The Blue Origin programme to develop the new BE-4 Methane/Liquid Oxygen burning rocket engine for the reusable first stage of its proposed New Glenn vehicle range had a major set back on 13 May when a key test of its major components ended in explosive failure. The...
The credibility of NASA’s uber-expensive heavy-lift rocket programme, SLS, is in jeopardy. This follows NASA’s admission that its first flight would be delayed for financial reasons and because of the damage inflicted on one of it tanks after it was dropped....
The Chinasat 16 experimental communications satellite (aka Shi Jian 13) was aboard a CALT operated Long March 3B-G2 (CZ 3B-G2) which lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwest China, at 1104 GMT on 12 April 2017. The satellite is based on the...
While SpaceX concentrates on making its partly reusable rocket even more low cost, by dint of recovering the payload fairing using control thrusters and parachutes, it has even grander ambitions. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has apparently decided to resuscitate his plan...
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) was formally chosen by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as the prime contractor for the Engineering Test Satellite 9 (ETS-9). The experimental communications spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2021 and will test...
Starting a small launch vehicle operation remains a risky business. US start-up small launch vehicle firm, Firefly, which laid off staff last year after a withdrawal of a major investor, is now having its assets sold off. While there were doubts about its first stage...
