Space Industry Analysis
Dec 31, 2012
The Pentagon continues to set the standard for research and development spending on missile defense, though purchases from allies are increasingly setting the production pace for regional defense systems. This trend is likely to continue in 2013, as Iran threatens Israel and other U.S. allies in the region.
Dec 31, 2012
Could optionally piloted vehicles (OPV) be the next wave in cost-effective special-mission aircraft, able to fly in civil airspace with pilot and sensor operator on board but also capable of flying unmanned for far longer duration at lower cost than the Beechcraft King Airs so favored today? Aurora Flight Sciences and Northrop Grumman would answer yes. Aurora is developing the $4.5 million Centaur OPV, and its first buyer is Switzerland's Arma-suisse, which will use it as a flying testbed for unmanned-aircraft airspace integration.
Dec 31, 2012
Displays are getting personal. As soldiers join the network they need displays, and today's ruggedized laptops are heavy, power-hungry and breakable. The push is on to field lightweight, flexible displays that can be worn on the wrist or integrated into clothing or protective eyewear. The U.S. Army is testing wrist displays, and the U.S. Air Force kneepad touchscreens, produced by L-3 Display Systems using unbreakable plastic-backed organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology from Universal Displays. These displays are small—only 4.3-in.
Dec 31, 2012
While privacy concerns bedevil efforts to integrate unmanned aircraft into U.S. national airspace, police departments across the country are pushing ahead with plans to field small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) operating under existing rules. The vehicle of choice appears to be a miniature rotorcraft, providing the ease of operation that comes with vertical-takeoff-and-landing and the ability to hover and stare. Canada's Draganfly Innovations has led development of the public-safety market with its 4.5-lb.
Dec 31, 2012
Commercial, government demand for broadband is driving market
Dec 31, 2012
After its unveiling of the J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters, it is not unimaginable that Beijing could pull off another technological surprise in 2013. Could it up the superpower stakes by testing an unmanned combat air vehicle, an air-launched strike weapon or even a mini-spaceplane? Speculation abounds.
Jul 29, 2020
A new report on the space industrial base discusses the catastrophic impact the spread of the novel coronavirus has had on space companies and how the global pandemic provides a dangerous opportunity for China and Russia to challenge or surpass the U.S. in space.
Jul 28, 2020
The failure of a high-pressure liquid-oxygen feed line triggered a premature engine shutdown during the debut flight of Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket, the company said on July 27.
Jul 28, 2020
NASA Demo-2 astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley took a look back and a look ahead during July 28 interviews aboard the International Space Station (ISS), just days before their two-month Commercial Crew Program/SpaceX test flight is scheduled to end.
Jul 24, 2020
Spaceflight’s new Sherpa-FX orbit transfer vehicle is to be deorbited after its first mission in low Earth orbit by deploying Tethers Unlimited’s drag-increasing Terminator Tape.
Jul 24, 2020
NASA’s independent Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel thinks the U.S. should take the lead in addressing the growing global threat to low Earth orbit activities posed by man-made orbital debris.
Jul 23, 2020
The Trump administration’s National Space Council on July 23 released a 17-page report outlining its approach to deep-space exploration and development.
Jul 23, 2020
The Sea Launch space program, halted by company owner Vladislav Filev after his main S7 Airlines business was devastated by COVID-19-related flight restrictions until better times, will now continue with new backing from the Russian government.
Jul 23, 2020
Russia’s MS-15 Progress resupply capsule successfully docked to the International Space Station’s (ISS) Russian segment on July 23, less than 3 1/2 hr. after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.