France, Germany and Italy dispute fate of next-generation launcher

Humans could follow gravity 'rivers' beyond earth orbit

Says developing launcher replacements in Japan will only become harder

The rocket's first commercial satcom mission must be judged a failure

Aviation Week & Space Technology spotlights 40 rising stars under the age of 40, including several involved in the aftermarket.

PARIS and NAPLES, Italy - Repurposing Soviet-era ballistic missiles to serve as small-satellite launchers is turning out to be more costly than expected, leaving an opening for players in Europe and elsewhere to field vehicles that could take up the slack. (Photo: Kosmotras)

The U.S. Air Force boosted Boeing's third GPS IIF satellite into orbit last week, a spacecraft that is the first to include a fix to the xenon bulb in the cesium clock that is designed to address a problem found on the second IIF, while operating in orbit. Boeing built the satellite for a 12-year design life, and it is slated to be turned over to USAF controllers for testing next month after initial on-orbit checkout, says Paul Rossnock, Boeing vice president for government space systems.

President Barack Obama's widely panned debate included criticism for his lack of interest and intensity. The lackluster performance extended to the few areas in which aerospace and defense entered the discussion, as Obama opted to ignore messages that resonate with Americans in favor of dusting off an old battle that never took off. And his attacks on Mitt Romney's proposal to spend 4% of GDP on defense during a time of tight budgets went nowhere.