Firefly Aerospace is on track for the first flight test of its Alpha launch vehicle, a two-stage, liquid-oxygen-and-kerosene-fueled booster designed to carry 2,205 lb. to low Earth orbit.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating a deviation in the flightpath cleared for the descent of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to Spaceport America in New Mexico, following its suborbital flight with Richard Branson and five employees aboard on July 11.

Japan’s SoftBank and its subsidiary HAPSMobile are developing new high-capacity communications systems as they prepare to launch commercial services providing connectivity from the stratosphere using long-endurance unmanned aircraft.

The tests should validate launchpad infrastructure, evaluate countdown procedures and train the launch team in advance of the inaugural Vulcan mission in 2022. 

Collins Aerospace, already one of the largest commercial aerospace suppliers—let alone as part of Raytheon Technologies—is buying high-profile flight tracking data provider FlightAware.

Fledging small satellite launch provider Astra Space once again failed to reach orbit, but the booster managed 2 1/2 min. of flight time despite losing an engine less than 1 sec. after liftoff from Alaska’s Kodiak Island.

SpaceX’s 23rd NASA-contracted Dragon resupply mission capsule docked autonomously to the International Space Station’s U.S. segment on Aug. 30.

Australia’s fledgling space industry is attracting investment, with on-orbit inspection startup HEO Robotics completing a seed funding round led by British billionaire David Harding, founder and CEO of investment management company Winton Group.