OneWeb’s emerging low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation will pair with AT&T’s terrestrial broadband fiber network to expand connectivity for AT&T business customers, particularly in harder-to-reach locations on Earth, the companies announced Sept. 8.

Inspiration4, the first all-civilian astronaut crew to orbit the Earth, will be doing a lot more than gazing out the windows of their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

German plans for offshore satellite launch have been boosted by the support of four launch providers. 

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket exploded less than 2 min. after liftoff on Sept. 2, ending a debut flight test some 10 years in the making. 

Firefly Aerospace is on track for the first flight test of its Alpha launch vehicle, a two-stage, liquid-oxygen-and-kerosene-fueled booster designed to carry 2,205 lb. to low Earth orbit.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating a deviation in the flightpath cleared for the descent of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to Spaceport America in New Mexico, following its suborbital flight with Richard Branson and five employees aboard on July 11.

Japan’s SoftBank and its subsidiary HAPSMobile are developing new high-capacity communications systems as they prepare to launch commercial services providing connectivity from the stratosphere using long-endurance unmanned aircraft.

The tests should validate launchpad infrastructure, evaluate countdown procedures and train the launch team in advance of the inaugural Vulcan mission in 2022.