Space

NASA and Boeing on April 25 completed the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for the long-awaited CST-100 Starliner crewed flight test (CFT).

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has selected Astroscale to remove an upper-stage rocket body from orbit.

Early in the spacewalk, the two cosmonauts were working more than 2 hr. ahead of schedule and urging Russian flight controllers to plan a third spacewalk for them.

The Shetland Islands’ SaxaVord spaceport has secured a range control license from the UK’s aviation regulator in another step toward the first orbital launches from the site.

China successfully sent the Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft into orbit April 25.

China's National Space Administration has selected six payloads developed by seven international partners to be part of the Chang’e 7 mission to the Moon.

Each linkage features special adhesive similar to the feet of a gecko that allows the arms to grip objects.

The NASA Voyager 1’s mission engineers report continued progress toward restoring the transmission of scientific data to Earth from a distant human-made object.

The FAA gave Varda Space permission to launch in June 2023 without a reentry license, and the regulator does not want to repeat the situation.

The approx. $120 million NASA Earth science campaign aims to bring airborne scientific insight to environmental concerns and is set to unfold over 2026 to 2029.

Axiom and Collins are working on new spacesuits for the agency’s lunar and LEO programs.

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

Aalto HAPS has purchased Ampirus Technologies’ 450 Wh/kg SiMaxx lithium-ion cells for its stratospheric Zephyr UAV.

The second of two Blue Origin BE-4 engines has arrived at United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Decatur, Alabama, factory for installation on a Vulcan rocket.

Ingenuity received a software update that will prompt it to activate daily, awaken flight computers, test its solar panel, batteries and electronics, and more.

What began as an operational ballistic missile evolved into one of the most successful and storied space launch vehicles.

Targeting a wider role in low Earth orbit and beyond, the company has rolled out a novel, deployable decelerator system, among other fast-tracked projects.

The agency seeks cheaper options for retrieving samples collected by the Perseverance rover.

Startup Inversion plans to launch Ray, its reentry capsule technology demonstrator, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Transporter-12 rideshare mission.

Dark, a developer of a space junk interceptor rocket, has raised a $6 million seed round extension.

Boeing’s first crewed CST-100 Starliner capsule was rolled out to Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral SFS on April 16.

The plan is part of a 51-page MSR Independent Response Team (MIRT) report released by NASA on April 15.

The U.S. will contribute the launch service, aerobraking engines and radioisotope heater units.

Smotr-V will be Russia’s highest-resolution commercial satellite.

China has suggested that it is open to providing commercial communication lunar relay services for missions on the far side of the moon.