Launch pad abort trials are first key test for spacecraft that could first carry humans in 2016

Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corp. are in the midst of key tests and final critical design reviews (CDR) as NASA prepares to award Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts under the second phase of its plan to certify a U.S.-developed means of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station starting in 2017.

Many all-electric satellites are in the works, but sales remain slow

Crimea is a wild card in U.S. launch plans

"We believe it's under control at this time," ISS commander Steve Swanson informs NASA's Mission Control.

‘Alpha’ SSP concept would start small with high-bandwidth wireless

Engineers around the world are pushing space solar power (SSP) concepts as the technology to build them advances and the need for such an alternative energy source becomes more apparent.

Space solar power is free; getting it will not be cheap