Space Industry Analysis
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.
Dec 31, 2012
Routine aircraft-like spaceflight operations could begin in 2013, with Virgin Galactic and XCOR Aerospace flying to the edge of atmosphere, but fully reusable air-breathing space access remains a dream. A crucial step forward could be tests of an air-breathing rocket engine component now underway in the U.K.
Dec 31, 2012
Bombardier's future as a major player in the passenger jet business could rest on its new CSeries aircraft. The first flight has been delayed from December until as late as next June, and a key Chinese fuselage supplier fell down on the job. In 2013, Bombardier needs the CSeries to fly and customers to buy. Chinese
Dec 31, 2012
Asian investors continue to take big stakes in the aircraft leasing market. A consortium of three Chinese investors plans to close on a deal to acquire the International Lease Finance Corp. That follows earlier sales of Jackson Square Aviation and the Royal Bank of Scotland's aircraft leasing business to Japanese buyers and Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise's acquisition by the Bank of China.
Jul 30, 2020
New Zealand-based startup Dawn Aerospace has rolled out its Mk-II Aurora reusable suborbital spaceplane.
Jul 30, 2020
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral AFS on July 30, sending the $2.4-billion NASA Perseverance rover on its way to Mars to search for signs of past life and cache promising rock and soil samples for a future return to Earth.
Jul 29, 2020
The British government has begun a consultation on regulations that will pave the way for space launches from UK soil in the early 2020s.
Jul 29, 2020
U.S. Space Command (Spacecom) is partnering with U.S. Cyber Command by offering a planning element to implement cyber protection and capabilities or space expertise.
Jul 29, 2020
In-situ resource utilization, combined with advances in additive manufacturing, could provide the materials and technologies for the construction of habitats, factories, spare parts and supplies on the Moon and Mars.
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.