To mark the 25 years since the 12 April 1981 first launch of the NASA Space Shuttle, the Flightglobal team trawled the Flight International archives, compiled two remarkable image galleries, wrote first-hand blogs and sourced exclusive original eye witness accounts of the first mission.
Colorado-based engine maker Ursa Major has secured a nearly $35 million contract from an undisclosed US defence company for its developmental Draper rocket powerplant, designed for national security applications including hypersonic flight and space vehicles.
One of the Colorado manufacturer’s Hadley rocket engines propelled the Stratolaunch Talon-A test vehicle to speeds beyond Mach 5 in May, the first US-made aircraft to hit that mark since the 1960s.
The uncrewed aircraft manufacturer says it has completed two test flights of a Gray Eagle 25M controlled remotely via a low-earth-orbit satellite network – technology that could allow expanded range in polar regions.