Ispace Lunar Lander Debris Spotted On Moon’s Surface

By Garrett Reim May 23, 2023
NASA’s LROC has captured what appears to be images of debris scattered on the Moon at the planned landing site of ispace’s lunar lander, which crashed in April.
Commercial Space

Axiom Space Private Astronauts Arrive at Space Station

By Mark Carreau May 22, 2023
Axiom Space’s second, four-person private astronaut mission to the International Space Station docked to the space-facing port on the Harmony module on Monday.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Blue Origin Wins NASA Moon Lander Contract

By Irene Klotz May 19, 2023
Blue Origin has succeeded on its second try to win a NASA contract to ferry astronauts to and from lunar orbit and the Moon’s surface.
Space

First Take, May 22, 2023

By Graham Warwick May 19, 2023
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

NASA’s Gateway Envisioned To Pave Way To Mars

By Mark Carreau May 18, 2023
The MTH is a conceptual component of a lunar-orbiting, human-tended Gateway.
Space

New Life For Old Space Telescopes?

By Irene Klotz May 17, 2023
A second Great Observatory catches the eye of the fledgling in-space services industry.
Space

NASA To Unveil Second HLS Partner

By Irene Klotz May 16, 2023
NASA plans to announce a second industry partner to provide astronaut ferry flights between lunar orbit and the Moon’s surface on Friday, May 19.
Commercial Space

Space Forge Details ‘Origami’ Heat Shield for Re-Entry Vehicle

By Garrett Reim May 15, 2023
Space Forge has unveiled additional details about its unfolding, “origami” heat shield for its ForgeStar re-entry vehicle.
Commercial Space

Vast And SpaceX To Test Artificial Gravity On Commercial Space Station

By Garrett Reim May 12, 2023
The team aims to do an end run around rival commercial space stations.
Commercial Space

Vast, SpaceX Plan Commercial Space Station As Soon As 2025

By Garrett Reim May 10, 2023
Vast and SpaceX plan to launch a commercial space station, named Haven-1, as soon as August 2025.
Commercial Space

NASA, Axiom Space Press Ahead With Commercializing LEO

By Mark Carreau May 08, 2023
While much of NASA’s future human exploration focus falls toward deep space, the agency is not turning its back on low Earth orbit.
Commercial Space

Crew Dragon Redock Makes Way For ISS Private Astronaut, Cargo Missions

By Mark Carreau May 06, 2023
The SpaceX Crew Dragon switched ISS docking ports May 6 to make room for Axiom Space’s second private astronaut mission and a later a SpaceX cargo mission.
Space

Engine Failures Doomed SpaceX Super Heavy Debut Flight

By Irene Klotz May 04, 2023
The pacing item to return to flight may be the automated destruct safety system.
Connected Aerospace

Opinion: How The Russia-Ukraine War Is Changing The Defense Industry

By Byron Callan May 02, 2023
Competition from lower-tier suppliers and other countries is picking up.
Supply Chain

Engine Issue Felled SpaceX First Super Heavy

By Irene Klotz May 01, 2023
Twenty-seven seconds into the flight an “energetic event” caused a communications breakdown with another engine, No. 19.
Commercial Space

SpaceX Launch Failure Could Hinder Artemis III, Nelson Says

By Mark Carreau Apr 27, 2023
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says that the troubled initial test launch of SpaceX’s Super Heavy/Starship combination has added uncertainty to Artemis III.
Defense and Space

Podcast: Making Sense Of The SpaceX Starship Launch

By Jen DiMascio Apr 26, 2023
Aviation Week editors talk about the aftermath of the Starship test and the future of commercial and military space launches.
Check 6

SpaceX Marks 'Successful Failure' Of Starship/Super Heavy Debut Flight

By Irene Klotz Apr 20, 2023
With five Super Heavy boosters and eight Starships in production, SpaceX ramps up flight test program.
Space

NSSL Phase 3, Lane 1 Open To Heavy, Superheavy Lifters

By Irene Klotz Apr 18, 2023
The U.S. Space Force’s upcoming competition for national security space launch service will be open to novel heavy- and superheavy new boosters.
Commercial Space

Spacecom: U.S. Has Tracked 11,000 Launches In Ukraine-Russia Conflict

By Brian Everstine Apr 18, 2023
The U.S. military says it has tracked more than 11,000 missile launches during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Space

Leidos Takes Wraps Off Lunar Terrain Vehicle Design

By Guy Norris Apr 18, 2023
As NASA closes in on releasing a request for proposals for a rover vehicle service on the Moon, Leidos has unveiled a prototype Lunar Terrain Vehicle.
Space

The Weekly Debrief: One Small Step For SpaceX, A Giant Leap For Brazil

By Steve Trimble Apr 17, 2023
Visiona’s goal is to field a constellation of similar, Earth-observing nanosatellites if the mission is successful, then move on to bigger satellites.
Space

Musk Downplays Expectations For Successful Starship/Super Heavy Debut

By Irene Klotz Apr 17, 2023
On the eve of the first integrated flight test of the Starship/Super Heavy, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says his most fervent wish is to not destroy the launchpad.
Commercial Space

Space Force To Award Blue Origin New Glenn NSSL Phase 3 Study

By Irene Klotz Apr 14, 2023
The U.S. Space Force plans to award a sole-source contract to Blue Origin for early integration studies for upcoming NSSL missions.
Commercial Space

Artemis II Crew Eyes Humanity’s Lunar Return

By Mark Carreau Apr 06, 2023
The next flight in NASA’s Artemis program will test how Orion’s life support systems operate under pressure.
Space