What drew BAE Systems’ Elizabeth Seward to a career in space industry
Inspired by the science fiction books she read as a teenager, Elizabeth Seward has forged a stellar career in the space sector and is now head of space strategy and future business at BAE Systems.
BAE Systems to acquire $2bn-revenue Ball Aerospace
BAE Systems is to acquire US defence and space contractor Ball Aerospace for around $4.8 billion, pending regulatory approval.
NASA’s Mars helicopter resumes flight operations after emergency landing
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter successfully completed its 54th flight over the red planet, after NASA was able to re-establish control of the rotorcraft after it executed an emergency landing in July.
Spirit AeroSystems seeks to develop new materials for hypersonic flight
Aerostructures manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems will partner with the USA’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop advanced materials capable of withstanding the high temperatures of hypersonic flight for military, space and commercial applications.
Lockheed to build nuclear-powered spacecraft for Pentagon
The defence aerospace manufacturer won a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and NASA to develop and demonstrate a reusable space flight vehicle propelled by a nuclear thermal rocket engine with substantially improved fuel efficiency over chemical rockets.
US competition regulator clears L3Harris to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne
The proposal by L3Harris to purchase the strategically important maker of rocket motors was approved by the US Federal Trade Commissionon on 27July, after the agency previously opposed a similar bid from Lockheed Martin.
Stratolaunch bids for rocket-drop 747 as Virgin Orbit assets are carved up
Three companies have successfully bid for assets of Virgin Orbit, with aerospace firm Stratolaunch picking up the modified Boeing 747-400 which was used to carry air-dropped satellite launch vehicles.
NASA selects Blue Origin to build second Artemis lunar lander
Private spaceflight company Blue Origin joins reusable rocket pioneer SpaceX on NASA’s Artemis programme to return humans to the lunar surface, with both companies under contract to develop spacecraft capable of landing astronauts on the moon.
Several prospective bidders for Virgin Orbit aim to maintain company’s operations
Over 30 expressions have interest have been submitted for troubled air-launch specialist Virgin Orbit, with several looking to continue the company’s operations.
SpaceX Starship, largest rocket ever built, explodes minutes after take-off
SpaceX’s Starship system – a heavy-lift rocket and reusable flight vehicle designed to ferry crew and cargo beyond Earth’s orbit – exploded over the Gulf of Mexico 4min after a test launch on Thursday.