Space

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center May 4 on its 26th mission delivering small Starlink internet connectivity satellites in low Earth orbit.

Startup Eta Space is to demonstrate technologies for propellant depots in space under a NASA contract to build a test payload for launch into low Earth orbit in late 2023 on a Rocket Lab Photon satellite.

Sierra Nevada Corp.’s (SNC) commercial space enterprise plans to land, service, and launch the company’s winged reusable Dream Chaser from Cape Canaveral on cargo missions to the International Space Station.

The manufacturer spent January through April and $3 million trying to recover SXM-7 to no avail, and now warns it could push out the timeline for its key Worldview Legion satellite program due to supplier issues.

Satellite inspection service provider HEO Robotics has partnered with Australian in-space transportation startup Space Machines to launch an on-orbit inspection camera in 2022.

Vanessa Wyche, a 31-year NASA veteran, will serve as the acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

A Chinese startup plans to capture an object in orbit using a net as part of a small-satellite mission to demonstrate technology for space resource utilization.

Virgin Orbit has awarded the UK division of Spanish-based space system supplier AVS a contract to build the portable ground operating system to support satellite launches from Spaceport Cornwall starting in 2022.

Four NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronauts made a weather-delayed return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on May 2.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will chair the National Space Council, senior administration officials told reporters May 1.

Space tourism company Virgin Galactic, which heralded a wave of space companies going public quickly, will restate its official 2020 financial results and has postponed its first-quarter results report to May 10.

The U.S. Space Force has awarded a $228 million contract to Raytheon Technologies for the GPS Next-Generation Operational Control System Follow-On.

After two landings were waved off due to high winds, NASA has reset the undocking of the four SpaceX Crew-1 Dragon astronauts from the International Space Station for 8:35 p.m. EDT on May 1.

The Chinese Long March 4C successfully launched a new remote-sensing satellite—the Yaogan-34—from its Jiuquan spaceport on April 30, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. reported.

NASA will stop work on the Human Landing System flight demonstration while the Government Accountability Office considers two protests of the space agency’s recent $2.9 billion contract award to SpaceX.

With its fourth flight test on Mars, NASA is transitioning its Ingenuity technology demonstration project into an extended 30-day mission to develop and test operations for future science rotorcraft.

NASA and SpaceX late April 29 delayed for a second time the planned undocking and splashdown of the four Crew-1 Dragon astronauts from the International Space Station due to high winds.

First mission is to send an uncrewed Orion capsule into lunar orbit.

Dave Calhoun is giving himself a dual mandate of returning Boeing to financial eminence while reinstalling engineering prowess. The gambit could decide the embattled company’s fate.

The less-remembered third Apollo 11 astronaut also helped to establish the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Up to five test runs of the rotorcraft are planned by May 4.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Northrop Grumman hit a proverbial home run with its first-quarter 2021, reporting outsized revenue and earnings, as well as providing a slightly higher forecast for the whole year.

The EU’s 2021-27 budget for space activities has received its final approval, from members of the European Parliament.

Arianespace’s Vega light launcher placed six satellites into orbit on April 28 in a successful return to flight that was crucial for the program.