All articles tagged with #space and aerospace
Astrobotic has secured $17.5 million in NASA and military contracts to develop three reusable suborbital vehicles, including upgrades to its Xodiac and Xogdor models, supporting technology demonstrations, lunar and planetary landing tests, and potential national security applications, with scheduled entries into service from 2026 to 2028.
The FAA has approved a significant increase in Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral, allowing up to 120 annually, and is studying the environmental impacts of Starship launches from Kennedy Space Center, including noise and airspace concerns, amid public feedback and ongoing assessments.
NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro's update highlights agency efforts amid budget challenges, upcoming town hall, new collaborations like space medicine research with DLR, progress on missions including Artemis and TRACERS, and recognition of team achievements, emphasizing resilience and commitment to space exploration.
NASA Kennedy's COMET contract management announced a reduction in force (RIF) due to significant budget cuts to the ISS program, which will impact personnel and scope of work, with ongoing efforts to manage the staffing and funding challenges transparently.
Northrop Grumman is investing $50 million in Firefly Aerospace to support the development of the Eclipse medium-class launch vehicle, which aims to provide a balance of payload capacity and affordability for various space missions, including national security and commercial launches, with the first flight scheduled for no earlier than 2026.
Blue Origin has secured a contract with the U.S. Space Force for integration studies related to its New Glenn launch vehicle, marking a significant step in its potential participation in the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program. The contract, worth nearly $18 million, aims to assess launch vehicle trajectory and mission design for missions planned in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This development demonstrates the Space Force’s interest in New Glenn’s capabilities, as the company aims to challenge incumbents SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for demanding missions to higher orbits.