms
With utilization of the ISS reaching a maximum, and with its long-term future uncertain, a recent report recommends that NASA develop transition plans and make use of alternative platforms, including commercial vehicles, to carry out critical microgravity research.
NASA willing to consider flying researchers on commercial suborbital vehicles
As commercial suborbital vehicles capable of carrying both payloads and people prepare to enter service, NASA officials say they’re willing to consider allowing agency-funded researchers to fly on those vehicles.
Blue Origin a year away from crewed New Shepard flights
After carrying out a successful test flight of a new version of its New Shepard suborbital spacecraft, a Blue Origin executive said Dec. 18 that the company was now about a year away from starting to fly people.
Virgin Galactic signs SpaceShipTwo research flight deal with Italian space agency
Virgin Galactic will carry out a dedicated research flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane for the Italian space agency ASI, with an Italian payload specialist on board, under an agreement announced Dec. 18.
