Space Industry Analysis
Feb 11, 2013
Analysis of the Jan. 31 failure of a Sea Launch Zenit-3S with a big Boeing-built Intelsat communications satellite on board will center on thrust vector control in the Russian-built RD-171 main-stage engine, adding to the woes of Russia's mishap-plagued launch vehicle industry. Efforts by Sea Launch to regain financial momentum after emerging from bankruptcy also will be more difficult. The company has no additional firm missions on its manifest.
Feb 11, 2013
The company unit will leverage its Orion crew capsule work to help Sierra Nevada Corp. human-rate its Dream Chaser.
Feb 04, 2013
The U.S. government spends more on weapons development than any other nation on the planet, but its plans for doing so are caught up in a larger financial debate.
Feb 04, 2013
Repurposing of com-sat antennas could yield substantial savings
Feb 04, 2013
NASA applies its human-spaceflight standards to lithium-ion batteries
Feb 04, 2013
The first of three advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) spacecraft, procured for $354 million each, is heading for checkout in a temporary geostationary slot after this Jan. 30 nighttime launch on an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 41.
Aug 25, 2020
As NASA addresses the hurdles of accelerating a return of humans to the Moon’s surface in 2024 and establishing a sustained presence in this decade, it is also studying how to move on to Mars in the mid-2030s using a nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) option.
Aug 21, 2020
Russia is preparing to expand its segment of the International Space Station with the 20-ton Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module.
Aug 21, 2020
The report calls on Congress to “enact, without delay, appropriations and any required authorities" for the Office of Space Commerce "to build this critical capability with requisite personnel, office infrastructure and authorities.”
Aug 21, 2020
China has verified operation of a lightweight, low-power technology for inter-satellite laser links, which should be valuable for mass constellations of low-orbit communications satellites.
Aug 21, 2020
The rate of the leak has "slightly increased, so the teams are working a plan to isolate identify, and potentially repair the source,” NASA says, stressing that it poses "no immediate danger to the crew or the space station.”
Aug 20, 2020
Resources like the vast quantities of water ice believed to reside within shadowed craters at the Moon’s south and north poles promise to reduce the costs of initial exploration substantially.
Aug 20, 2020
The combined 40-ft.-plus structure includes the Blue Origin lander and the Lockheed Martin ascent module that is expected to house NASA’s Artemis astronaut crews during their initial, weeklong lunar sorties.
Aug 20, 2020
SpaceX is sticking by its lawsuit against the U.S. military for its decision not to award it one of three design and development contracts awarded two years ago, saying the decision has inflicted “substantial harm” on the company.