Quantum Space announces plans to develop platforms serviced by robotic vehicles in cislunar space

A startup led by a former acting administrator of NASA has announced plans to develop platforms serviced by robotic vehicles in cislunar space to support a range of applications. Maryland-based Quantum Space announced recently that it’s starting work on a spacecraft platform that would initially operate at the Earth-moon L-1 Lagrange point and host variousRead More

UAE-Bahraini Light-1 CubeSat successfully launched into orbit by ISS

The UAE-Bahraini Light-1 CubeSat was successfully launched into orbit from the International Space Station, in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Light-1 CubeSat is a collaboration initiative of the UAE Space Agency, Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi. JAXA coordinated theRead More

Arianespace launches 36 satellites as its last mission for 2021

Arianespace completed its last mission of the year Dec. 27 with the launch of 36 satellites for low Earth orbit broadband operator OneWeb. OneWeb’s latest batch of satellites launched on a Soyuz 2.1b rocket at 8.10 a.m. Eastern from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The UK-headquartered startup said it has made contact with all satellitesRead More

China successfully ends 2021 with two orbital launches

China successfully conducted its 54th and 55th orbital launches of 2021 recently, launching satellites from the Jiuquan and Xichang spaceports within hours of each other. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from launch complex 2 at Xichang in southwest China at 11:43 a.m. Eastern Wednesday, carrying the communications technology test satellite-9 (TJSW-9) into geosynchronousRead More

ULA launches STP-3 mission with classified payloads and NASA mission to demonstrate in space laser communications

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket recently launched the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the US Space Force. The rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The $1.1 billion STP-3 mission flew to geosynchronous Earth orbit on an Atlas 5 551 with five strap-on solid boosters.Read More

India and Russia to strengthen cooperation in the space sector

India and Russia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the space sector, including human spaceflight programs and satellite navigation. The two countries also promised to seek ‘mutually beneficial’ cooperation in developing launch vehicles and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, including planetary exploration. These were part of a broader set of trade, militaryRead More

Million Air unveils two-pronged sustainability plan making itself net-zero in carbon emissions by 2023

FBO chain Million Air has unveiled a two-pronged sustainability plan, with the goal of making the Houston-based service provider net-zero in carbon emissions by 2023. This past June, the company’s Burbank, California location became its first to offer sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with each 8,000-gallon truckload providing a 22-ton lifecycle carbon reduction. Beyond that, MillionRead More

JSfirm develops database-match feature for FAA licensed viewing

Aviation job website JSfirm has developed a database-match feature that makes it far easier to view the records of FAA-licensed airmen, dispatchers, mechanics, and drone pilots. “We developed a program to make the FAA database searchable at the JSfirm website—because right now when you go to the FAA website you have to know the person’sRead More

612000 new pilots, 626000 technicians & 886000 cabin crew members are required to maintain the global commercial fleet in next 20 years (Boeing)

Boeing has released the latest edition of its Pilot and Technician Outlook 2021–2040. This is a forecast of how the aircraft manufacturer expects the industry to recover over the next few years. “Long-term demand for newly qualified aviation personnel remains strong, as 612,000 new pilots, 626,000 new maintenance technicians and 886,000 new cabin crew membersRead More

Hansa-NG conducts its maiden flight

The two-seater Hansa New Generation (Hansa-NG) trainer aircraft, being developed by India’s National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), has conducted its maiden flight. The aircraft, a revamped version of the original Hansa developed three decades ago, had a successful first flight when it took off from the HAL airport and flew for about 20 minutes. During theRead More