Space

A number of new and potential partners are helping CNES expand the range and scope of its mission in space.

Seeking to capitalize on steady growth in Earth observation, European satellite manufacturers are taking steps to boost output as export customers materialize among emerging space economies.

NASA’s planned mission to Jupiter moon Europa will use new instruments to look for conditions suitable for life.

A spate of Proton launch mishaps has created a de facto duopoly of Arianespace and SpaceX, two companies vying to dominate the global commercial launch market.

Aerojet Rocketdyne seeks sole-source contract to produce expendable engines for NASA’s heavy-lift Space Launch System.

Leading-edge technologies and groundbreaking products highlight offerings from four small exhibitors in Paris.

The U.S. Air Force is investigating an accidental release of sensitive information that occurred leading up to the June 2 request for proposals for the service’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.

Few fireworks are expected at Paris this year, but retrenching and refocusing of products will be highlighted in all arenas—commercial, defense, space and technology.

SpaceX clears hurdle to take on ULA: First up, a battle for GPS III

Los Angeles -- Boeing has been awarded the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from NASA, marking a key milestone in the agency’s five-year effort to develop an indigenous U.S. capability to launch American astronauts to low earth orbit.

The United Launch Alliance is no longer the only rocket manufacturer capable of winning national security missions in the U.S.

“Our goal is to build rocket engine parts up to 10 times faster and reduce cost by more than 50%,” says Chris Protz, lead engineer on the project at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. “We are developing a repeatable process that industry can adopt to manufacture engine parts with advanced designs.”

Astrosat, India’s first astronomy-centered satellite, is set for launch in about five months; the parameters of the spacecraft are “normal, which indicates everything is functioning well,” ISRO states.

Vricon aims to reduce the cost and increase the speed of 3-D images for the military, intelligence and civilian customers.

Real-time space vehicle data will help the FAA deploy dynamic protective boundaries around a plethora of space activities set to begin in the next few years.

Aerojet consortium may challenge ULA’s monopoly of national security launch market.

A longtime space-engineering company is about to take the plunge into commercial space with a commercial hyperspectral imager for the International Space Station.

The U.S. space agency faces a $150 million bill to human-rate an upper stage for one flight.

An alignment problem with the massive friction-stir-welding tool built to manufacture NASA’s SLS tanks is causing some consternation, but overall the design appears sound.

The bill is expected to support the Obama administration’s $1.1 billion request for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle to carry humans deep into space, including to Mars.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security CEO walks Aviation Week editors through the company’s recent realignment and answers questions about the state of the industry and Boeing’s plans on major defense and space programs.

Once a monopoly, ULA is countering a two-front attack from SpaceX and, now, Aerojet Rocketdyne.

NASA engineers think they can put four humans in orbit around Mars during the 2033 launch window— without increasing the space agency’s budget.

A key NASA technology goal poses problems in the construction of lightweight propellant tanks.

NASA division issues draft RFP for U.S. launch companies interested in inaugurating the Venture Class Launch Services dedicated to cubesat missions.